You see it everywhere. The lowrider culture, the rap videos, the high-end auctions. Usually, it’s the two-door SS. People obsess over the pillarless hardtop. But honestly? The 4 door 64 chevy impala is the car you actually want if you’re planning on living a real life with a classic. It’s got the same X-frame. It’s got that legendary pointed front grille. It has those six iconic round taillights that defined an entire era of American optimism.
It’s just got more doors.
There’s a weird snobbery in the car world. People think if it’s got four doors, it’s a "more-door"—a parts car. A donor. That’s a mistake. While everyone else is fighting over the overpriced coupes, the sedan and the hardtop four-door models are where the value is hiding. You’re getting 210 inches of steel and chrome for a fraction of the price. It’s basically the same silhouette, especially if you find the sport sedan version without the B-pillar.
The mechanical soul of a 1964 legend
Underneath that massive hood, things get interesting. Chevrolet didn't skimp on the four-door models. You could get anything from the reliable 230 cubic inch Turbo-Thrift straight-six to the monstrous 409 V8. Most of the 4 door 64 chevy impala units you’ll find today are running the 283 or the 327 small block. These engines are bulletproof. You can fix them with a screwdriver and a prayer.
The 1964 model year was the end of the line for the third generation. Chevrolet refined the suspension. They moved away from some of the experimental quirks of the '61 and '62 models. It rides like a cloud. Seriously. If you’ve never driven a full-size Chevy from this era, it feels less like driving and more like captaining a very stylish boat.
The X-frame design is the secret sauce here. It allowed the body to sit lower. It gave the car that aggressive, hunkered-down stance that lowriders eventually fell in love with. In a four-door, that frame provides a surprisingly rigid foundation for such a long car. You might feel a bit of body roll in the corners, but you don't buy an Impala to carve canyons. You buy it to cruise.
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Identifying the different four-door flavors
Not all four-door 64s are created equal. You have the Sedan (with the center pillar) and the Sport Sedan (the hardtop).
The Sport Sedan is the one collectors hunt for. When you roll all four windows down, there’s no post in the middle. It’s just one massive, open space. It’s airy. It’s gorgeous. It gives you that sleek coupe look while still letting your friends climb into the back seat without having to flip a heavy front bucket seat forward. The Sedan, on the other hand, is built like a tank. It’s stiffer. It’s often cheaper. If you’re building a daily driver or a long-distance cruiser, don't sleep on the pillared version.
Why the market is shifting toward four doors
Money. It always comes down to the wallet. A pristine 1964 SS Convertible can easily clear $80,000 or $100,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction. Even a decent two-door hardtop is pushing $40,000 these days.
But a 4 door 64 chevy impala? You can still find a running, driving project for under $15,000.
Gen X and Millennials are entering the collector space. They have kids. They have friends. They want to actually use their cars. Have you ever tried to buckle a car seat into the back of a two-door classic? It’s a nightmare. It’s a literal back-breaker. The four-door solves that. It makes the hobby inclusive. It’s the difference between the car sitting in the garage and the car being at the Saturday morning car show with the whole family.
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The Lowrider Influence
We have to talk about the culture. The 1964 Impala is the "Mona Lisa" of the lowrider world. While the two-door is the traditional choice, the four-door has gained massive respect in the last decade. Builders like those in the Majestics or Life car clubs have proven that you can lay a four-door on the pavement and it looks just as menacing.
Hydraulics don't care how many doors you have.
Actually, the extra weight of the four-door body can sometimes help with the "hop" or the "lay-and-play" stance. It gives the car a sense of gravity. When you see a 4 door 64 chevy impala with 13-inch wire wheels and a candy paint job, you aren't thinking "I wish it had two fewer doors." You're thinking about how clean the lines are.
Real world maintenance: What to look for
If you’re out there hunting for one of these, you need to be smart. Rust is the enemy. Specifically in the trunk and the floor pans. The rear window seals on the 64s were notorious for leaking. Water gets in, sits under the mat, and eats the metal from the inside out.
- The X-Frame: Check the center of the frame where it narrows. If there is heavy scale or rot there, walk away. It’s the spine of the car.
- Rear Quarters: These cars are long. Really long. The quarter panels on the four-doors are massive expanses of steel. Look for ripples or "bondo" bubbles.
- The Transmission: Most came with the Powerglide two-speed automatic. It’s reliable but sluggish. If the car has been swapped with a TH350 or TH400, that’s actually a huge plus for drivability.
- Wiring: It’s 60 years old. If the previous owner hasn't replaced the harness, expect some gremlins.
Parts availability is one of the best reasons to own a 4 door 64 chevy impala. Because it shares so much with the two-door, you can buy almost everything from catalogs like Year One or Classic Industries. Fenders, grilles, bumpers, and interior kits are all readily available.
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The psychological appeal of the '64
There is something specific about the 1964 styling. It’s more "square" than the '63, but it feels more modern than the '65. It represents the peak of a specific design language. The triple taillights aren't just lights; they are a status symbol. Back in the day, the Impala was the top-of-the-line. It was the "expensive" Chevy.
When you sit behind that huge steering wheel, you see the "sweeping" speedometer. It feels like a cockpit. The dashboard is a work of art—all chrome and painted metal. No plastic. No screens. Just tactile switches and the smell of old vinyl and gasoline.
People smile at this car. It’s not aggressive like a muscle car. It’s not "cute" like a Beetle. It’s dignified. Whether you’re pulling up to a trailhead or a five-star restaurant, the 64 fits in. It’s a design that has aged better than almost anything else from the mid-sixties.
Actionable steps for the aspiring owner
If you're ready to pull the trigger on a 4 door 64 chevy impala, don't just buy the first one you see on Facebook Marketplace.
- Join the forums: Sites like ChevyTalk or the Lay It Low forums are gold mines. People there know these cars down to the last bolt. They can tell you if a "rare" option is actually factory or just a bad aftermarket addition.
- Check the VIN: Make sure it’s a true Impala and not a Bel Air or Biscayne dressed up with extra trim. The Impala VIN will start with a 4 (for 1964) followed by 14 (for V8 Impala) or 13 (for 6-cylinder Impala).
- Budget for brakes: The stock drum brakes are... adventurous. If you plan on driving in modern traffic, the first thing you should do is a front disc brake conversion. It’ll save your life and your chrome.
- Look for the "Sport" Roof: If you want the most resale value, hold out for the four-door hardtop. The "pillared" sedan is great, but the hardtop is the one that will appreciate faster.
The 4 door 64 chevy impala isn't just a budget alternative anymore. It’s a legitimate choice for the enthusiast who wants the '64 experience without the '64 price tag. It’s a social car. It’s a cruiser. It’s a piece of American history that you can actually share with three of your favorite people at the same time. Stop looking for the two-door that you can't afford and start looking for the four-door that you can actually drive.
Check the local listings. Look in the dry states like Arizona or California to avoid the "cancer" of rust. Once you get one, keep the patina or go for a full frame-off—either way, you’re driving the best year Chevrolet ever produced.
Next Steps for Your Search:
- Validate the Trim: Verify the 14439 (4-door hardtop) or 14469 (4-door sedan) body style codes on the cowl tag.
- Source Quality Parts: Look into vendors like Hubbard’s Impala Parts for four-door-specific interior trim which can be harder to find than coupe kits.
- Modernize the Ride: Invest in a basic electronic ignition kit to replace the old points system for daily reliability.