How ‘Supernatural’ Turned the ’67 Impala Into an Iconic Car

Savannah Aleksic
TV
TV

The 1967 Chevrolet Impala has become such an iconic feature of The CW’s long-running TV show Supernatural, she has become a character in her own right. She is so well-known and loved that fans have taken to calling her “Baby.” The writing team has even created an episode from her perspective. Baby hasn’t just been part of the show since the very beginning; she has gone through just about as much as the brothers have. She even helps protect Sam and Dean from the evil in the world, like in the finales of season one and 10.

Supernatural black Chevrolet 67 Impala driving on the road

“No one gave two craps about her. But they should have, because this 1967 Chevrolet Impala would turn out to be the most important car – no, the most important object – in pretty much the whole universe.” – God

In a TV show where characters come and go, one thing is always constant – family. It may sound strange, but Baby is much more than just an old metal car, she is a part of the Winchester family.

Home on the Road

Supernatural Sam and Dean Sleeping in the Chevrolet Impala

How has the car left such a large impact on fans? Sam and Dean grew up without a place to call home, traveling across the country with their father and hunting evil in the world. They’ve had to sacrifice something more precious than most of us would ever dream of. The brothers had to go through life living in motel rooms or sleeping in the car. Baby has become a part of their family over time. She has become their home on the road. She is one constant in the brothers’ lives when death and relationships that never last surround them.

A Reminder of Good Times

supernatural swan song episode kids carve initials in car door

The car has brought the brothers closer together whenever they have been close to death or at their lowest points. In the season five finale, whenever Sam is possessed by Lucifer and is about to kill an already bloodied and beaten up Dean, he gets a flashback to times he and Dean were kids in the Impala. He sees Sam stuffing a miniature army man in the ash tray, Dean putting Lego in the air vents, and the two of them carving their initials into a side door. Baby has kept the brothers together through the best and worst of times.

Filming the Impala

Supernatural black Chevrolet 1967 Impala

Even though the Impala that the Winchester brothers own in the show is the same car, filming different camera angles and stunts require the use of different cars. All of the cars used in the show are standard 1967 Chevrolet Impala four-door hardtops. Aside from the one used in the original Pilot, the production team has had to paint all of the Impalas black. For close-ups, the crew uses an Impala that can be separated in half and has a detachable roof and doors.

Only two of the six Impalas used throughout the show is a working vehicle. There’s even a rumor that the sound the car makes in the show is actually a recording of a ’65 Mustang instead. How crazy is that!

Why the Impala is Awesome

“The Impala, of course, has all the things other cars have… and a few things they don’t. But none of that stuff’s important. This is the stuff that’s important: the army man that Sam crammed in the ashtray – it’s still stuck there. The Legos that Dean shoved into the vents – to this day, heat comes on and they can hear ’em rattle. These are the things that make the car theirs – really theirs. Even when Dean rebuilt her from the ground up, he made sure all these little things stayed, ’cause it’s the blemishes that make her beautiful.” – Chuck (“Swan Song”)

Savannah Aleksic
Savannah Aleksic is basically just a big nerd known for spending time in front of the TV either playing video games or watching her favorite TV shows. When she's not doing that, you can find her with her nose in a NYT Bestseller or typing up the next great American Novel.