1958 Chevrolet Impala

Description

No question the 1958 Chevrolet is a landmark automobile, and has rapidly eclipsed its popular Tri-Five siblings in terms of desirability and value. This very pretty 1958 Impala hardtop retains everything that was great about the stunning Impala, and adds a few modern conveniences to create what is perhaps the ultimate '50s luxury/performance coupe.

The '58 Impala never looks as good as when it's dressed in bright red: exciting, flashy, and emphasizing the dramatic one-year-only styling. During the restoration, they worked overtime to give it the look the designers dreamed of in '58, and while it's a few years old now, there aren't many cars that catch your eye better than this. Two-stage urethane creates an impossibly high shine that will look this good for years and years, and all the correct Impala logos were faithfully replaced when it was dry. No need for two-tone paint schemes to attract attention, and the vivid Rio Red paint stands on its own merits. A small fortune was spent on chrome, from the massive bumpers to the delicate fins atop the front fenders to the dual antennas on the rear fenders, all of it is shiny, bright, and clear, suggesting that the investment was sizable indeed.

Although there's a lot of new stuff under the skin, the interior was treated to a custom white tuck-and-roll upholstery job that has a proper '50s vibe. The seats and door panels are covered in pleated white vinyl that's easy on the backside and looks great inside the bright red Imp. The steering wheel is a modern billet aluminum piece with a leather rim, but the design looks pretty darned close to the original. Factory gauges have all been restored, joined by aftermarket oil pressure and temperature gauges hanging under the dash. A/C has been subtly added using ducts bolted down low, and there's a digital AM/FM stereo radio in the original AM radio's slot. Nice red carpets keep it from being too bright inside and a chrome tilt steering column makes it quite easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. The massive trunk is neatly finished with pleated side panels and a gray carpet mat, along with a full-sized spare tire and an Optima battery.

The top engine in 1958 was a 348 cubic inch V8, instantly recognizable by its M-shaped valve covers. With plenty of dress-up, including three little chrome air cleaners for the Tri-Power induction system and finned aluminum valve covers, it looks as flashy as the rest of the car. The A/C system uses modern components and R134a refrigerant, so it's effective and easy to service, and the braking system uses a dual-circuit master cylinder for safety. There's also a large aluminum radiator up front, new wiring, and nice attention to detail, so you should probably open the hood every chance you get. A 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission spins the original rear end, so it's happy around town and on the highway, and in both cases the burbling dual exhaust system sounds fantastic blowing through a pair of chrome tips just under the rear bumper. Original steel wheels and hubcaps are the right choice and with 205/75/14 whitewall radials, it rides and handles like a far more modern car.

This is an extremely impressive '58 Impala that captures not only the best of what was possible at the time, but everything that it could be with just a bit of modern technology. Call today!