1961
Chevrolet
Impala Bobbletop
1961 Chevrolet Impala “Bubbletop” Pro StreetCar History“Bubbletop” is one of the terms that best describe General Motors' incomparable and stunningly beautiful hardtop models...
1961 Chevrolet Impala “Bubbletop” Pro Street
Car History
“Bubbletop” is one of the terms that best describe General Motors' incomparable and stunningly beautiful hardtop models for 1961, which many think was a high-water mark of GM design.
You can see how the hardtop models from this year got their name from the view. Our 1961 Chevy Impala “Bubbletop” we have here at Adventure Classics has that iconic top plus it has been heavily modified into a Pro Street powerhouse that can still be driven with its modified powerplant, custom interior, flashy yellow paint, 4-wheel disc brakes, and fat tires and wheels.
1961 Chevrolet Impala “Bubbletop” Pro Street
Pro Street powerhouse but can still be driven
468 cubic inch big block Chevrolet engine
Aluminum intake
Performance carb
Open element air cleaner
Tube headers flowing into mufflers and out the dual exhaust system
Polished valve covers
Modified electrics and distributor
Aluminum radiator
Pro built Power Glide
Narrowed Ford 9
X Frame replaced with a new modified frame and adjustable k4-link suspension
Tubbed rear
Roll cage
Interior race car inspired look
Custom twin front buckets upholstered in a red/white/Black/yellow pattern
Matching covered door panels
Surrounded in a tubular roll cage
Factory dash modified with performance gauges
Tilt wheel
Center custom shifter and console
Ours is painted a stunning bright yellow
All body parts steel except fiberglass high cowl hood and the rear wing
Has a parachute
This car was built and previously owned by Kenny Hahn.
Engine & Drivetrain
Ours has a much modified 468 cubic inch big block Chevrolet engine with the aluminum intake, performance carb, open element air cleaner, ceramicoat tube headers flowing into mufflers and out the dual exhaust system, polished valve covers, modified electrics and distributor, aluminum radiator, Pro built Power Glide, Narrowed Ford 9, X Frame replaced with a new modified frame and adjustable k4-link suspension, tubbed rear, high performance transmission with a high stall converter, Roll cage added, big rear tires, and all very clean and detailed.
Interior
The interior of our 61 is a sight to behold with the race car inspired look. It has custom twin front buckets upholstered in a red/white/Black/yellow pattern, matching covered door panels, surrounded in a tubular roll cage, factory dash modified with performance gauges, tilt wheel, center custom shifter and console, with the rear bench removed and the wheel wells tubbed to accommodate the large rear tires.
Exterior
The new styling of the Impala two-door hardtop model quickly became known as the ''bubbletop,'' due to the curvy, somewhat bubbly shape of the backlite and the overall appearance of the whole rooftop.
This expansive window's rounded shape was further enhanced by the very slim C-pillars that surrounded it that was the key element that gave these hardtops their distinctive appearance and nickname.
Ours is painted a stunning bright yellow with all body parts steel except fiberglass high cowl hood and the rear wing. Heck, it even has a parachute.
This car was built and previously owned by Kenny Hahn.
Conclusion
Today, any bubbletop is considered a highly collectible classic car, regardless of which GM division it hails from but with each passing year, it seems that more and more enthusiasts are starting to appreciate their highly distinctive shape and stunning beauty of this 1961 Chevrolet Impala “Bubbletop” Pro Street we have here at Adventure Classics.
Pro Street is a style of street-legal custom car popular in the 1980s, usually built to imitate a Pro Stock class race car. Pro Street cars should appear to be more at home on the drag strip than the street, while remaining street legal and not gutted like a Race Car or Bracket Race car. Typically called a back half car due to the frame being changed to allow for monstrous rear tires.
Ours fits that description to a T!
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(727) 580-9919 or (727) 688-1148
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