Little did anyone know that Jon Moss and crew at Chevy Specialty Vehicles saved the concept car that started the 1994 Impala SS program. "We wanted to keep this car vivid and alive," he says. "This car is designed to serve as one of our powerful image vehicles." So they put a 1994 Chevy Mark V 90-degree 509 cu.-in. big-block marine V8 under the hood, and called it the 510 Impala SS. Just going over its specs makes you say "wow!"

Using a heavy-duty version of the Hydra-matic 4L80-E 4-speed automatic transmission and special stand-alone transmission control module (GM usually houses both the engine and transmission controls in a single powertrain control module), the 510 Impala is set up for optimum-acceleration gear shifts. The engine sends power to the transmission through a heavy-duty truck torque converter that's generally mated to the Vortec 4.3-liter V6 engine.

Underneath, the car has boxed frame rails for extra rigidity, lowered front control arms for antidive control on braking and enlarged rear wheel wells to contain the monster 17-in. tires. Plus, the whole car sits about 2 in. lower than the '94 model. Viva l' Impala SS!