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Chevrolet Biscayne 427 cubic inch V8 1961

General description : There are so many cool cars out there, it's hard to know which one will suit you best. There are plenty of safe bets like 1970 Chevelles, 1967 GTOs, and just about any Mopar with a big block. And those are all fine cars, perfect if your desire to own an old car exceeds your knowledge. They're safe. You won't catch any of us making fun of those cars, because there are plenty of reasons why they're popular. But if you want to push your boundaries a little bit, if you're looking for something a little less common and a little more imposing, if you don't want to follow the crowd, perhaps you should check out this 1961 Chevrolet Biscayne. We were just like you—it wasn't really a big deal until we saw it, and afterwards, well, we just couldn't stop thinking about it.

Our favorite feature about this car isn't the 427 cubic inch Corvette motor living under the hood. It isn't the 4-speed or the rumble of the exhaust. It isn't even the cool one-year-only “flat top” styling that shows the work of an artist, not an engineer. No, what we like best is that this car has no secrets. None. Zero. That's original code 912 Jewel Blue paint on the flanks of this Biscayne, and original paint means no rust, no bondo, and no surprises, and we like that a great deal. It's been intentionally flattened a bit so it looks like a satin finish, which is suddenly all the rage today, and while there are a few thin spots, we like the patina very much. It's remarkably consistent and achieving that must have taken some effort, because it is all just the same sheen. It isn't quite thin enough to be considered a patina car, and most folks will think you gave it a repaint and did it that way on purpose. THAT we like. We also like the contrast of the shiny Ermine White top, which has been repainted in the not-too-distant past, adding some contrast without disrupting the overall look. All the original badges and emblems are still in place, the doors, fenders, hood, and deck lid are all just where the factory put them 56 years ago, and even the original dealer's emblem is still on the trunk. Too cool. Nice chrome and stainless is a perk that you get from clean, original cars, and the whole car has an all-of-a-piece look that is incredibly appealing. Check out the laser-straight body alignment, the way the crease that runs through the car and around the trunk lines up from panel to panel, and even the solid THUNK of the doors closing—all that means a car that hasn't been messed with and as a result it isn't messed up. This car knocks it out of the park in the sheetmetal department.

We also have to love the all original interior, and its condition shows you that this really is a car that's been babied all its life. The funky gray checkered cloth works with blue door panels to provide a great driving environment that isn't overwhelming. Those door panels are in great shape and the carpets are so nice, we have to believe they're replacements—but then again, maybe they're not. The dash is blue, too, matching the bodywork, and it retains its color-matched two-spoke steering wheel. Original gauges cover the basics, so at some point a "knee knocker" tachometer was added along with a more recent Auto Meter oil pressure gauge so you can keep an eye on the important stuff. This was originally a 3-speed manual car, so the floor shifter is legit, although it's now a Hurst unit and it's connected to a Muncie M21 4-speed gearbox lifted from a late-60s Corvette. This is an original V8 car as well, so you're probably thinking what I'm thinking when you see that there's no radio, no clock, no power steering, and no power brakes—this sucker was built for combat. Well, it's ready for anything thanks to the 427 now living under the hood, but we'll get to that in a moment. First you should take a look at the back seat, which looks almost new, the seat belts that were installed for safety, and the beautifully preserved trunk, which includes factory mats and what might just be the car's original spare tire assembly.

If we had to guess, we'd say that this car came from the factory with a 348, maybe a 283, but either way, it's long gone. In its place is a thumping LF-coded police-spec 427 cubic inch V8 now wearing three Holley 2-barrel carbs on top. From the factory, the L69 with Tri-Power was rated at a nice, round 400 horsepower, and in this Biscayne it's pretty apparent that every single one of them showed up ready to rock. That's a factory intake system, carbs and manifold, which is probably worth a few thousand bucks by itself, but it runs so well and the sound is so glorious that you probably won't really want to sell it (a 4-barrel intake is included with the car if you do). The engine was recently rebuilt by the pros at Michaels, so it’s not some junkyard lump that was painted and tossed into the engine bay. No, it’s built for combat and runs like your daily driver. It's also nicely detailed with Chevy Orange paint, a correct triangular air cleaner with decals, and those cool wrinkle-finish valve covers. The supporting staff consists of a giant aluminum radiator, a high-output alternator, and a set of long-tube ceramic-coated headers that feed a cackling Flowmaster dual exhaust system. It runs great, idles well (once it's warmed up, of course), and pulls with a ferocity that no engine in 1961 could have managed.

The matching Muncie M21 4-speed manual gearbox is more than up to the torque and it feeds what appears to be the original rear end, which has easy-cruising 3.23 gears inside. And as you'd expect, the underside of the car is in fantastic condition with exactly zero evidence that it has ever seen winter weather. No patches, no welds, no rust spots, just clean factory floors, a laser-straight frame, and a lightly lowered suspension that sits right. The exhaust tips dump out just ahead of the rear wheels, but it's a subtle thing that preserves ground clearance but gives this car a fantastic voice. The suspension is supple enough to be your daily driver and the original manual drum brakes are perfectly adequate (although a full disc brake conversion kit is included with the car if you want to make the upgrade). 17-inch Torque Thrust wheels are a traditional look and they carry modern 245/45/17 performance radials at all four corners.

The list of extras that come with this car is extensive, starting with receipts for much of the engine work and upgrades, plus all the original title documentation back to when it was new plus a letter from the selling dealer to the first owner. We also have a set of restored stock wheels with hubcaps, the aforementioned disc brake kit, a 4-barrel intake manifold (which is how this car's 427 engine was originally equipped), an original AM radio, and a variety of lenses, emblems, and badges should you need them in the future.

The more we look at this car, the more we like it. It's not quite a sleeper, not in the traditional sense anyway, but there's way more blasting powder on tap than most people expect. We love the soft satin-finish paint and it would really be a crime to repaint this car and simply turn it into just another Biscayne. And boy does it run! Just a very well-built car with a good pile of money spent on making it right. How can you go wrong with that when it looks this good? Call today!

http://www.harwoodmotors.com/vehicles/inventory_details.php?id=782

1961 Chevrolet Biscayne 427 cubic inch V8 is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Macedonia by for $27900.

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