We are pretty happy with our One Family Owner All Original 1962 Chevrolet 2 Door Hardtop Impala 283 with Powerglide that just recently turned over 12,100 miles. My Wife’s Grandmother bought this car from Anderson Chevrolet in Marietta, Georgia in late 1961, even though she did not have a drivers license, and other than a few family trips to Lavonia, Georgia it spent its time in the Fair Oaks Community right at the west end of Dobbins Air Force Base runway. A time came when the car was not needed and somebody backed it into the garage and left there for over 20 years.
In 1999 the decision was made by the son of Grandma Floyd, Joe Fred, to get the car out, get it running and drive it in the 4th of July parade in Marietta, Georgia. The garage door was locked, nobody could find the key, the springs on the garage door hinges had rusted through and all you could see from the door was the headlights...
The car still had the original tires on it though they were all flat and squirrels had built a nest under the hood. I was told to be careful when removing the old tires on the rear because back in the day people used to steal the fender skirts and to discourage this owners would sometimes tape razor blades to the handles. Sure enough when I looked under the wheel well with a flashlight and a mirror there were two straight blades taped to the handles with black electrical tape. Joe Fred was a Barber by trade. We still have one of the U.S. Royal tires sitting in the trunk as the viewable spare tire. We removed the quilts and chenille bedspreads that had covered the car all those years, jacked up the car, got some used tires on it and rolled it out of the old garage. This is when Joe Fred made the comment "I remember it as being a 4 door!"
A few weeks and some mechanical friends later the car was driven by Joe Fred into the arena at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta where it won a trophy for Most Original. During the overhaul the only replacements made on the car were the tires and anything under the hood made out of rubber, the radiator core and the heater core. Joe Fred was not able to drive the car in the parade as he had hoped due to illness but it was in the parade nonetheless. Joe Jr. made sure the Chevy was driven down Roswell Road in Marietta, Georgia on Independence Day for all to see, plastic seat covers, dealer installed outside rear view mirrors, dual rear antennas and all..
The one thing I really appreciate about the salesman who added on all of the "extras" to the sale was the fact that he convinced my Wife’s Grandmother to have the car undercoated. I truly believe that is the only reason the car is still with us today. Otherwise it would have probably turned into a rust bucket. The floor of the garage it sat in for those 20 plus years was dirt.
Nowadays the Chevy spends most of its time in a family garage just waiting for the 5th Saturday Cruise-In in Dallas, the Acworth Street Fair or the Marietta Street Fest. Just local events. And preferably warmer weather with a little sunshine.
We appreciate the vision of Joe Fred Floyd to make this vehicle available for the enjoyment of others.
Sincerely and for the Family,
Howell Keown (Son-In-Law)
