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GM Century Cruise 2008 Top Cruiser John Delay Jr., and his 1965 Chevy Impala SS Convertible

Personal story and photograph submitted by owner John Delay Jr.
for participation in the the 2008 GM Century Cruise

Congratulations to Top Cruiser John Delay Jr., and his 1965 Impala SS. John’s Impala beat out all of the other cars and trucks in the voting for the Top Cruiser in the GM Century Cruise Parade, and took home the honors by receiving the most text message votes.

When I was a 21-year old gas station attendant, my dream was to own a 1965 Impala SS Convertible, just like the one a local businessman brought in regularly for me to wash and service. I said "I would give anything to have that car." I wanted the bucket seats and the four speed on the floor, and the whole thing. Twenty years later, I was searching for a classic car, when I came across a red one, that needed a little attention, but was not bad. Without hesitation, my wife got out the checkbook and we bought the car. I drove it around for about four years and then started a body off restoration. It took me 20 more years to have "My Perfect Impala."

It was featured as part of a GM display at Athens Coney Island, Royal Oak, Michigan during the Woodward Dream Cruise in 2007. In 2006, CARS inc. saw it at a car show and asked to do a photo shoot on the car. They came to my home town and took more than 200 pictures; the car has been in their calendar for two years (2007 & 2008).

This car means alot to me because, I did all the paint and body work myself. I'm just a car guy, I'm not anybody important, but I did it all and put it all back together out in my little barn. This is a pure original car; including the original motor and transmission, the alternator, water pump, wheels, carbureator, windshield wipers and radio. Some of the parts had to be rebuilt, but were reusable. I did have to have new upholstery and a new convertible top installed.


GM’s Century Cruise pays tribute to GM’s past and the passion owners have for their vehicles. On Saturday, August 16, 2008 this vehicle and more than 100 other classic GM vehicles will cruise from the GM Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center up Woodward Avenue to the heart of the Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak and the surrounding suburbs. One of these vehicles will be crowned “top cruiser” based on a text voting campaign.

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