Bob Church’s 1960 Chevrolet Impala is the kind of car that fits the Pavement Pounder Events mindset: head-turning style paired with a real commitment to driving, road trips and hard-earned miles.
Bob spent years building drag cars and solid drivers, but this Impala marked his first attempt at a build that had looks and style as the primary goals without sacrificing usability.
“This is the first ever ‘show quality’ car I have ever built,” Bob said. “My cousin has a really nice ’57 Chevy convertible, and I wanted something just as nice whenever we parked next to each other.”
A longtime fan of Chevrolet’s dramatic 1959-60 “batwing” styling, Bob originally set out to find a 1960 Impala convertible. After more than a year of searching without luck, his cousin suggested a different direction. Bob agreed to consider a hardtop, but only if it was finished in factory Tasco Turquoise over Ermine White. Not long after broadened his search, Bob found what he was looking for: a partially disassembled but largely original 1960 Impala hardtop for sale in State College, Pennsylvania.
The car was a stalled project, but most of the original paint remained intact. The previous owner had resprayed the hood and roof in acrylic enamel, and the Impala still retained its original 283 V-8 and Powerglide transmission. After confirming the car was complete and correct, Bob brought it home to his shop to begin the transformation.
Bob tore the Impala down to address details and make improvements. The roof was resprayed, the hood refinished, and all original fasteners were replaced with stainless hardware from Totally Stainless. With road trips firmly in mind, Bob applied POR-15 to key areas inside and underneath the car to guard against corrosion and weather exposure.
The original 283 and Powerglide were retired in favor of an drivetrain that would be a little more fun on road trips. Bob built a 355-cubic-inch Gen I small-block with World Products heads and a mild RV cam to balance street manners with dependable power. A TH700-R4 automatic provides highway-friendly overdrive, making long-distance cruising easier. Inside, comfort was a priority as well, with John Miller of Sullivan Interiors handling the seats and interior trim.
From the factory, the Impala was lightly optioned, which led to its fitting nickname: “If It Only Had.” As Bob drove and refined the car, that phrase kept coming back. If it only had power windows. If it only had air conditioning. If it only had heated seats. One by one, Bob added the features, including heated seats.
Once the car was ready, Bob wasted no time putting real miles on it. Three cross-country trips to California, multiple Hot Rod Power Tour long hauls and the inaugural Pavement Pounder Events drive, Route 66 to The SEMA Show 2025, added thousands of miles to the odometer.
Bob’s 1960 Impala is not just a showpiece. It is a proven road-trip machine. With unmistakable batwing styling and a build philosophy rooted in driving, it represents what Pavement Pounder Events is all about: cars built to be enjoyed, mile after mile.