Wild Love: An Original Owner Keeps Running Hard with the Impala SS Herd

Chevy's iconic muscle sedan has captivated this enthusiast for decades.

Chuck Barrett has a wild love for Chevrolet’s Impala, spanning decades. He was first introduced to the iconic sedan as a young boy growing up in Chicago. “My father’s friend had a red 1962 Super Sport,’ recalls Chuck, who still resides in the Windy City area. “It had the 300-horsepower, 327ci V8 with a 3-speed manual and manual brakes and steering. He’d give my family rides and I can vividly recall happily sliding around in the backseat as he powered through the gears.”

The 1996 Impala SS was the last version of the muscle sedan powered by a V8 and rear-wheel-drive.

Buying the B-Body

Those high-revving memories stayed with Chuck, leading to a lifelong passion and the subsequent acquisition of numerous examples throughout the years.

One of those boulevard bruisers that ended up in the Barrett’s garage was a 1996 Impala Super Sport which Chuck and his wife Barb bought brand new. “We were well aware of this generation of the SS after their introduction in 1994 and both found them quite attractive,’ said Chuck. “When the announcement was made that 1996 would be their final year, we knew we had to act.”

In June of that year, the car-crazy couple headed to Jennings Chevrolet in Glenview, Illinois. There, they ordered a Dark Cherry Metallic example, paying $26,192 for the modern four-door muscle machine.

Chuck with his family's familiar and well-loved 1996 Impala SS. It's a regular sight around Chicago.

The Barrett's have kept all of their vehicle's documentation including the original dealership paperwork.

Package Contents

All three years of this iteration of Impala Super Sport were built at General Motors’ Arlington, Texas, assembly plant. Production started on February 14th, 1994, and ended on December 13, 1996.

The package was available in three paint colors in 1996: Black, Dark Gray-Green, and Dark Cherry. Inside, the sole interior upholstery color was gray leather with the cabin also being fitted with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and floor console. A new touch for 1996 was an analog gauge cluster, fitted with a 160-mph speedometer and tachometer.

Under the hood was a 5.7L LT1 V8 with SFI producing 260 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft of torque. The only transmission option was a four-speed automatic transmission.

The 5.7L V8 engine came with SFI and a stainless-steel exhaust system.

The suspension was lowered 1½-inches and upgraded with stiffer coil springs, De Carbon shocks and 12.1-inch four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. A limited-slip rear differential with 3.08 gearing was standard.

On the outside, the cars received a monochromatic color scheme, complete with a body-colored grille. Other additions included 17x8.5-inch five-spoke aluminum wheels wrapped in P225/50ZR17 Z-rated tires, a rear decklid spoiler and bespoke badging on the D-pillar and rear fender.

New for the 1996 model year was an analog gauge cluster with 160mph speedometer.

An AM/FM stereo with cassette player and Speed-Compensated Volume was standard with an optional CD player being available.

The package included chunky 17" cast-aluminum wheels complete with 'Impala' emblem center caps.

	1994	1995	1996	Total by Color
Black	6,303	9.858	35,246	35,246
Dark Cherry	0	7,134	19,314	19,314
D. Gray-Green	0	4,442	15,118	15,118
TOTAL	6,303	21,434	41,941	69,678

Red, White and Vroom

“When I put the deposit in, Barb said I was white as snow – it was the most money I had ever spent for a car,’ laughs Chuck. Those emotions quickly turned to anxious excitement as they eagerly waited for their purchase to arrive.

That day came just after the Fourth of July, making for one raucous red, white, and blue holiday. “It was such a delight to finally see our car in person,’ gushed Chuck. “We were both so excited.”

They did opt for the heat-reflective windshield (costing $52.00). To help keep things secure, the couple made one aftermarket addition to the Chevy, adding an alarm system.

Seeing the U.S.A.

For the next couple of years, it was Barb who was regularly sliding behind the wheel, driving the big sedan to her marketing job on the north side of Chicago. “All her coworkers knew her because of what she drove,’ laughs Bob. “That certainly extended to the guys who considered her choice of wheels pretty exciting.”

One of the longest drives was a business trip to Dearborn, Michigan in the Spring of 1997. Barb had flown to the Motor City and was looking for an activity to entertain her clients. Bob reached out to Bob Eaton, a friend who was also the Chairman of Chrysler. The door was opened for the group to get a tour of the Dodge Viper assembly plant which caught the interest of Bob.

Wanting to participate, too, he drove their Impala over for the high-octane occasion. “That was a special memory being able to see firsthand with those one-of-a-kind sportscars were build’ recalls Chuck.

Barb behind the wheel of her beloved Impala SS.

Part of the Herd

With a deep love for the Super Sport and a desire to connect with other like-minded enthusiasts, in 2010 Chuck joined the Herd car club. During its 25 years, the group focused exclusively on the 1994 through 1996 Impala SS with Chuck serving as President and editor of the SStampede – the club’s official printed publication.

The Barrett's enjoy driving their Chevy classic along the historic Route 66, visiting retro locales like Pontiac, Illinois.

They’re also active members of the Northern Illinois chapter of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America with Bob regularly writing for the Heartbeat newsletter.

Being a part of the HERD car club meant cruising with other like-minded Impala enthusiasts.

No Running Away

In addition to various club gatherings, Chuck is no stranger to car shows and cruise nights in the Chicagoland area. “Everywhere we go, everybody loves the car,’ said Chuck. “It has a way of appealing to everyone.”

Even with regular use (including Barb’s early days of commuting), the car’s mileage has been kept low. Today the odometer shows just over 27,000 miles. “There was a time when my interest faded and I didn’t think it was too, hot anymore,’ explains Chuck. "But then I get behind the wheel and realize this is a car I never want to get rid of.”

Gold Rush: A Custom 4th-Gen Camaro Z28 Glitters and Goes

An enthusiast hits ponycar paydirt with a street-legal gem boasting go-fast performance upgrades along with widebody fabrication.

In all forms, gold is an enticing and desirable object. Beyond the bullion and bars, the color alone is enough to get folks dreaming.

Such is the case of a 1998 Camaro Z/28 painted in alluring Sport Gold Metallic. The shimmering shade was a one-year-only option and a definite draw for owners looking to stand out.

The car was sold new in the north Chicago suburbs, at Rockenbock Chevrolet in Grayslake, Illinois. That original owner purchased it in April of 1998 and enjoyed their vehicle thoroughly before later passing it to another local enthusiast, Jeff Juran.

That sharp color was alluring to him, too, and Jeff soon set to work, dialing up the Camaro’s performance capabilities. Jeff had the skillset, being a GM repair tech for Al Piemonte Buick GMC, just south of the famed O’Hare Airport.

Panning for Performance

The modifications he made included adding C5 Corvette Z06 disc brakes with four piston calipers and cross-drilled rotors. They were tucked behind new iForged Formula three-piece wheels with satin black center sections with 18x10s in the front and 18x12s in the rear. They’re wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force T/A Drag Radial tires.

Satin black iForged Formula wheels were added along with Corvette Z06 disc brakes.

Jef retained the Camaro’s stock LS1 5.7L all-aluminum V-8 but added an LS6 intake manifold, a Hawks Motorsports ‘Sinister’ 4-inch exhaust system with electric cut-outs and a Nitrous Outlet system, with controls tucked away in the center console and in the front ashtray. To handle that kind of power, Jef built a Level 7 Finish Line transmission and mounted a Strange 12 bolt rear end.

The stock LS1 has been upgraded with elements like an LS6 intake manifold.

The suspension was upgraded with components from UMI Performance including a Stage 2 SL1 Front End kit featuring a dual tube K-member, a competition panhard bar lowering and leveling kit, single adjustable lower control arms and panhard bar kit, a shock tower brace, a front 35mm sway bar, a rear drag sway bar, a torque arm kit with driveshaft loop and 3-point bolt-in subframe connectors.

A front bump steer adjuster kit was also added along with lowering springs, dropping the car 1.25-inches in the front and 1.5-inches in the rear. Put in use at local dragstrips, ETs in the low 11 seconds were common given the amount of traction.

Other new additions included GP Thunder headlamps (with black backgrounds), clear turn signal housings, a dark window tint, and a heritage front grille insert.

Up front, Dan added a heritage grill complete with a retro Z/28 badge.

Hitting Pay Dirt

After years of tinkering and high-octane enjoyment, in June of 2019 Jef sold the vehicle to his friend, Dan Carlson. Like those before him, it was that sparkling factory hue that had him interested in becoming the car’s next owner – even with over 350,000 miles showing on the odometer.

The car as Dan received it with the odometer showing over 300,000 miles.

“What turned me on to the car was the striking paint color,’ recalls Dan. “The Sport Gold Metallic sparked me wanting the car.”

That color, ordered under RPO code 63U, was applied to just 373 Z28s in 1998, 301 of which were coupes. “Knowing how rare it was, I wanted to retain it even after all of the body modifications,’ said Dan. “I wasn’t about to change it.”

Gold Paint Code	63U
Z28 Coupe (Total Cars)	301
Z28 Convertible (Total Cars)	72
Total Cars	373

Sport Gold Metallic was a one-year option, seen here in period Camaro literature. (Image: GM)

A Bonanza of Bodywork

With Jef having tackled the heavy lifting on polishing up the Camaro’s powertrain and suspension, in the fall of 2019 Dan set to work on his area of expertise: bodywork fabrication. Dan does that full-time at Roman Performance, in Addison, Illinois, and knew he wanted to take his Camaro over the top in the looks department.

A big priority was retaining the backseat, but Dan still wanted to shoehorn a much larger tire onto the rear axle. To that end, Dan grafted on Hawks widebody quarter panels to add several inches to the Camaro’s rear haunches.

All the body panels came off in the process with Dan spending upwards of 500 hours dialing in the look and fitment. Other exterior additions included a large, high back ‘Super Car’ three-piece spoiler (sourced from IROC Motorsports), a new VFN cowl induction hood and a Super Car front bumper cover from Magg Performance.

To add visual interest, carbon fiber overlays were added as profile stripes and to the rearview mirror caps, the hood cowl, the T-top hoop and across the rear taillight panel.

A add a bit of contrast, local painter Rich Keylard, of Airephix, in Roselle, Illinois, hand-applied red accents and custom lettering to the hood, calling out Dan’s future plans for even more power.

From there, painter Nick Spencer (of Roman Performance) sprayed a shiny new coat of Sport Gold Metallic. “It’s a laborious and multi-step process but adding the carbon fiber gives it real depth and a 3D look,’ said Dan. “I’m very happy with how it turned out.”

A 3-piece 'Super Car' spoiler was mounted at the rear.

Custom artwork on the hood cowls call out Dan's future engine plans.

Cabin Carving

During the process, the interior was also gone through and gutted, making room for a six-point roll cage, fabricated in-house by Roman Performance. Dan took advantage of the timing to make another big change: swapping the upholstery.

“It was tan and after all those miles, starting to show some serious wear,’ recalls the craftsman. “It needed to be replaced so I swapped it to black which pairs better with the gold.”

The factory tan interior was swapped for black along with new SPARCO race seats.

Dan also added black SPARCO R700 Tuner race seats and a MOMO competition steering wheel, leaving the factory Monsoon stereo with cassette and factory-installed 12-disc CD changer in place and operational.

Mining for More

With his recent round of intense fabrication and painting complete, Dan already has plans in the works for the Midwest winter months ahead. He’s having a 418ci V-8 custom-built, based on a 6.2L aluminum block, and will be installing it just in time to have the car back on the road for Spring.

“The goal is to have 600 horsepower at the rear wheels and be chasing nine-second quarter mile times,’ explains Dan. “The car is set up to handle that kind of power and I’m excited to keep pushing the limits and see how far we can go.”

Dan with his custom 1998 Camaro Z/28.

While the treasured car sure is pretty to look at it, lead foot Dan is deadest on staking his claim in making sure that show-stopping nature is backed up with serious head-turning performance.

With how this wild and wonderful Camaro is coming together it’s clear he’s struck it rich receiving loads of satisfaction.

Graphic resources provided by Vecteezy

GMMG's Covert Intimidator SS Camaro Convertible Resurfaces After Years In Hiding

After years of myths and speculation, the rumors are true: a single 2001 Intimidator SS Camaro convertible was surreptitiously created by Matt Murphy’s GMMG team.

The unauthorized droptop, identified by Murphy as car number 13, was unveiled at this year's 23rd Annual All GM Show, presented by Berger Chevrolet, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since being created at GMMG's facility over two decades ago, the Camaro has never been publicly displayed, instead being tucked away and far out of sight.

The car is part of the 2001 Intimidator SS Camaro program, initiated by the late legendary NASCAR competitor, Dale Earnhardt. Following Berger Chevrolet's lead with their popular Berger SS Camaro program a year earlier, Earnhardt commissioned Matt Murphy and his crew to build 100 modified 2001 SS Camaros.

They would pick up after the cosmetic-focused Championship Series (1994-1995) and Signature Series (1996-2000) Camaros offered by Earnhardt's dealership.

Just like the others in the ISS run, car #13 was numbered on the rearview mirror and at the base of the windshield.

ISS: Package Contents - Exterior

All of the vehicles were to be black coupes and up-fitted with package contents like chambered exhaust mufflers with stainless tips, a carbon fiber air-box, ball-milled brake rotors, American Racing 200S alloy wheels with painted 'Magnetallic Grey' spokes and a front grille insert highlighted with a retro 'SS' badge.

A carbon fiber air box lid bearing the ISS logo was added to each of the Camaros in the run.

With the performance upgrades, horsepower was rated at 381, a numeral with special meaning to Earnhardt. The racecar he drove for Richard Childress Racing bore his iconic number 3 while his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Park who drove for Earnhardt’s team, piloted cars bearing numbers 8 and 1.

Each also received a painted matte black taillight panel with chromed Camaro lettering, program badges and a 'Magnetallic Grey' hood stinger and deck stripe graphic.

The ISS package included 17x9.5 American Racing 200S alloy wheels with painted 'Magnetallic Grey' spokes.

A central hood graphic with horsepower callouts was added, its gray color matching the painted wheels..

As typical with their Camaro programs, GMMG added their unique chambered exhaust.

ISS: Package Contents - Interior

Inside the cabin, embroidered floor mats were added along with items like a numbered cloisonné on the center console, an output badge on the center stack and a rearview mirror with compass and auto-dimming functionality.

A personalized touch was a Bright Argent silver gauge insert signed by Earnhardt himself. It's been reported Murphy brought the initial batch of inserts to the 2001 Daytona 500 where Earnhardt signed them in his motorcoach, parked in the track in-field. The remainder was to be signed after the race back at his dealership.

The package also included a fitted car cover with the Intimidator SS logo. Each car was numbered with numeral graphics applied to the rearview mirror and on the base of the windshield, matching the number presented on the console cloisonné.

As was the norm per GMMG protocols, each received a numbered brass door tag identifying them as having passed through the speed shop.

Sales & Distribution

After the upgrades were added, the vehicles left GMMG's shop in Marietta, Georgia, and were transported and exclusively sold through Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet in Newton, North Carolina. The standard price was $40,381, another subtle reference to the horsepower callout.

During the development phase, Earnhardt instructed Murphy to intentionally skip car number 13. With it out, it remains unclear if the ISS run would have included 99 cars or expanded to 101 numbered cars to fit the expected 100 car total.

Sadly, Earnhardt's tragic crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 on February 18th brought things to a screeching halt. As such, only 85 Camaros were officially created for the program with just 33 receiving a signed instrument panel insert.

Likely due to issues sourcing that quantity of coupes, T-Tops were also utilized.

COUPE	47
T-TOP	38
CONVERTIBLE	1
TOTAL	86

Exterior ISS badges were mounted on the rear panel and on the front fenders.

Car #13 Origins

Car #13's story begins in December 2001. Sometime in the month, Murphy reached out to Berger sales associate, Dennis Barker, in search of a new SS Camaro convertible. One (equipped with a six-speed manual transmission) was located at nearby Feldman Chevrolet, in Novi, Michigan. They received the car in September. It was transferred to Berger with 69 miles on the odometer where on December 28th Murphy bought it for $28,500.54.

Murphy brought the car to Georgia where he likely drove it occasionally or used it to log test miles. When he sold it years later, the Camaro's odometer showed 2,844 miles.

According to GMMG records, in August of 2002 it was logged in the shop's system and given the Intimidator SS treatment. It was also identified as car #13 and given the accompanying numeral graphics and console badge.

Matt also gave it a brass door tag bearing '16003': 1 for its model year as a 2001, 6 for its LS6 upgrade and 003 likely a reference to Earnhardt's iconic race number.

A brass door tag was mounted in the drivers' door jamb, the 003 likely a reference to Earnhardt's iconic number 3.

It also received a unique powertrain upgrade, having its stock LS1 V8 engine exchanged for an LS6 V8 engine, likely sourced from a surplus of GMMG's ZL1 Supercar Camaro program. The 381 horsepower callout on the hood graphic was not updated to reflect the bump in output.

The vehicle did receive a signed gauge insert. It's been said Matt discovered it years after the program had ended, stuck behind another unsigned insert. He then added to his convertible.

Another bespoke touch was a 'by Berger' badge on the rear panel.