Justin Gurney recently acquired the 1961 Chevy Impala his late father, legendary driver, builder, and team owner Dan Gurney, raced at Silverstone in 1961. Justin invited Tom Cotter along to document the moment he got to fire up the car and drive it for the first time.
The car has been through a lot, from its historic race at Silverstone that ended with a broken wheel, to getting banned from competition, to life as a race-car hauler in Australia that had it converted to right-hand drive. You can learn a lot about the car from the recent Barn Find Hunter episode that we’ve included below. If you already know all that, the latest news we’re happy to share is that the rowdy 409-powered bubbletop will pace the Dan Gurney Saloon Car Trophy Race at the 2025 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
You can watch the video and get a preview of how the 409 V-8 will sound on the revered pavement of Laguna Seca, but we’re sure it will sound even better in person. Justin should have the car’s original engine reinstalled by then. It will be as close as you can get to going back in time and hearing Dan muscle the car like he did back in 1961.
“We are thrilled to invite Justin to the Rolex Reunion and have him bring this historic Impala that meant so much to his dad,” said Bruce Canepa, chair of the Rolex Reunion Advisory Council and vice-president of Friends of Laguna Seca. “Everyone will enjoy seeing and hearing this long-lost car fittingly serve as the pace car for the Saloon car race. Making memories like this are what the Rolex Reunion is all about.”
We’re looking forward to seeing the big Chevy out in front of the vintage saloons yet again, as if you needed one more reminder why the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is the best place to be during Monterey Car Week.
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Report by Brandan Gillogly for hagerty.com
