Different Worlds Last Impala vs. Last Impala SS Story by John Gunnell
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uying the last Chevrolet Impala in 2020 was an experience that was worlds apart from buying the last Impala SS in 1996. M.G. “Pinky” Randall of Houghton Lake, Michigan purchased both of the historic Chevrolets. But, 24 years ago he did not have to deal with a changed GM corporate structure, a UAW strike and a coronavirus pandemic to buy his milestone car and get it back to his home. Pinky—who was born in 1928 and started his love of Chevrolets at four years old— eventually collected 46 bow tie buggies and picked up the nickname “Mr. Chevy.” About 10 years ago, he sold a bunch of cars, including that last Impala SS, to the General Motors Heritage Center. But he recalls many details about buying the SS and remembers that the 1996 purchase was more fun than his 2020 last Impala purchase. However, the latter may turn out to be more satisfying simply because it was a harder deal to put together. Pinky Randall read an article in a May 1995 edition of the Detroit Free Press that outlined General Motors plans to convert the Arlington, Texas plant over to the manufacture of trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles and potentially end production of the Impala SS model. “I read between the lines and immediately wrote a letter to Chevrolet General Manager Jim Perkins requesting 20 MUSCLE CAR PLUS MAGAZINE JUNE/JULY 2020
the opportunity to acquire the last Impala SS,” Randall told the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram newspaper at the time. Perkins knew Pinky and was familiar with his collection and his passion for Chevrolets. He had Chevrolet officials tell Randall to select a dealership he wanted to work with and Pinky arranged to buy the vehicle through a dealer in his hometown. The dealer was told that the last Impala SS would be built on Dec. 13, 1996. Pinky and his wife Joyce went to the Arlington, Texas assembly plant where it was made. He even got to drive it off the assembly line himself. Hanging behind it was a large banner that read, “The last Impala SS Produced At The GM Arlington Assembly Plant, December 13, 1996.” Pinky was asked to speak about his Chevy collection to workers at the factory. He told them how he had fallen heads over heels in love with a lady’s new 1932 Chevy coupe that he saw while walking to school when he was four years old. “I would go in an hour early just to look at that car,” he emphasized. “In 1948, I bought that car for $30.”
