Vintage Cars: CARS, purchasing vintage cars

Question
CAN YOU HELP ME LOOK FOR A 1964 IMPALA THAT IS BLACK AND LOOKS REAL GOOD BECAUSE EVERY WERE I LOOK I CANT SEEM TO FIND, BUT IF YOU CAN HELP ME I WOULD BE SO HAPPY AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
                                THANK YOU
                                     KELSIE

Answer
Kelsie,

Let's talk about what you're looking for. A lot depends on your budget, because '60s Chevy Impalas can vary wildly in price, depending on body style and location. A really nice car in the Northeast will command a higher premium than one in Southern California, because there is a much larger population of nice '60s Chevrolets in California than there is in the Northeast.

If your budget is tight, then I would suggest a less popular body style, say a 4-door sedan or hardtop model with either a 6-cylinder or 283 cid 8-cylinder engine and Powerglide transmission. If you have a large budget, you can search for some of the more popular body styles, such as 2-door hardtops or convertibles, with more of the performance options that are so popular today.

There are some really important things to consider - are you looking for a show quality car, or simply a "driver" - a nice appearing car that may have some flaws but is still presentable. Also, when considering a purchase of a vintage car, it is critical that you perform a top-to-bottom inspection of the car's condition - if this is not possible due to location or your expertise, I STRONGLY suggest that you contract with a certified appraiser (Hemmings Motor News is a good source for finding these people) that can do this for you. This step is critical, although these cars are simple to work on and virtually everything you need to restore one is available, due to the cost of the parts and how difficult some things are to correct.

If you can give me some of the answers to my questions, I can zero in on helping you find the car you're looking for.