The Blue Bullet A Chevrolet Impala’s Ultimate Transformation
Some cars get restored. Others get reborn.
This 1961 Chevrolet Impala bubble top started life in New Mexico as a tired six-cylinder cruiser—until it found its way into the hands of Tim Perrin at Tim’s Garage in Phoenix, Arizona. Six months later, it rolled out as a fully reimagined pro-touring beast, built to dominate both the streets and the show circuit. And before making its way to its new home in South Africa, it earned its stripes on the legendary Hot Rod Power Tour.
The Resurrection Begins
Finding a ’61 bubble top isn’t easy, especially in South Africa, where only a handful exist. That’s why this one was sourced off eBay, plucked from the dry Southwest, and shipped straight to Tim’s workshop in Arizona. The goal? A ground-up nut-and-bolt restoration, blending classic American style with modern muscle and precision engineering.
The car was completely stripped to bare metal, revealing solid bones but plenty of work ahead. The frame was reinforced and powder-coated, prepping it for a serious power upgrade. Every inch of the body was meticulously straightened before heading to Elite Automotive Finishes in Mesa, Arizona, where it was sprayed in a head-turning shade of 1964 Corvette Blue with crisp white accents—a last-minute decision that transformed the car’s entire attitude.
Heart of a Modern Beast
Gone was the old six-cylinder, replaced with a 480-horsepower GM LS3 crate engine, giving this classic the bite to match its bark. A 4L70-E automatic transmission, part of the GM Performance package, sends power to a Currie 9-inch rear end, built to handle everything the road throws at it.
But power is only part of the equation. The Impala was fitted with CPP’s full pro-touring suspension kit, including a 4-link rear setup and modern coilovers, bringing 21st-century handling to this ‘60s icon. Massive 13-inch disc brakes at all four corners ensure it stops as hard as it goes.
The Hot Rod Power Tour Baptism
A build like this deserved more than just a trailer ride home—it needed to prove itself on the pavement. And what better way than on the Hot Rod Power Tour?
Fresh out of Tim’s Garage, the Impala hit the road in June 2015, joining thousands of classic and custom rides for a seven-day, seven-city, 1,500-mile test of endurance. The route stretched from Madison, Wisconsin, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with the Impala tearing up the highways, turning heads at every stop, and proving it wasn’t just a pretty face.
It wasn’t all about the driving, though. The Power Tour comes with its own brand of car culture, including the legendary Car-B-Q—where the grills cook meat, not motors (thankfully). For a freshly built car, the Impala performed flawlessly, earning respect from fellow gearheads and even making its way into the pages of Hot Rod Magazine in their event coverage.
Classic Looks, Modern Comfort
Inside, the Impala stays true to its early-‘60s heritage, thanks to a fully restored and upgraded interior by Ciadella Interiors. The seats and door panels retain their classic look but now feature premium materials for a refined finish. Doug Stinson of American Upholstery handled the expert fitting, while the dash was modernized with a restored factory speedo and custom-programmed gauges to integrate seamlessly with the LS3.
From Phoenix to South Africa
After completing the Power Tour, the Impala was shipped to Florida, where it waited for transport across the Atlantic. Two months later, it landed in South Africa, where it now prowls the streets as one of the country’s most unique and well-built pro-touring classics.
A six-cylinder survivor turned high-performance street machine, this Impala is proof that the right vision, the right builder, and a whole lot of horsepower can bring a classic back better than ever.
Restored. Reinvented. Reborn.
