Today, it’s time to feature products from the bow tie division as they were back in the day; either on the roads, parked by the curbside, or in the open. With this collection of images showcasing Chevrolets in the ’60s and ’70s, it won’t be a surprise that full-size models tend to be the norm. Still, a few other models do make an appearance. Here’s Patrick Bell’s detailed comments on each photo:
#1 A lady smiling for the photographer in a ’66 Impala Sport Sedan with its sunvisors down and a Wisconsin plate used from ’68-’72. They are traveling on a road that would require a four wheel drive truck by today’s standards. This does not look like Wisconsin to me, but since I’ve never been there I can’t really say.
With Chevrolets being the most common of things back then, there’s often more than one in some of these photos. So, what would your pick be from these?
#2 A couple of sharp Chevy’s in this modest but adequate neighborhood. A ’47-’50 Advanced Design 3600 De Luxe 5 window pickup, and a ’62 Impala Sport Sedan. They both have what appears to be a Colorado plate of a design that was used in the even years from ’62-’72. In the foreground is a ’59 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Club Victoria.
#3 Perhaps a rent car office with a load of luggage and a ’61 Corvair Monza sedan out front. In the background from the left is a rare maroon ’56 or ’57 Continental Mark II, green ’54 Plymouth Suburban, white ’61 Chevrolet full size wagon, white ’60 Ford full size 4 door sedan, green ’61 Comet, and a tan ’61 Ford Fairlane 500 Town Sedan. In the far background from the left I can see a white ’59 Ford, green ’60-’62 Ford Falcon wagon, black over white ’55 or ’56 Dodge 4 door sedan, white ’61 Cadillac, white over red ’59 Oldsmobile, black over grey ’54 Ford Fordor, ’61 Chevrolet Bel Air or Impala 4 door sedan, and possibly a black ’61 Imperial.
#4 That may be an airport in the background. In the foreground a lady checking out a sharp ’63 Chevy II Nova 400 Sport Coupe with a ’59 Impala Sport Sedan above it. On the right a ’64 Impala, ’58 Ford 4 door wagon and a ’64 Dodge Polara 4 door hardtop. In the background from the left possibly a white over maroon ’60 or ’61 Rambler, grey and white ’58 Bel Air, white maybe a Saab?, white VW Type 1, black ’62 Comet, and a white ’61-’64 Cadillac convertible.
#5 A sweet looking ’63 Chevy II Nova 400 Super Sport Coupe with a California plate making a stop to take in the view.
#6 A high school homecoming parade about to start before the game on a cool fall day. The drivers are smartly dressed and the girls are warmly dressed for their open air drive. From the left a ’62 Impala, ’63 Impala, ’63 Ford Galaxie 500, and another ’62 Impala. The license plates look like New Jersey.
#7 It looks like someone cleaned up their ’66 Chevelle Super Sport 396 Coupe while he was on duty at the Phillips 66 station. He installed some mag wheels for that individual touch and the license plate is too blurry for me to read the state. In the background on the left is a ’63 Plymouth Belvedere wagon, and behind the Chevelle is a black ’65 Ford Galaxie 2 door hardtop and a ’61 Chrysler 2 door hardtop.
#8 A recreational area probably in California. Front and center is a clean ’65 Impala convertible a little unusual as it has the standard hub caps. To it’s right is a ’65 Pontiac Le Mans Hardtop Coupe. On the lower level, left side, front to back, the ones I can make out are a white ’65 Rambler Classic wagon, white Buick 2 door Riviera about a ’54 model, gold ’64 Impala Sport Coupe, white over blue ’56 Bel Air 2 door sedan. Right side back to front a white ’57-’59 Imperial 2 door, light blue ’64 Pontiac full size wagon, white ’60-’63 Chevrolet or GMC half ton Fleetside long bed with a cabover camper, perhaps a blue ’65 or ’66 Buick Electra 225, and a clean looking green ’64-’66 Ford F-100 short bed with a camper shell.
#9 It looks like the party is over with a lady about to get in a ’69 Camaro Sport Coupe with the standard hub caps and bumper guards and a license plate I cannot make out. In front of it is a ’69 Ford LTD 2 door hardtop, and in front of it is either a ’66 Pontiac Tempest or a ’66/’67 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Across the median all I can make out is a ’69 Chrysler Town & Country wagon and a black over white ’69 Impala or Caprice Custom Coupe.
#10 People are milling about looking like they are waiting for something. A sharp ’65 Chevelle Malibu Super Sport Coupe with a load and snow tires on the rear may have been pulled over by an unusual police vehicle, a ’68 GMC Panel. Perhaps it is the paddy wagon. The door sign says ‘GALL’, might that be Gallup, NM? New Mexico does not issue front license plates so that would fit as well. In the parking lot from the left a blue ’66 Chevrolet, white over maroon ’59 Biscayne or Bel Air 2 door sedan, black over white ’68 Dodge D series long bed with a kid cage, and a white ’64-’66 Chevrolet or GMC pickup.
#11 A ’66 Chevrolet neighborhood with a Caprice Custom Coupe nicely equipped with a 396 or 427, vinyl roof and bumper guards. In the background parked in the driveway is an Impala sedan.
#12 A traveling salesman rearranging his product in the back of a ’67 Biscayne 2 door sedan with a V8. A ’64 Ford Galaxie 500 4 door is in front of it.
#13 A man that looks proud of what is likely his ’69 Chevelle Malibu SS 396 Sport Coupe in Hugger Orange with a Texas plate that could be ’69, ’71, ’73 or from ’75 to ’84. That may be a ’70 Chevelle in the street.
#14 Tamarack is the name of the tree on the right. There also is a resort in Idaho and a town in Minnesota with that name. The license plate could be Oregon or California. The car is a first year ’70 Monte Carlo, Chevrolet’s entry into the personal luxury market. They were more style than substance in my opinion but this one pulls it off very well.
#15 I’m not too sure what to think about this pair. They may be members of the Mickey Mouse Fan Club. The car could be an innocent bystander, passing through as the photographer made his shot. It is a ’72 Impala Custom Coupe with a New Jersey plate. On the left edge is a ’54 or ’55 first series Chevrolet with perhaps a bus body.
#16 Love is budding in the park. Left to right a mustard colored ’73-’79 Chevrolet or GMC C series pickup, ’76 Impala Custom Coupe, another mustard pickup, this one a ’73-’80 Chevrolet C10 Fleetside long bed, ’73 Oldsmobile Cutlass, ’77-’79 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Coupe, and a white over red ’71-’72 Chevrolet or GMC C series Fleetside long bed.
Suprising the amount of 2 doors.I would of thought the 4 doors would of out numbered them, especially the big cars. The white 66 chevelle with the American mags has the right stance. Love those.
The popularity of four-door sedans declined throughout the 1960s: They were about 38 percent of new car sales in 1962, but only 22 percent by 1969. Four-door hardtops went from about 9 percent to almost 14 percent.
Two-door models — mostly hardtops, but also two-door sedans and other two-door models — were about 40 percent of the market in 1962 and about 55 percent in 1969.
The ’64 Burnt Red Malibu is beautiful.
Grandma and grandson are clearly related. Same face shape, same easygoing attitude.
Same mustache, too.
The blue ’67 Biscayne two-door is the perfect representation of how these cars were primarily bought and used: as company cars for traveling sales reps. They were the successors to the business coupes, and their trunks were full of samples. This picture captures Mr. Sales Rep cleaning out the trunk of his Chevy, which is parked behind his “real” car, a nice ’64 Ford Galaxie 500.
But the end was nigh; 1969 would be the last year for a full-size Chevy 2-door sedan. This picture captures the end of an era.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-the-two-door-sedan-1920-2008-its-history-and-the-last-2-door-sedan-for-each-brand-and-model-us-market/2/
Funny, this is the car that really stands out to me. With a moderate V8, automatic, power steering and brakes there’s a good chance that’s where my money would have gone . Not too much trim and not pilarless. On the very few occasions I’ve been in a pilarless car they’ve been noisy, creaky and draughty, but then we don’t have the climate or weather here for them.
I note that ridiculed chrome accent on the rear hips of the ’65 Biscayne has disappeared. Designers or bean-counters? 🙂
My 68 Biscayne had no power steering, brakes, or radio but it had a horn button that proudly said Biscayne.
Designers or bean-counters?
Either way it was a relief.
This ’67 Biscayne 2-door is probably the all-time winner on CC for the car that most closely matches my mother’s ’67 Bel Air 2-door. Hers had the 250 six, 3-on-the-tree, manual steering and brakes, and no air conditioning. The only option was an AM radio. Even the color of the Biscayne may be the same Tahoe Turquoise as on our Bel Air.
That car was the last stripper she would buy; her next car was a ’73 Monte Carlo, though with relatively few options (but it did have a/c and a V8).
“S&H Green Stamps!!!
Funny the last picture has 4 chairs, would have thought 2, the table and the daisy would be perfect for that romantic dinner in the park!
Dave
I always enjoy these photo essays, Mr. Baron. Keep them coming! I am 69 years old and grew up around many of the featured vehicles seen here.
And while looking through these photo essays I am always amazed by the same two things:
1) how reasonably sized the houses are compared to the monstrosities that have been built in the past 20+ years.
2) the almost complete lack of fat people. Quite a change from what I see in any public place these days.
Great shots, you can almost hear the “Powerglide whine”!
As much as I love ’60s Chevelle SS396s, I’d have to take the 1950(ish) pickup in the first shot. It looks like a 3/4 ton, just like the one my Dad’s buddy had. Dad would borrow it once in awhile, My Mom would pack a lunch for us and we’d head way up a logging road to a small lake with the canoe and the fishing gear. The truck rode like a log wagon and took some muscle to steer, but it easily navigated roads that would have imperiled our old Beaumont wagon. I still see lots of half tons around but I guess the heavier models were flogged like rented mules until they finally bit the dust. Haven’t seen one in many years.
I’d give a lot to be able to spend a day like that again!
That blue Biscayne 2 dr reminds me of our across-the-street neighbor Mr. Hahn. He had a Granada Gold version of this exact model, a Biscayne ’67 2 dr. 6 cylinder with Powerglide and gold striped cloth bench seats.
A very interesting character, he had fought under Eisenhower North Africa in WW II and had endless stories to tell, and being childless he entertained us instead. Mr. Hahn was a lawyer in Baltimore CIty and used a stripper full-size Chevy as his commuter car, a ’59 Biscayne and ’63 Biscayne preceded the ’67, which was followed by a ’69 Malibu, finally downsizing a bit, all of them were always parked on the street. His wife drove several beautiful Cadillac model 4 door hardtop DeVilles that he babied and always garaged..
“Cloth seats”, in a “Biscayne”!! He was “living large”! Both of our’s had that thin (almost plastic) covered seats.
Both were “4dor”, as well.
Our Bel Air had cloth seats — they were standard in ’67. Vinyl was optional.
The shiny, spiffy, “Corvair” is almost smiling!
Without question, the ‘stand out’ car here, has to be the simply stunning 1962 Roman Red Chevrolet Impala Sport Sedan. Not keen on the white roof, but these ‘62 four door pillarless hardtops are a rare find in 2025.
Can’t get a enough of these classic 4 door hardtops, particularly in 1962 Chevrolets.
-SO- much goodness here ! .
Hard to choose but most likely the early “shoebox” Chevy II Nova SS coupe .
-Nate
Great collection of cars, Rich. In high school I drove a ’66 Chevelle, but nothing like the SS pictured above. Mine was a 4-door Malibu, dark green with a white top. It was often mistaken for a cop car at underage beer parties, much to my delight.
My favorite shot here is of the Chevy II Nova SS (#5). Great looking utilitarian design in a beautiful windswept setting. Maybe Hawaii or Torrey Pines?
Make mine the white two door Caprice please.
Having owned 4 isn’t enough of a good thing!
Happy New Year to everyone.
What a cool selection of great pics.. Lot of memories there.
That green Chevy pickup is probably a 3600(3/4 ton) or 3800(1 ton). These were both available with the 8′ bed while the 3100 half ton had the 6.5′ bed. The GMC half ton was available with an 8′ bed; they are much rarer than the Chevy half tons. And I would agree with you that the heavier capacity trucks got the snot run out of them… though they were a sturdy product even in the half tons! Power steering was still a couple of generations away from the GM trucks when those were built. This is why cars and trucks of the time have such comparatively large steering wheels, to reduce the effort required when driving and especially when parking. Back then the trucks GM built were all six bangers with manual transmission until the Hydramatic became available.
Thanks for the photos Rich, real time capsule stuff. Growing up during this period, Chevrolets were everywhere, it almost seemed as if Chevrolet was America’s favorite vehicle. Now when I drive virtually every Chevrolet I encounter is a CUV, SUV, crossover or pickup. The sight of an Impala or a Malibu is becoming a rather rare occurance. Virtually all the passenger cars I encounter are VWs, Hondas, Hyundais, Kias and Nissans. How things have changed; pickups seemingly have become the modern equivalent of the passenger car, at least as far as domestics are concerned.
Out of the Chevys, I think I’d go with either the black Corvair, or one of the ’63 convertibles. On the other hand, my real 1st pick is probably that ’59 Ford in the 2nd photo.
That’s old National Airport (now Reagan Nat) in photo 4. There’s half a Mark II behind the Corvair (how many were black?).
See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet. There is a lot to absorb in these fine photos.
#1 A lady smiling for the photographer in a ’66 Impala Sport Sedan with a droopy headliner above the rear view mirror and a Wisconsin plate used from ’68-’72. They are traveling on a road that would require a four wheel drive truck by today’s standards. This does not look like Wisconsin to me, but since I’ve never been there I can’t really say.
#2 A couple of sharp Chevy’s in this modest but adequate neighborhood. A ’47-’50 Advanced Design 3600 De Luxe 5 window pickup, and a ’62 Impala Sport Sedan. They both have what appears to be a Colorado plate of a design that was used in the even years from ’62-’72. In the foreground is a ’59 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Club Victoria.
#3 Perhaps a rent car office with a load of luggage and a ’61 Corvair Monza sedan out front. In the background from the left is a rare maroon ’56 or ’57 Continental Mark II, green ’54 Plymouth Suburban, white ’61 Chevrolet full size wagon, white ’60 Ford full size 4 door sedan, green ’61 Comet, and a tan ’61 Ford Fairlane 500 Town Sedan. In the far background from the left I can see a white ’59 Ford, green ’60-’62 Ford Falcon wagon, black over white ’55 or ’56 Dodge 4 door sedan, white ’61 Cadillac, white over red ’59 Oldsmobile, black over grey ’54 Ford Fordor, ’61 Chevrolet Bel Air or Impala 4 door sedan, and possibly a black ’61 Imperial.
#4 That may be an airport in the background. In the foreground a lady checking out a sharp ’63 Chevy II Nova 400 Sport Coupe with a ’59 Impala Sport Sedan above it. On the right a ’64 Impala, ’58 Ford 4 door wagon and a ’64 Dodge Polara 4 door hardtop. In the background from the left possibly a white over maroon ’60 or ’61 Rambler, grey and white ’58 Bel Air, white maybe a Saab?, white VW Type 1, black ’62 Comet, and a white ’61-’64 Cadillac convertible.
#5 A sweet looking ’63 Chevy II Nova 400 Super Sport Coupe with a California plate making a stop to take in the view.
#6 A high school homecoming parade about to start before the game on a cool fall day. The drivers are smartly dressed and the girls are warmly dressed for their open air drive. From the left a ’62 Impala, ’63 Impala, ’63 Ford Galaxie 500, and another ’62 Impala. The license plates look like New Jersey.
#7 It looks like someone cleaned up their ’66 Chevelle Super Sport 396 Coupe while he was on duty at the Phillips 66 station. He installed some mag wheels for that individual touch and the license plate is too blurry for me to read the state. In the background on the left is a ’63 Plymouth Belvedere wagon, and behind the Chevelle is a black ’65 Ford Galaxie 2 door hardtop and a ’61 Chrysler 2 door hardtop.
#8 A recreational area probably in California. Front and center is a clean ’65 Impala convertible a little unusual as it has the standard hub caps. To it’s right is a ’65 Pontiac Le Mans Hardtop Coupe. On the lower level, left side, front to back, the ones I can make out are a white ’65 Rambler Classic wagon, white Buick 2 door Riviera about a ’54 model, gold ’64 Impala Sport Coupe, white over blue ’56 Bel Air 2 door sedan. Right side back to front a white ’57-’59 Imperial 2 door, light blue ’64 Pontiac full size wagon, white ’60-’63 Chevrolet or GMC half ton Fleetside long bed with a cabover camper, perhaps a blue ’65 or ’66 Buick Electra 225, and a clean looking green ’64-’66 Ford F-100 short bed with a camper shell.
#9 It looks like the party is over with a lady about to get in a ’69 Camaro Sport Coupe with the standard hub caps and bumper guards and a license plate I cannot make out. In front of it is a ’69 Ford LTD 2 door hardtop, and in front of it is either a ’66 Pontiac Tempest or a ’66/’67 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Across the median all I can make out is a ’69 Chrysler Town & Country wagon and a black over white ’69 Impala or Caprice Custom Coupe.
#10 People are milling about looking like they are waiting for something. A sharp ’65 Chevelle Malibu Super Sport Coupe with a load and snow tires on the rear may have been pulled over by an unusual police vehicle, a ’68 GMC Panel. Perhaps it is the paddy wagon. The door sign says ‘GALL’, might that be Gallup, NM? New Mexico does not issue front license plates so that would fit as well. In the parking lot from the left a blue ’66 Chevrolet, white over maroon ’59 Biscayne or Bel Air 2 door sedan, black over white ’68 Dodge D series long bed with a kid cage, and a white ’64-’66 Chevrolet or GMC pickup.
#11 A ’66 Chevrolet neighborhood with a Caprice Custom Coupe nicely equipped with a 396 or 427, vinyl roof and bumper guards. In the background parked in the driveway is an Impala sedan.
#12 A traveling salesman rearranging his product in the back of a ’67 Biscayne 2 door sedan with a V8. A ’64 Ford Galaxie 500 4 door is in front of it.
#13 A man that looks proud of what is likely his ’69 Chevelle Malibu SS 396 Sport Coupe in Hugger Orange with a Texas plate that could be ’69, ’71, ’73 or from ’75 to ’84. That may be a ’70 Chevelle in the street.
#14 Tamarack is the name of the tree on the right. There also is a resort in Idaho and a town in Minnesota with that name. The license plate could be Oregon or California. The car is a first year ’70 Monte Carlo, Chevrolet’s entry into the personal luxury market. They were more style than substance in my opinion but this one pulls it off very well.
#15 I’m not too sure what to think about this pair. They may be members of the Mickey Mouse Fan Club. The car could be an innocent bystander, passing through as the photographer made his shot. It is a ’72 Impala Custom Coupe with a New Jersey plate. On the left edge is a ’54 or ’55 first series Chevrolet with perhaps a bus body.
#16 Love is budding in the park. Left to right a mustard colored ’73-’79 Chevrolet or GMC C series pickup, ’76 Impala Custom Coupe, another mustard pickup, this one a ’73-’80 Chevrolet C10 Fleetside long bed, ’73 Oldsmobile Cutlass, ’77-’79 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Coupe, and a white over red ’71-’72 Chevrolet or GMC C series Fleetside long bed.
Thanks for the photos.
My dad sold his 56 Buick Century Wagon for a 64 Biscayne Wagon. 6 cyl, auto, power steering, radio and heater kept it for 8 years and 100k miles. One tough car. Couldn’t get out of its own way.
Give me that butternut yellow.66 ss396 chevelle..awesome car..Anson mags wheels
…it’s a hoss..66ss396 chevelle
I’ve always really liked the looks of that concave backlight on the ‘72 Impala 2-door hardtop. I know these Impalas were huge, but the ‘72 is my pick of that generation, although I like the ‘73 Impala’s taillights better.
When I was growing up, a Monte Carlo lived across the street from us that looked exactly like the one pictured above the ‘72 Chevy. It was the same right down to the color. It lived next door to the green ‘72 Boat-tail Riv that I’ve often mentioned here.
I agree with you on the ’72 being the best-looking of the 1971-76 generation. I know some don’t like the lowered position of the grille, but I’ve always preferred having a wide swath of body-colored header panel above a grille.
In reference to the photo of the ’66 Chevelle SS396, here’s an action shot of my brother’s modified 1967 SS396. He bought the car as a roller (no engine or transmission) for $75 nearly 50 years ago. He did much of the restoration himself, including the paint job (done in our mother’s garage in the late 70s). He resides in sunny Southern California today.
Some of the nicest people I’ve ever known drove a Chevrolet….