Most people see a new car as a functional part of their life–like a microwave or a washing machine.
Fortunately, older cars take on a life of their own because their history is connected to the owner–a washing machine will never have that connection.
Jerry Sutherland
This 1965 Chevy Impala SS is a textbook example of how an old car can become a piece of the family history.

Bruce and Don Getschel wanted to build a ’65 Chevy Impala two-door hardtop for many reasons. Bruce liked these cars from the day he first saw one and Don became a fan because his uncle had one. Don remembered how much he liked the triple taillights when he was a kid.

Bruce’s wife and Don’s mom Heather wasn’t really a “wheels girl” as Don called her, but Heather went to car shows because she liked the social side of those events. Don said she’d talk to everyone at a show because she was simply that kind of person.

Don and Bruce took on the Chevy project because they liked the car and Heather supported them on the concept. Don said she’d spend a lot of time in the shop watching the car take shape.

Bruce said he always wanted a ’65 Chevy but he, “Never had the time or the money but then I finally had the time, and my son had the money”. They found the right car for the project and jumped into the process of building a cool ’65 Impala.

The first thing they did was decide what direction the car would take. In this case, the Impala was going to be faster, and it would handle better. They found a 2017 6.2-liter V-8 from a donor truck and a 4L80 transmission to handle the extra power. Bruce believes the V-8 “runs at nearly 500 horsepower without any of the smog stuff”

They added four-wheel discs and 17” wheels to make the Impala stop a lot better than a stock ’65 Impala. They’re looking at a new steering box and tubular front end because the camber on the driver’s side needs to be addressed. They’re also dialing in the suspension because the upgraded springs changed the ride height to the point where Bruce has to carry weight in the back to get it to settle.

The interior was kept factory stock because they wanted this ’65 to look more factory than custom. That explains the factory-correct shade of blue paint—it was a color that drew Bruce in when he was a kid.

The car runs highway speeds at 2200 rpm with a 3:73 rear end thanks to the updated transmission, so it’s not working too hard on the freeway. It also does time as a parade car, so the aftermarket radiator keeps it cool during the massive demands of idling in hot weather.

As mentioned earlier, Heather was a big supporter of this Chevy project, and she came up with the name ‘Baby Blue’ for the Impala. The family has pictures of her sitting in the car when it was 75% done, but unfortunately Heather didn’t get to see the final version of the Impala.

The Getschels did finish the car and now it’s a rolling tribute to a self-described non “wheels girl” who really was a “wheels girl”. ‘Baby Blue is her legacy–Don summed it up this way.
Our goal was to make this car look as beautiful as my Mom was.
Don Getschel
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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