'68 Baldwin Motion Impala in the new SC

[MY70SS396]

Any comments on this car? Just wandering if any of you have saw or know of this car. It looks pretty nice from the pics.

[bowtie3168]

Is that car documented? It looked really nice! The "big" cars (Impalas,Caprices,Bel Airs, and Biscaynes) kind of got overlooked in the late '60s and early '70s because the Camaros,Novas and even Chevelles were so much lighter. I thought that the car was very cool. I have seen Rich B's Biscayne and I thought that that was way cool. Neat!

Andrew

I talked to this guy a few months ago and he admitted to me it was not real, yet it was going to be featured in a magazine. I believe it to be the same car advertised in hemmings a while back. Nice car though.

[Moose]

This 68 Impala now belongs to me.I didn't build it so I am unbiased as to its condition. The pictures that are in SC really DO NOT do the car justice. Jim did an outstanding restoration to the complete car. I do have the original window sticker from Baldwin Chevrolet and am trying to pursue further documentation from Joel Rosen. Be more than happy to discuss this car....

[Belair62]

Moose maybe you can try and post some pics of it here. I don't know how to do it but maybe someone can tell us the secret. I don't have the latest SC so I haven't seen it yet. I'm kind of partial to the big cars myself !

[JoeC]

I think Vince Piggins and some of the other hi performance minded engineers at Chevy liked the L72 427/425 hp motor and they were determined to put them on the street to battle the Hemis and big block Fords. The L72 Biscayne was a great SuperCar deal. You didn't even have to go through the COPO system, or get the SS option, or get an upgraded hood with your 425hp Biscayne. Super Stock magazine tested a 1968 L72 427 Biscayne in the April 1968 issue. The writer (Joe Oldham) picked it up from Baldwin Chevrolet and listed the options as L72, M21, 4:56 gear, F41, and AM radio - cost $3454.35 - weight 3800lbs. The car was unmodified with the AIR pump and with the stock tires in place it ran 13.65 at 110 mph. Oldham felt that with headers, slicks, and a dynotune it would easily run in the 12's. He recommended installing a Hurst shifter because he didn't feel confident powershifting the stock Muncie shifter at 6000 rpm. For about $4K and a weekend worth of work, you could have had a 12 sec. street sleeper drag car that would have beaten most of the cars on the road at that time and even today.

[micky69396]

As a owner of a 68 425 HP Biscayne I can tell you they are a blast. Mine is equiped just like the car in the test other than mine has M22, radio delete, and disc brakes. On repeop tires I have run a best of 13.65 on a wed. night test and tune. Most of the time its tire spin city with that car. It will suprise the Camaro and Chevelle fans on how those big barges move.

[Belair62]

Those Chevy guys new what they were doing when they stuffed those big blocks in the big cars....big cars were the only thing going in the early 60's...BARGE ?????? Micky you mortally wound me !!!! But seriously...better keep that barge out of my area...I have a Camaro that wants to meet you on a dark 2 lane....!!!!!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/burnout.gifand please refrain from the "boat anchor","truck motor" description of the famed 409! Because "I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes" !HMMMM could that be the birth of the Supercar ?? naahhhh

[micky69396]

Bob, thats why I built my racecar. Last time to the strip I tore up the trans in it and said that I wont do it anymore. Its easier to buy parts that they make everyday for these new cars, but the dated stuff has become so rare and expensive I just cant do it to them anymore. I really like all of the big cars, even the old 09's. By the way, I have a "real" boat anchor 67 435 hp 427 vette block that is junk that was just removed from my racecar. Need every cyl. sleeved. I bet the guy who built this originally had no clue on what this thing was worth to the right person.

[JoeC]

Well, if you don't want to call the big iron a musclecar how about a musclebarge?

[bowtie3168]

BelAir62,
I just wanted you to know that Danny Jesel (The Rocker Arm King)said that the Chevrolet 409 and the "427" Z-11 "W" motors were very under appreciated. Danny told me that the "W" motors had a great deal more potential in them but they got overlooked when the "Daytona" engines hit the scene. I would LOVE to own a 61-63 Bel Air, Biscayne, or Impala. You should go to the York US 30 Reunion this year (if they have it again). Dave Strickler's '62 (one of the two '62s), the '63 Z11, and his '68 Z-28 were there. If a "W" motor is a boat anchor, chain me to it before you throw it overboard.
Andrew

[Belair62]

Joe, I think musclebarge is good ! Later 409 blocks were much better pieces than the early ones.Milodon made a "girdle" for the bottom end to try and give it more strength years ago. I think the main drawback to the design had to be the 74 degree deck angle to accomodate combustion chambers in the block rather than in the head. There is not much headwork that can be done to make them breathe any better.I have a 63 dated QB shortblock sitting under my bench that I may sell if anyone has an old Chris Craft in need of a good anchor.