5 generations of the Chevrolet Impala SS ranked from best to worst power

Mention a Chevrolet Impala and thoughts of a run-of-the-mill family sedan may come to mind, but add an SS next to the nameplate and things change. The Impala SS (Super Sport) is a pure power play that dates back to 1961, two years after the Bowtie brand launched the Impala as a standalone model. His numbers remain impressive, even by 21st century standards. The 1960s commercial version of the Impala SS, which spanned two generations, produced up to 425 horsepower. The later generations of Impala SS from the 1990s and 2000s were less brutal, offering between 240 and 303 hp, but they were still ahead of their more mundane counterparts.

However, there is a catch to these power figures. Production figures for 1960s Impala SS models reflected gross horsepower ratings, which generally did not take into account intake, exhaust, and accessory loads. In the early 1970s, the auto industry faced stricter emissions regulations and insurance companies that took a dim view of high-horsepower cars. Beginning with the 1972 model year, Detroit switched to net horsepower calculations to better reflect actual engine configurations. Since raw horsepower rating often varies between manufacturers, there is no standard way to convert horsepower rating between methods, but both always measure horsepower at the crankshaft, not the wheels.

Our ranking of each generation of Impala SS by horsepower takes into account the highest advertised horsepower ratings for regular production SS models, whether gross or net. Special racing versions and modified cars are excluded. Here’s how each generation of Impala SS compares in terms of maximum power output.

The first Impala was a variant of the 1958 Bel Air, but the SS designation only came to the third-generation Impala in 1961. The second generation, without a Super Sport option, filled the two-year gap as a standalone Impala model. The power of the first Impala SS model is a story of progression. The 1961 Impala SS arrived with a choice of V8 engines: 348 cubic inch units rated at 305, 340 or 350 horsepower and a 409 cubic inch V8 officially rated at 360 horsepower. In 1962, this flagship engine could also be configured with two four-barrel carburetors, increasing output to 409 horsepower.

Thanks to strong lifters, dual exhausts, and an 11:1 compression ratio, the 409’s output increased to 425 gross horsepower for the 1963 model year. Chevrolet history buffs may also remember a 1963 Z11 lightweight drag-racing Impala that featured a 427-cubic-inch V8 rated at 430 horsepower. Keep in mind that this one was not a Super Sport model, nor was it part of regular production, as only 57 examples were produced. The 1964 Impala SS continued with the same 409 from the previous year.

Power for the second iteration of the Impala SS was in familiar territory, with peak outputs of 425 horsepower, but the Impala ultimately took a different path to get there. For starters, Chevrolet launched an all-new Impala with a sleeker exterior and perimeter frame, ditching the outgoing model’s X-type architecture. This new look helped the 1965 Impala become the best-selling single model of all time. A record 1,046,514 units were sold, of which approximately 23% were SS variants. Impala SS examples from this generation still attract a lot of attention online.

The top-performing engine in the 1965 non-SS Impala was the familiar 409-cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V8, producing 400 horsepower. For the SS, Chevrolet also offered the L78 V8, a 396 cubic inch V8 rated at 425 gross horsepower. A year later, the 427 cubic inch L72 V8 joined the options list, also boasting up to 425 horsepower. The powerplant featured a forged crankshaft and pistons, solid lifters, and a dual exhaust system. The SS 427 continued in 1967 and 1968, but with a slightly different L36 engine, still 427 cubic inches, but now rated at 385 hp. In 1969, the power increased to 390 hp.

The last Impala SS came with 303 hp, which is the most of any modern generation. The supercharged V6 of the previous eighth-generation SS was replaced by a naturally aspirated 5.3-liter LS4 V8. That translates to a zero to 60 mph run in 5.6 seconds, which is comparable to that of a modern Mazda Miata – but remember, that was 20 years ago.

It sounds simple enough, but the latest-generation Impala SS has a few quirks that don’t fit its muscle-era badge. Notably, the ninth generation Impala was front-wheel drive, as was the SS variant. Power was transmitted through a four-speed automatic transmission, although this was a heavy-duty version. Despite an upgraded suspension that took this SS beyond a rental car version, reviews at the time were not particularly favorable to the SS. In a 2006 test drive, Car and Driver said, “The SS seems to have been created to produce impressive numbers on paper with little regard for driver enjoyment.” » Nonetheless, the Impala SS’s swan song continued through the 2009 model year.

After a quarter-century hiatus, Chevrolet resurrected the Impala SS for the 1994 model year. This time, it was featured in a rear-wheel-drive sedan with a 260-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine under the hood. The engineers didn’t have to dig too far into the parts bin. This LT1 V8 has previously been used in the Camaro and Corvette, although there have been different LT1 versions over the years. However, the Impala SS’s engine was modified with cast iron heads and a different camshaft. It’s also been tuned for more torque: 330 pound-feet in this application. By today’s standards, 0 to 60 mph in seven seconds is nothing exciting, but that was thirty years ago, and this Impala SS weighed about 4,300 pounds.

That bulk came from the full-size Caprice, which underpinned this seventh-generation version. Indeed, you could say that Chevrolet made a civilian version of the Caprice police car. The vehicle included upgraded suspension, improved cooling, larger disc brakes, and a limited-slip differential. Five-spoke aluminum wheels and subtle chrome exterior trim strips helped set this Impala apart from its workhorse siblings. The leather upholstery was another clue. For its final year of production, 1996, the column-mounted shifter was moved to the center console and a tachometer was added. That’s why low-mileage examples of 1996 Impala SS maintain strong collector appeal.

The eighth generation Impala SS Ephemera (2004-2005) stands out for several reasons in addition to having the lowest engine power (240 horsepower). Namely, it’s the only Impala SS with a V6 engine. Yet this is no ordinary six-cylinder engine; This is General Motors’ 3.8-liter Series II engine with an Eaton supercharger, known for its wide torque band.

This Impala SS is based on the eighth-generation Impala, introduced for the 2000 model year as a front-wheel drive sedan. Fast forward to 2004, and Chevrolet added the SS variant to the lineup, marking the first Impala SS to spin the front wheels. An upgraded four-speed automatic transmission controls the setup, but this Chevy also has larger anti-roll bars, modified springs, and Goodyear performance tires. As a result, 0 to 60 mph arrived in 6.5 seconds.

To go beyond a simple Jane Impala, the automaker also added four round taillights (marketing-speak calls this a Corvette-inspired treatment), black-only exterior paint, a small rear spoiler, leather upholstery, and a host of SS badging inside and out. This Impala was discontinued after 2005 to make way for the aforementioned 2006 Impala SS with a more powerful V8 engine.