While the new air-cooled rear-engine Corvair compact stole most of the thunder, Chevrolet had an extraordinary calendar year otherwise with the company selling 1,873,598 units, of which 1,391,485 were 1960 models. The full-size 1960 cars were a streamlined version of the rather rounded 1959 design, with simpler grille and squared up sides. The curved fins were now flattened into a “seagull” spread-wing shape and a missile treatment was featured along the rear quarter panels with white inserts and Impala script.
The Impala remained the top line, with three round rear taillights on each side and a ribbed alloy panel between them. The Impala was available as a four-door Sedan from $2,590, a four-door Hardtop Sport Sedan from $2,662, a two-door Hardtop Sport Coupe from $2,597 and a Convertible from $2,847. The Nomad four-door wagon remained part of the Impala line.
Base engines were still the 135 bhp, 235 cid six and the 185 bhp, 283 cid V-8, but there were five engine options. The 230 bhp four-barrel Super Turbo-Fire 283 V-8 cost and extra $136, the base 250 bhp 348 cid Turbo-Thrust was $188, the 280 bhp Special Turbo-Thrust V-8 with three two-barrel carburetors was $268, the 320 bhp Special Turbo-Thrust 348 V-8 with 11.25:1 compression ratio and four-barrel was $258, and the three two-barrel version of the high compression 348 engine with 335 bhp was $333 extra. The tricky fuel-injected small-block package was dropped.
A three-speed manual gearbox was the base offering and overdrive cost an extra $188. The Powerglide automatic could be added to the six-cylinder engine for an extra $188 and to the V-8 for $199. The Turbo-Glide automatic was available for the V-8 for an additional $210. A four-speed close-ratio manual gearbox was available for $188.
Popular options included air conditioning for $468, deluxe heater ($74), 6-way power seat ($97), power windows ($102), power steering ($75), power brakes ($43), and Positraction axle ($43). Two-tone paint was only $16.
Chevrolet offered 13 exterior colors for 1960 and 10 two tone-combinations. They were Tuxedo Black (900), Cascade Green (903). Jade Green (905), Horizon Blue (910), Royal Blue (912), Tasco Copper (915), Suntan Copper (920), Roman Red (923), Crocus Cream (925), Ermine White (926), Fawn Beige (938), Sateen Silver (940), and Shadow Gray (941).
Two-tone combinations included Ermine White/Tuxedo Black, Ermine White/Cascade Green, Ermine White/Sateen Silver, Ermine White/Roman Red, Ermine White/Tasco Turquoise, Ermine White/Horizon Blue, Horizon Blue/Royal Blue, Sateen Silver/Shadow Gray, Fawn Beige/Suntan Copper, and Cascade Green/Jade Green.
Chevrolet offered about 20 interior colors in vinyl, and vinyl and cloth combinations to complement the exterior colors. Impala convertible tops were primarily black or white.