132662 / 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic

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With just 8,784 original miles, this 1996 Caprice Classic is the equivalent of an Impala SS, but much more unusual.

Ordered new by an 86 year old lady and maintained until her recent death at age 102, this car carries all of the important options, including the 5.7-liter V8. Apparently she wanted an Impala SS, but didn't want bucket seats and a console, so she scanned the order form and built her own version.

As with all the low-mileage cars RK Motors Charlotte features, the highest praise we can give this one is that it is as-new in virtually every way. When we talk about restorations, they are inevitably better than new in every way, but original cars are special. There's no bodywork required, no fresh paint on any of the panels, and everything fits the way it did when the guys at the factory put it together. The paint is amazingly nice, and white looks pretty darned good on this big cars body contrasting nicely with the black window treatments and stainless steel grille.

The Caprice Classic was available with a V6, but the top motor was the Corvette-derived 5.7 liter LT1, which, in this application made 260 horsepower. One look under the hood is all you'll need to be convinced that this is a low-mileage original car. All the original equipment is intact, including the engine cover up top, which is often the first thing unscrupulous mechanics toss while doing maintenance work. The bottles for the radiator and windshield washer fluid (which are HUGE, by the way) are still clear and white, not yellowed and discolored by age and heat. The belts, hoses, plugs and wires are most likely still the original equipment. There's simply nothing more reliable than a small block Chevy, and these LT1s routinely last longer than 250,000 miles before needing major service.

The transmission is GM's rugged and dependable 4L60E 4-speed automatic, and it works perfectly. Out back a set of 2.93 gears on a limited slip differential help the Caprice deliver on its EPA estimated 26 MPG on the highway and make it a highly relaxed cruiser. Like the engine bay, everything is original and in remarkably good condition, from the floors and frame, to the suspension and brakes, which all feel like brand new. The original exhaust system has no leaks and has a healthy, albeit subdued; rumble that suggests some pretty serious blasting powder is available under the hood. This car does carry the optional $550 Sport Suspension, which upgraded the standard Caprice to Impala SS specifications for a little more precision on the road. The car currently wears aftermarket aluminum five spoke wheels that feature gunmetal gray paint, machined aluminum lips and 235/70/15 BF Goodrich Long Trail radials. However, if you're a stickler for authenticity, the cars original aluminum alloy turbine wheels that came standard with the Special Value Caprice Sedan Package 3 are included with the sale.

The main reason this car is a Caprice Classic and not an Impala SS is inside, where the original owner insisted on a leather-lined bench instead of the Impalas standard buckets. Nicely preserved and showing hardly any wear at all, this Caprices interior is a plush environment that has legroom galore. If you're the sort of guy who complains about new cars being too small, well, here's your ride. And all the power goodies are included, like power windows, locks, seats, as well as A/C and a moderately good factory stereo system. The gauges are a combination of analog and digital instruments that were cool in the 90s and still function well today. Wood trim is reasonably realistic looking, and covers parts of the dash and door panels to give the Caprice an upscale feel. This was, after all, Chevy's top-of-the-line sedan. In back, there's enough room for the starting front line of an NBA team to get comfortable, and it doesn't look like anyone has ever spent any time back there; it's new in every way.

With all the hardware that makes an Impala SS so cool, plus the updated quarter panels and windows that got rid of the odd Caprice styling, this essentially new 1996 Caprice Classic a slam-dunk!