What animal inspired the name of the Chevrolet Impala?

The Chevrolet Impala was named after the impala antelope.

Chevrolet introduced the Impala as a full-size car for the 1958 model year. The name was chosen to suggest grace, speed, and a sporty character, qualities associated with the agile African antelope.

The first Impala was positioned as Chevrolet’s top-of-the-line passenger car. It became especially recognizable for its sculpted styling, prominent tailfins, and broad range of body styles. Later generations became major sellers in the American full-size-car market.

The Impala name is sometimes confused with Chevrolet names based on places, weather, or performance ideas. Unlike names such as Malibu or Colorado, Impala directly refers to an animal. The model remained in Chevrolet’s lineup for many decades, with production pauses and later revivals before its final discontinuation.