Everyone wants the SS coupe. They want the two doors, the bucket seats, and that sleek hardtop silhouette that looks like it's moving while standing still. But honestly? They’re missing out. While the world spends its life savings on the two-door version, the 1964 Chevy Impala four door is sitting right there, offering the exact same "jet-age" styling, the same legendary X-frame chassis, and a much more social experience for about half the price. It’s the quintessential American cruiser.
Most people think of the '64 as the peak of the third-generation Impala. They aren't wrong. By 1964, Chevrolet had smoothed out the wilder fins of the late fifties into something sophisticated. It’s a massive car. You feel the weight when you pull that heavy chrome handle and the door swings open with a mechanical thud that modern cars just can't replicate. It smells like old vinyl, unburnt hydrocarbons, and history.
The Reality of the 1964 Chevy Impala Four Door
Let's get the terminology straight because the "four door" label actually covers two very different body styles. You’ve got the 4-door sedan and the 4-door hardtop (often called the Sport Sedan). The sedan has a "B-pillar"—that's the post between the front and rear windows. It makes the car stiffer and arguably a better daily driver if you’re worried about rattles. Then there’s the Sport Sedan. This one is the secret weapon. With all four windows down, there is no pillar. It’s just one massive, open breeze-way from the windshield to the rear window.
It feels like a convertible without the structural flex or the leaking roof.
Under the hood, most of these came with the 283 cubic inch V8 or the "Hi-Thrift" 230 inline-six. If you’re lucky, you’ll find one with the 327 small block. The 327 is the sweet spot. It has enough grunt to move two tons of steel without feeling like it’s gasping for air. People talk about the 409, but realistically, finding a factory 409 in a four-door pillared sedan is like finding a unicorn in a parking garage. It exists, but don't count on it.
Why Collectors are Finally Piercing the Four-Door Stigma
For decades, the 1964 Chevy Impala four door was a "parts car." If a restorer found a clean four-door, they’d strip the fenders, the hood, and the trim to save a beat-up two-door. It was a tragedy. But the market is shifting. Gen X and Millennials are entering the hobby, and they want cars they can actually use with their friends or kids. You can’t comfortably fit three adults in the back of a coupe without someone getting a cramp. In the four-door? It’s a living room on wheels.
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The suspension is soft. Very soft. Driving a '64 Impala is less like "driving" and more like navigating a very fast boat on a very calm lake. You don't take corners; you suggest them. The steering is over-assisted, and the drum brakes—unless they’ve been upgraded to discs—require a bit of "planning ahead." But that's the charm. It forces you to slow down and actually enjoy the scenery.
Small Details That Make the '64 Special
- The Grill: It’s a massive piece of brightwork that spans the entire front end, giving it that "wide-track" look.
- The Rear Trim: Unlike the '63, the '64 has a distinctive "upside-down U" shape to the rear cove area.
- The Dashboard: It’s all metal and chrome. No plastic "soft-touch" nonsense here. The horizontal speedometer feels like something out of a mid-century cockpit.
Customizers have also realized that the 1964 Chevy Impala four door makes an incredible lowrider base. Because the wheelbase is the same as the coupe, it takes a hydraulic setup perfectly. A four-door "six-four" laid out on 13-inch wires with the nose up is a powerful statement. It says you value the heritage but you’re doing it your own way.
The Maintenance Truth: What No One Tells You
Owning a sixty-year-old car isn't all sunset drives. If you buy a 1964 Chevy Impala four door, you’re going to get intimate with a wrench. The electrical systems are simple, sure, but the wiring is old. Brittle. You’ll probably spend a weekend chasing a ground wire because your left blinker makes the radio hum.
Parts availability is the best in the world, though. You can basically build an entire Impala from a catalog. Whether it’s weatherstripping for the doors or a new floor pan, it’s all available. This is the biggest reason to choose a Chevy over a Buick or an Oldsmobile from the same era—you won't be scouring junkyards for a specific door handle for six months.
One thing to watch for is the "X-Frame." Unlike modern perimeter frames, the Chevy frame from this era looks like a giant X. It’s why the floorboards are so low, giving you that great legroom. But it also means there’s no side rail protection. If you’re planning on doing a lot of highway driving, consider adding seatbelts if the previous owner hasn't. Most of these didn't come with them from the factory, or if they did, they were just lap belts.
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Value and Investment Potential
Prices are climbing. Ten years ago, you could pick up a running, driving four-door '64 for five grand. Those days are gone. Today, a clean, survivor-grade 1964 Chevy Impala four door can easily fetch $15,000 to $25,000 depending on the engine and options. If it’s a factory black car with a red interior? Add a premium.
But it’s still the "affordable" way into the most iconic year of the Impala. You’re getting the same "triple taillight" magic that made the Impala famous. That's the hallmark. The three lights on each side were reserved for the Impala, while the lesser Bel Air and Biscayne models only got two. It’s a status symbol that still resonates today.
When you're looking at one to buy, check the trunk. Not just the floor, but the "body mounts" where the body meets the frame. Rust loves to hide there. Also, look at the rear wheel wells. If you see bubbling paint, run—or at least have a good welder on speed dial.
Common Misconceptions
People think the four-door is heavier. Actually, the weight difference between the two-door hardtop and the four-door sedan is negligible—usually less than 100 pounds. It’s not going to affect your 0-60 time, which, let's be honest, is measured with a calendar anyway.
Another myth: "You can't make a four-door look cool." Spend five minutes on Instagram looking up "Long Beach style" four-doors. With the right stance and some period-correct accessories like a swamp cooler or a rear Venetian blind, these cars have a presence that a coupe just can't match. They look dignified. They look like the car a successful architect would have driven in 1964.
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Moving Forward with Your Impala Search
If you're serious about getting a 1964 Chevy Impala four door, your first move isn't looking at cars. It’s joining the community. Sites like The Impala Forums or local Chevy Classics clubs are goldmines for finding cars that aren't on public marketplaces yet.
Once you find a candidate, prioritize the body over the engine. You can fix a smoky 283 in a weekend with basic tools. Fixing a rotted roof or misaligned doors on a four-door is a nightmare that will drain your bank account and your soul. Look for a car with "good bones."
Actionable Checklist for Potential Buyers:
- Verify the VIN: Ensure it’s an actual Impala (starts with 414) and not a re-badged Bel Air.
- Check the Glass: Four-door specific glass, especially for the Sport Sedan, can be harder to find and more expensive to ship than coupe glass.
- Test the Heater: The heater cores in these are notorious for leaking. If the passenger floor carpet is damp and smells like maple syrup (antifreeze), you’ve got work to do.
- Inspect the Powerglide: If it has the 2-speed automatic, check the fluid. If it smells burnt, factor a transmission rebuild into your offer.
The 1964 Chevy Impala four door is more than just a consolation prize for people who can't afford a coupe. It's a design icon in its own right. It represents a time when American manufacturing was at its absolute zenith, and even the "family car" was built with a level of style and chrome that we’ll never see again.
Buy the four-door. Take five friends to get burgers. Turn the radio to a station playing something from the sixties. You'll realize very quickly that those extra two doors aren't a compromise—they're an invitation.
Focus your search on dry-climate states like Arizona or California. Even with shipping costs, a rust-free four-door from the desert is cheaper in the long run than a "deal" from the rust belt. Start by browsing specialized classic car listings rather than general marketplaces to get a feel for the current "real-world" pricing of non-SS models.