Car Collector's Corner: 1960 Chevy Impala 4 Door Hardtop - And Now for Something Completely Different

J Sutherland
by J Sutherland

Picture courtesy mystarcollectorcar.com

We like to draw readers in with our titles, so the logical question is “what’s completely different about a 60 Chevy?” The 60 Chevy was in a Bob Seeger song. How unique can it really be?

That’s a fair question, but the answer is really obvious. This is a right-hand drive car and it’s been in South Africa since Day 1. Besides that, the 60 Chevy 4-door hardtop isn’t something you see in a Safeway parking lot every Saturday. With all due respect to Mr. Seeger – it’s a rare sighting.

Seth Phalatse is a true-blue Chevy guy. He didn’t grow up listening to Dinah Shore singing “See the USA in your Chevrolet” but the bowtie called to him just the same. He just happened to live in South Africa.

I live in a suburb called Beaulieu-Kyalami which is between two main cities of South Africa called Pretoria and Johannesburg. I am a retired Marketing Executive Director of a leading German Motor Company in South Africa having been with them for 25 years. So, you will note that I have been involved with cars for a considerable time”.

Seth was smitten by the Chevy from the day he first saw one many years ago:

In 1968, a friend of mine bought a 1960 Chevy that is similar to the one attached. This was the most desired car during this era and I became so in love with this car, but unfortunately could not afford it that time. I gave myself a promise that one day I will have to reward myself by owning a 1960 Impala. Obviously, these cars went out of the market, especially this model, and could not be found anywhere in South Africa. In 2005, I gave my son Clifford a picture of this car for him to help me look for this car.


You will note that restoration of classic cars is not at the American level and therefore not much was done about this then. That is why I did not know of a place I could visit for such an advice. 2005 passed with no success. Towards the end of 2006, Clifford called to say he thinks he saw the car I was looking for and we later on found the owner who would not want to part with this car. After much persuasion, he relented and we agreed that I could buy this car.


So, my dreams came true and the beginning of 2007 saw me owning my dream car”.

For a dream to come true there has to be sacrifice and car guys know that all too well-Seth was no exception.

Having been in a motor industry for a long time, I wanted my car to be without any quality problems. This car was 47 years old then and I did not know which part was old, wearing or about to give in. I did not want to get stuck with a car I loved so much. So, what did I have to do to avoid such a disappointment? I was a regular viewer of American Hotrod and wished we would have a “Boyd Coddington” in our country but alas, could not be found. I knew nothing about restoration of classic cars. I came from the OEM side and knew nothing about OERs. And as you can imagine it, I fell into wrong hands with people promising to know about restoration whereas they were indeed panel beaters”.

Seth was undaunted. He took his education at “Car University” with a grim practicality:

“The long and the short part of this is that I paid heavy “School Fees” until after my car was from one incompetent person to another. One day I was waiting for my wife who was doing what they love most, I saw a magazine called SA Hotrods. You can imagine my excitement. I came across and article about a company called Rolling Thunder. By then I had done a lot of research and reading about American Classic cars…”

After doing his homework and filing bad experiences under “L” for learning curve, Seth was ready to complete the project:

“So, when I visited Rolling Thunder, I more or less knew what I was looking for. I had a list from Winning Collection and was happy that Rolling Thunder would do the right job. The car had to be redone all over as nothing was working properly. Had to remove and install a complete electrical harness, the exhaust system; brakes; and the electrical systems”.

The bottom line is always the bottom line. Seth survived the school of hard knocks and now he’s enjoying the feel behind the wheel of a legendary Chevy Impala on South African roads. He might not be seeing the USA in his Chevrolet, but the trip Seth took is the same one every car guy in the world has taken-difficult and bumpy but worth every mile.

For more of J Sutherland’s work go to mystarcollectorcar.com

J Sutherland
J Sutherland

Online collector car writer/webmaster and enthusiast

More by J Sutherland

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  • Bill mcgee Bill mcgee on Mar 13, 2012

    An uncle was a Pontiac dealer so that's what we always bought.The old man was still getting Fords as company cars and Mom had what may have been the most expensive car he ever bought- a 1960 nine passenger Bonneville Safari in an odd acid green metallic with matching interior - too bad Mom wrecked it almost immediately . But the cars I thought were cool were the 1959-60 Bonneville Vista roof hardtop sedans a couple of the relatives had- it felt so cool, so modern, so airy in the back seats. Very similiar to the roofline of the 60 Chevy.Several college friends fad similiar 60 Chevies, one in a two-tone blue and white color scheme like this one, which the guy drove the wrong way and crashed into a police car.

  • CJinSD CJinSD on Mar 13, 2012

    No reference to the RHD 1959 Chevy in Mad Max?

  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
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