The Impala is Dean's trademark black 1967 Chevrolet Impala. It was passed down to him by his father, who bought it in 1973 after a future Dean convinces him to buy it over a 1964 VW Van in the episode "In the Beginning". According to Dean the car has 327 Engine and a Four Barrel carbuerator. It bears a Sedgwick County, Kansas license (though their hometown of Lawrence, Kansas is actually in Douglas County) plate KAZ 2Y5, a reference to Kansas, the Winchesters' home state, and 2005, the year the show premiered. Starting in the episode 2.20 "What Is and What Should Never Be", the car sports a new Ohio license plate (CNK 80Q3) to aid the brothers in hiding from the FBI.
The trunk holds an arsenal of weapons which are modified and crafted to aid The Winchesters in their hunting activities. Dean refers to the Impala affectionately as "Baby."
Its Life So Far...
The car has been prominently featured on the series, beginning with the teaser of the pilot which shows John Winchester holding his two sons as he sits on the car and watches his house burn. The car is Dean's most prized possession, and he protects it with nearly the same ferocity with which he protects his family. Despite this, however, he attacks the car's rear with a crowbar after a talk with Sam in the episode "Everybody Loves A Clown" due to the pressure from his dying father's secret about Sam. The car had been previously damaged when a semi-truck blinsided it in the season 1 finale, "Devil's Trap". In the pilot episode, the trunk is revealed to hold various weaponry to fight the supernatural.
After Sam inherits the car following Dean's death in the third season finale, he revamps the radio with an iPod. The car is later returned to Dean in Season 4, when Dean comes back from hell. It has had some minor damages here and there throughout various episodes and has even had angels and demons (once at the same time) in the back seat. In Season 5, it's the Impala and all its memories that helps Sam push Lucifer back and jump in the hole.
In
Dean pulls the tarp from the Impala
Season 6, like Dean, the Impala is retired. That until near the end of Two And A Half Men, when Dean returns to hunting. It was also possesed in Mannequin 3: The Reckoning, much to Dean's displeasure (Not the first time though. It was first possessed in the Pilot). Although the status of the Impala is unknown at this time, since it was bashed into by Demons and now is a wreck.
The Impala doesn't stay that way for long. Soon after Castiel leaves them in Meet The New Boss, Dean goes to fix the Impala due to it being the only thing he can do. With the help of Sam and Bobby, the Impala is fully repaired.
Due to the Leviathans cloning them and driving an identical Impala, they had to hide the Impala in order not to be detected. The car remains on lockdown. Dean has driven several cars in place of the Impala, many of which he has shown discontent.
As of Survival of the Fittest, Dean asks Castiel for a favor as he will not fight. He asks him to take him to his beloved Impala and announces that, Dick knows they're coming so he's going in with a bang. It is seen driving by Meg through the Sucrocorp logo to make an impression and to lead the Leviathans towards it as Sam, Dean and Castiel go after Dick.
Cars Dean also drives:
- 2.02 Everyone loves a Clown: Dean and Sam borrow a first generation (1984-1990) 'woody' Dodge Caravan from Bobby. Dean complains that it makes him feel "like a soccer mom."
- 4.01 Lazurus Rising: Dean drives from the gas station to Bobby's after his resurrection in a 1962 Mercury Monterey hard top. The license plate number is V6R 1G3.
- 6.01 Exile on Mains St: At the start of season six, when he is living with Lisa and Ben and not hunting, Dean drives a 1988 Ford F250 Pickup Truck.
- 6.17: In the alternate reality created when the Titanic doesn't sink, Chevy Impalas do not exist. Instead, Dean drives a 1967 Ford Mustang
- After The Leviathans (Disguised as Sam and Dean.) go on a killing spree (while driving a 67 Impala) causing the real Sam and Dean to become America's 2nd most wanted criminals. Frank Deeraux advises the boys to lock up the Impala to avoid detection. In the following episodes the boys drive:
- 7.06 Slash Fiction: Sam and Dean steal a 1983 Pontiac Acadian. Dean dislikes the horse decorations in the car. He voices his dislike to Sam.
- 7.07 The Mentalists: After exiting a restraunt dean steals an unresstored (But working) 1970 Dodge Challenger. Dean seems to like the car however, is disgusted by the mess left in the passenger seat by the owner.
- 7.11 Adventures in Babysitting: Dean arrives at Frank Deveraux's house in a 1969 Buick Special Edition.
- 7.12 Time After Time Ater Time: Dean drives Elliot Ness' 1940 Black Plymouth Road King.
- 7.13 The Slice Girls: Dean drives a brown 1971 Buick Riviera.
- 7.14 Plucky Penywhistle's Magical Menagerie: Dean drives a Golden Brown 1973 Mercury Cougar.
- 7.15 Repo Man: Dean drives a black 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. This is the first car dean get that he seems to like, as he voices worry that Jeffery's dog will pee in the back seat if left alone.
- 7.16 Out with the Old: Dean drives a black Pickup truck, likely a GMC.
- 7.17. Dean drives a black 1970 Dodge Charger. In this episode it is show that every car Dean stole he kept Castiel's trenchcoat in the trunk.
- 7.18 Party On, Garth: Dean Drives a 1778/9 Maroon AMC Pacer. Garth claims it is a "Nice ride." However he may have been being sarcastic.
Dean and The Impala
Dean and the Impala have had a long, loving history together. Dean recieved the Impala as a gift for his sixteenth birthday. Ever since then, he has cared for it and even fixed it up when it was wrecked in the car accident at the end of season 1. Though he sometimes reacts with anger at it, he loves it very much and often talks to it as if it was a human being and not an object.
When Bela tows the car away, he is very upset. Later, when he is forced to hide the car, he is, again, very upset about this fact.
Dean has nicknamed the Impala, Baby.
Weapons in the Trunk
The Weapon Stash in the Back of the Impala
The Impala's trunk contains a massive aresenal weapons. They are all customized for fighting supernatural creatures. The are are various different types of:
- Handguns
- Shotguns
- Rifles
- Knives
- Stakes
Also seen in the trunk are a 37mm DefTech Grenade launcher, Brass Knuckles, a Harpoon gun, Axes, Nunchucks,. Though none of these have ever been on screen.
There are are also various types of ammunition including, Silver, Iron and Rock Salt Shells as well as standard bullets for every weapon.
As of the Season 6 episode The Third Man, The amount of weapons in the trunk has increased vastly, since all the weapons that were in Sam's car were moved to the Impala, after Castiel and an Unnamed Angel flattened it.
The Actual Car
In an interview at a convention, Ackles said the main Impala they use has a 427 and skid plates. The actual car was bought from the Kelley family of Farmingdale, NJ in 2005. The Kelleys were the second owners of the car, they bought it from the original owners. The car was bought new in 1967 at Mathews Chevrolet in Farmingdale, NJ. It was originally baby blue with baby blue interior and dual bench seats.[citation needed]
For the production of the show, they have about six Impala's; only 2 work. The "Hero" one and "Stunt" one. Rumour has it, the sound comes from a tape, and is even that of a Mustang 65 instead of an Impala 67. This however, is not evident from comparing these particular sounds with the actual tv-show.
Memories It holds
- Used to be John's car
- Sam and Dean's intitals carved in a door
- An army man Sam stuck in the ash tray
- Lego blocks Dean jammed in the vents
- All the times Sam and Dean spent in the car.
- Sam and Dean watch the stars while sitting on it
- Dean made love to Anna in the backseat.