Kent Shechtman of North Kingstown isn't kidding when he says his 1961 Chevrolet Impala convertible changes color.

Journal photo / Steve Szydlowski

The '61 Impala convertible owned by Kent Shechtman of North Kingstown has a 348-cubic-inch V8; seat belts and air conditioning have been added. Slideshow

Colorful '61 Impala changes color in the sunlight

Slideshow

The Shadow Gray paint job makes the car appear silver in full sunlight, and darker as the sun dims. "That's why they call it Shadow Gray," he says. It's a factory color, not original to this car, which was black, but it's the color of the Chevy droptop his parents bought new in 1960. When he found that '60 Impala convertibles were out of his price range, he opted for the '61, but he didn't compromise on the color.

"It's a different color," he says. "You see red ones and black, but you don't see this. People love the car when they see it coming down the road."

Shechtman found the car in 2001 at a meet in Carlisle, Pa., and had it restored by the end of the year. "The car was all there, it just needed sanding and painting," he said. "The previous owner had installed air conditioning and redone the front and back seats, but the door panels were wrong." They were replaced, as were the rear valance panels and all the molding. The bumpers were sent to Canada for rechroming. And then Shechtman added some personal touches.

He installed a tachometer "just because I like tachometers," and replaced the AM radio with an FM cassette player that fits right into the original slot. He also bought an Autronic Eye headlight dimmer, more commonly found on more expensive GM cars. For safety, he added seat belts and a dual master brake cylinder. "This way, if the rear one leaks the front will still stop you," he said.

The Impala came with a solid list of options, including a tissue dispenser, bumper guards, door handle guards so that fingernails wouldn't scratch the paint, dual door mirrors and fender spears to help guide the big boat into the garage.

It also has power steering and brakes, but the windows are wind-up. The drive train is original, a big 348-cubic-inch V8 with Turbo Glide automatic transmission. "There's no shifting, you just take this car and go," Shechtman says. "But it was a terrible transmission and it failed a lot."

Shechtman, 62, retired after 40 years at the Naval Underwater Warfare Center, loves the Chevy, but there is another Impala in his life. After he restored the convertible, he found a 1960 Impala coupe -- with completely different styling from the '61 -- and he had to wait a year to restore it because the shop was full. The coupe has a new 350 Chevy crate engine that runs like a dream, but now it's not a numbers-matching car like the '61.

The Impalas occupy the garage while the daily drivers are relegated to the driveway, but the classics aren't off limits to Shechtman's wife, Melanie, and their Maltese dog, Kobe. They enjoy riding in the convertible on warm summer nights.

"I bought this one to restore and enjoy," he said. "It's been a great car, fun to drive."

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 348-cubic-inch V8; Turbo Glide automatic.

COLOR: Shadow Gray.

MILEAGE: 151,000.

PLATE: Antique 9439.

CAN BE SEEN: Mondays at Burger King-Krispy Kreme in Cranston, Wednesdays at Denny's in Coventry.

CONDITION: Five-year-old restoration.

If you have a classic car you wish to be considered for this feature, please e-mail projocars@projo.com with a description of the car and owner contact information. Please put "Classic Car" in the subject field. The owner must agree to be identified by name and allow the car to be photographed.