Jensen Ackles, a.k.a Dean Winchester, is the protagonist of the hit TV series Supernatural. In this piece, though, we’ll be talking about Baby, the 1967 Chevy Impala that Dean drives on his escapades. Dean’s Impala plays an outsized role in the show and even has an entire episode named after it in Season 11.
What’s so special about the ‘67 Impala, though? Let’s take a closer look at this iconic ride straight out of Supernatural.
1967 Chevrolet Impala
The 1967 Chevrolet Impala debuted in 1956 as a concept car and is a very rare Chevy, with less than 7000 units ever produced. The car had two engine variants: a six-cylinder with 155 horsepower and a V8 engine capable of 195 horsepower.
In some variants, the car’s engine isn’t under the hood but in the rear. However, the Impala Dean drives its power-packed V8 engine exactly where all regular vehicles do.
It is one of the classic sports cars from the 1960s, which isn’t just about luxury but also power. However, the 1967 model driven by Dean in Supernatural is known for being more prominent in size than other models.
The Car’s Engine Power
This Chevy came with a 250 cubic-inch Turbo-Thrift 6 and 283 cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V-8 as a base model. The car itself has a 3-speed automatic gearbox.
The vehicle’s V-8 engine weighs 1740 kg at the curb. It produces 385 bhp (390 PS/287 kW) of power at 5200 rpm and maximum torque of 623 N·m (460 lb·ft/63.5 kg/ m) at 3400 rpm. It can manage a maximum speed of 209 km/h or 130 mph.
Interior Features
The Impala had newly added interior features, including a stereo 8-track player, a fiber optic light monitoring system, and vacuum power door locks.
The all-vinyl upholstery was standard on the convertible and station wagons and was offered in a range of colors. Initially, the all-vinyl trim was offered solely in black.
The ‘67 Chevy Impala has added side marker lights and energy-absorbing collapsible steering columns to its features. The ride was, in essence, custom designed to suit Dean Winchester’s driving needs.
Other Cars Dean Drove In The Supernatural Series
Apart from the vehicle in question, there are various other cars that Dean drives through the length and breadth of the 15-season show! Let’s look at a few of them that almost come close to being a character in themselves, just like ‘baby,’ a.k.a. The 1967 Chevrolet Impala. Let’s take a look at them.
Dodge Caravan – The Dodge Caravan appears in Season 2, where the Impala meets with a road accident. Dean drives the Dodge Caravan, the only replacement available in Bobby’s yard for the vehicle.
Mercury Monterey – In season 4, when Dean resurrects, he has to hot-wire a Mercury Monterey for the drive to reunite with his brother and Bobby.
Toyota Prius – When Dean becomes a health-conscious office worker, he starts driving a Prius. The opposite of the Impala, we like Dean even while driving a Prius, don’t we?
Ford Pickup & Ford Mustang – In season 6, Dean leaves the hunting life behind and seeks normalcy, and he is doing BBQs and driving a Ford Pickup while his Impala is tucked away in the garage. The Mustang and Pickup go out of the scene once Dean returns to his everyday life. The Impala soon gets back into action.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer – Once Sam drives off with the Impala, Dean is to chase him. It’s then that he drives a Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Pontiac Acadian – In season 7, Dean and Sam have to ditch the Impala to avoid detection. Therefore, Pontiac Acadian is their ride in the Impala’s absence.
Dodge Challenger – The brothers drive this Mopar in season 7, and we can’t say we hate it.
1969 Buick Special Edition – Yet another addition to the gems of Season 7 is the 1969 Special Edition Buick. Dean drives the vehicle after Bobby Singer’s death.
Summary
The protagonist, Dean Winchester from Supernatural, drives around 20 vehicles through the various episodes in 15 seasons. We hate some, and we love some. But we can all agree that the 1967 Chevy Impala suits him the best and almost became synonymous with the show.
Source: jdpower.com