After 30 years in production and more than 1200 units sold, Whittley's entry-level cruising boat, the classic Impala has ceased production.

Launched in 1976, the Impala was designed by company founder Jim Whittley in collaboration with his son Steve, who is now in charge of design and development.

The Impala evolved over the years with fresh colour schemes and upholstery, and increased standard equipment.

Its biggest update came in mid-1980s, when the original clinker-style hull was superseded by a modern moderate hull which has remained for the final two-thirds of its long career.

Its functionality, value and design set a standard that influenced all subsequent Whittley boats, particularly in how it fitted all the Whittley cruising features into a 5.3 metre hull.

In 2004 the Impala was joined by the Cruiser 550, sometimes known as the “pocket cruiser”, which now takes its place as the company's entry level model.

Just as the last Impala was rolled out of the factory, one of its replacements became the 1500th boat built at its Campbellfield factory.

Production began at Campbellfield on 25 September 2003. “When we moved into the Campbellfield factory, we were in the post boat-show rush and our boat production had to hit the ground running,” said Co-Owner and Managing Director, Neville Whittley.

“Since then we have been too busy building boats to even have an official opening.”

Whittley's 1500 milestone figure does not include production of the Savage fibreglass range, although it does include an increasing local output of models from the affordable Clearwater by Whittley range.

Only one Clearwater, the 2100 Walkaround is still imported from Whittley's American factory in Willacoochee, Georgia, which also builds the Cruiser 550, 630 and 660 models under their US models names of 2080, 2380 and 2590.