Draw a 1964 Impala: Body-Line and Trim Practice

Object Drawing Lessons

This lesson teaches a repeatable side-view drawing method for the 1964 Impala. You will set a baseline and midline, block the body and roof, place the wheel arches, and position the side trim using measured guides. The focus is body-line accuracy and trim placement, not color rendering or engine detail. All measurements are hypothetical examples; measure your own paper and reference image. Use a pencil, ruler, and eraser. The convention for art and handwriting is explicit: x-height is measured from baseline to midline, and letter styles may vary as long as the midline is respected. Valid alternatives are allowed where the rubric permits.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Set the drawing frame and baseline

Begin with a blank side-view box. Draw a light baseline near the bottom and a midline above it. The distance from baseline to midline is your x-height for any labels you write. Keep labels simple and consistent; letter style may vary, but the midline must be respected.

Mark a vertical centerline and a horizontal ground line. Decide a hypothetical overall length for the car body, for example 18 cm, and a hypothetical height from ground to roof, for example 6 cm. These are examples only; adjust to your paper.

1. Draw a rectangle as the side-view box.
2. Draw a baseline 2 cm above the bottom edge.
3. Draw a midline 1 cm above the baseline for label x-height.
4. Mark a vertical centerline and a ground line.

Block the body and roofline

The 1964 Impala side view has a long, low body with a relatively flat roofline that slopes gently toward the rear. Block the body as a long rectangle, then add the roof as a trapezoid above the rear half. The beltline runs roughly parallel to the ground and separates the lower body from the greenhouse.

Use the centerline to keep left and right features balanced. The front hood is longer than the rear deck in side view. Keep the roof peak slightly behind the centerline.

1. Draw a long body rectangle from front to rear.
2. Add a trapezoid roof above the rear half, with a gentle rear slope.
3. Draw the beltline parallel to the ground at about mid-body height.
4. Check that the roof peak sits slightly behind the centerline.

Place wheel arches and side trim

The wheel arches are rounded openings. Draw two circles for the wheels, then outline the arches slightly larger than the tires. The front arch sits under the hood area; the rear arch sits under the rear quarter. The side trim is a thin horizontal line that runs from the front fender to the rear, often with a slight step or break near the rear quarter.

Use the beltline as a reference for trim height. Keep trim parallel to the ground unless your reference shows a step. Label features using the x-height convention: baseline to midline for lowercase letters.

1. Draw two wheel circles at the front and rear.
2. Outline each wheel arch slightly larger than its tire.
3. Draw the main side trim as a thin line parallel to the ground.
4. Add a short trim break near the rear quarter if your reference shows one.
5. Label hood, roof, beltline, wheel arch, and trim using the midline convention.

Refine and check proportions

Compare your drawing to the construction plate. Check that the body length is about three times the roof height, that the front hood is longer than the rear deck, and that the wheel arches are centered under their respective body sections. Erase construction lines lightly.

Valid alternatives: trim may be drawn as a single continuous line or with a small step, provided the step is explained in your notes. Letter style may vary, but all labels must sit between baseline and midline.

1. Measure body length and roof height; compare to your chosen ratio.
2. Check hood length versus rear deck length.
3. Confirm wheel arch centers align with body sections.
4. Erase construction lines and keep labels within x-height.

Worked example

Using a hypothetical body length of 18 cm and roof height of 6 cm, describe how to place the front wheel arch center and the main trim line.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Making the roof too tall or too rounded. Lower the roof peak and flatten the roofline; keep the rear slope gentle.
• Placing wheel arches too far apart or too close to the ends. Center each arch under its body section and check against the centerline.
• Drawing trim at an angle instead of parallel to the ground. Use the beltline as a guide and keep trim horizontal unless a step is intended.
• Writing labels above the midline or below the baseline. Use the baseline-to-midline x-height convention for all labels.

Self-check rubric

• Baseline and midline are drawn and labels respect x-height.
• Body length is about three times roof height, or the chosen ratio is stated.
• Roofline is relatively flat with a gentle rear slope.
• Front hood is longer than rear deck in side view.
• Two wheel arches are rounded, slightly larger than tires, and centered under body sections.
• Main side trim is parallel to the ground, with any step explained.
• Labels are legible and within baseline-to-midline x-height.
• Valid alternatives are allowed if explained in notes.

Questions and answers