Chevrolet’s efforts to regain the leading spot in the United States in the late ’50s were fueled and eventually turned successful by its full-size lineup.
The Biscayne and the Impala, presented by Chevrolet in 1955 and 1956, respectively, came to be in 1958 to provide customers with more options in the full-size battle. While the Impala was the top-of-the-line offering, launching as a Bel Air version with the best Chevrolet could offer for this model year, the Biscayne was at the opposite pole.
It was a basic model without all the exterior and interior bells and whistles available on the Impala and the Bel Air. Chevrolet’s strategy was simple, as the carmaker didn’t want its models to cannibalize each other. The Bel Air was a little more expensive than the Bel Air but came with more goodies, so each full-size model in Chevy’s lineup had a different target.
A 1961 Biscayne landed on eBay earlier this week, hoping to find a new home where it can receive a complete restoration. The next buyer can decide the Biscayne’s fate: it can either return to factory specifications or upgrade to become an Impala clone.
The photos speak for themselves and indicate an unexpectedly good shape. The Biscayne was on the road a few years ago, but it’s unclear if it has ever received a complete overhaul. It was running and driving fine until recently, but it was eventually parked because it needed brakes.
eBay seller i*find*u*flip says they purchased the car from a Kansas farm, but they didn’t get the keys – it’s a sign the previous owner wasn’t necessarily interested in giving this Biscayne a second chance, so I’m more than happy that someone decided to take it home. It’s a great full-size Chevy that doesn’t deserve total abandonment.
The car’s condition is above the average, making this Biscayne an easy project. You’ll indeed spend some time fixing the front fenders, but the typical rust suspects are nowhere to be seen this time. The floors look great for a car this old, especially considering it’s been sitting on a farm. The trunk is also good, so the rust hasn’t become a critical issue.
The subtle metalwork required to bring the vehicle back to the road makes this Biscayne an easy winter project, and I’m hopeful that whoever buys the car will keep it in its original shape without too many modern upgrades – I’m not a big fan of new-generation stuff like Bluetooth media receivers on classic cars, and I’d rather go for a vintage setup that allows you to enjoy the driving experience to the fullest.
We’re not getting too many specifics about the engine, but considering it was parked not long ago, it’s not a surprise that it still runs. It’s unclear if it’s the original unit (in fact, we don’t even know how original the Biscayne continues to be as a whole), but you can ask more questions during an in-person inspection.
Like the Bel Air, the Biscayne followed in Impala’s footsteps, adopting the same styling changes and engine upgrades for every model year. 1961 included the same 235 six-cylinder engine as in the previous years, offering a decent 135 horsepower for someone who wanted to drive the Biscayne to the supermarket. The 283 was the base V8 with a two-barrel carburetor and 170 horsepower, but a four-barrel version was also offered with 230 horsepower.
It was the last year for the famous 348, available in 1961 in multiple configurations, including a Tri-Power configuration. The top unit was the 409 (introduced with the brand-new Super Sport), fitted with a four-barrel carburetor and producing 360 horsepower.
The Biscayne looks like a mostly complete full-size Chevy, but you shouldn’t consider it road-worthy. It still requires new brakes, and despite coming without keys, the seller says they can quickly install a new key lock.
I’m not surprised to see this Biscayne receiving so much attention on eBay, as the car got five bids in only a few hours online. The top offer at the time of writing is $810, but the owner enabled a reserve, meaning the bidding must go up significantly before giving the car a second chance.
The owner enabled a $3,850 BIN, so anyone can buy the Biscayne without a fight. Meanwhile, if you believe the vehicle is worth a second chance but still want to see it in person before committing to a purchase, you’ll have to contact the seller and book a ticket for Everest, Kansas. The auction will end in five days, so it won’t take long before we find out if the Biscayne leaves for a new home and gets relisted for a second auction
