Geoffrey Miller: 1959 Chevrolet Impala

Geoffrey Miller. 1959 Chevrolet Impala
Geoffrey Miller. 1959 Chevrolet Impala
Geoffrey Miller. 1959 Chevrolet Impala
Geoffrey Miller. 1959 Chevrolet Impala

When one thinks of a Wildbunch car one does not generally think of the aircraft carrier proportions of anything late 50's let alone a 1959 Chev Impala. Thank god, and luckily for all of us, many moons ago a crazy Hamiltonian named Regan Porter did have that thought and commissioned some fella named Tynan to build him a fibreglass full size version of one of GM's luxury models. While what emerged from Tynan Race Cars all those years ago remains today, it has had extensive upgrades under Cess's ownership by Carl at C&M Automotive to form the basis of the huge black beast you see today.

Regan managed to somehow get a mismatched, pieced together BBC to push the big fatty to a 7.9 best, and Cess has already matched that, not with a BBC, but with an engine that's been around as long as the car itself. The engine now seemingly lost in the truck like proportions of the Chevs engine bay is none other than (for most part) the very same small block Chev combo first seen in the Al and Bruce Shadwick (Al's Blower Drives) Camaro nearly 30 years ago now. From there obviously Mark Bardsley took over ownership and these days the 358 cube Rodeck with Brodix heads and an 8-71 huffer screams just as it always has. A sheetmetal 9" Diff out back built by the late Clive Davis accepts the power supplied to it via the AutoTrans prepped Powerglide, and is attached to the chassis these days via a modernised 4 bar set up.

On raceday there's no huge fanfare or a zillion hangers on - its a basic family and friends effort with no fuss, and unlike other cars that look like rolling billboards, the distinctive lines of the classic 59 are clearly visible in its basic black hue, albeit with a monster set of Beadlocks hinting that this ain't no Saturday night cruiser. An oops at the most recent Wild Bunch meeting in April meant Cess had a lot busier winter than he had planned, but with repairs on track he is set for a return around January, maybe just too late to make Wild Bunch Wars but in more than enough time to make the 2nd event on the Wild Bunch calendar at the Bay Rodders Nostalgia Drags in April.

Age: 50 odd
Daily driver: Falcon Ute
Dumbest way you've hurt yourself: Injured pride does that count? (tagging the wall at the Wildbunch meet in April)
Name a store you would max out your credit card: Lately its at a bunch of stores fixing broken shit
What movie title best describes you: Supersize Me

Class CC/TS
Body 1959 Chevrolet Impala
Engine 350 cubic inch Rodeck
Supercharger Littlefield 8-71
Fuel Injection Enderle
Ignition MSD 8+
Clutch Torque converter by Autotrans
Gearbox Dedenbear Powerglide
Differential 9" sheet metal by Clive Davis. 4.8 gears
Front Suspension Strange
Rear Suspension 4 link
Chassis Mild Steel and Chrome Moly
Wheels Front Weld Prostars. Rear 16" Weld beadlocks
Tyres Mickey Thompson 25 x 4.5 x 15. Hoosier 34.5 x 17 x 16
Brakes Strange disks
Paint Black
Best times 7.99 secs. 170.69 mph