At first glance, you might think this car is another nice restoration of a classic 50s-era wagon. In fact, you are looking at a survivor that the seller claims has 22K documented original miles! It can be found here on Craigslist with an asking price of $28,750 and looks like an awesome car to add to any collection. Located just north of San Diego, California, the ad doesn’t say if the car spent its entire life in the Golden State but based on the condition, I wouldn’t be surprised if it has. You won’t believe the condition of this car inside and out! Let’s take a look and thanks to Pat L. for the tip on this wicked wagon.
Aside from the beautiful exterior, which I’m guessing is Anniversary Gold/Honey Beige, the interior is truly amazing. The upholstery is in immaculate condition with only very minor blemishes. The headliner, rear cargo area (aka: kid road trip area), and door panels are in great condition. Even the paper jack instructions, which are usually non-existent after 60 years, are very readable.
The engine is likely a 235 cubic inch V8, but I’m sure there are some keen-eyed readers who will know for sure. Along with the rest of the car, the engine compartment is in amazing original condition. You can see the A/C compressor, which is a nice touch for a road trip or warm-weather cruising. There isn’t a lot of information in the ad, but the seller does say it is a manual transmission with overdrive.
I’ve always been a fan of the rear end of these cars. The design of the side trim and body line curving around the taillights is a dramatic and beautiful design. Combined with the wrap-around bumpers, curved rear glass and big Chevrolet “V” on the tailgate, there isn’t much more of a classic wagon than this! What do you think? Is this one of the best examples of an original 1958 wagon you’ve ever seen?
Montana – Nice write up, thx! We had a ’58 Brookwood in our family between 1958 and 1964. I was young, but still, I don’t recall it ever looking this good!
As an aside, my father left the windows down in a 1962 thunderstorm and the foot wheels got flooded. I told him I’d bale it out and he said no, “it will evaporate”. It did, and two years later, the rear floor, driver’s side, fell out as I was standing on it trying to climb into the front seat. That’s the most memorable thing I recall about that car!
BTW – The engine pictured is a 283 CI, good for 185 HP. The 235 CI motor was an in-line six.
Beautiful looking car. 1958 was not my favourite year, but there were certain models within the year group that I did like, and this is one of them.
I don’t know for certain if the 265 V8 was offered as one of the other options, but if it was, the engine would have been yellow with black script.
I wonder if there was more than one style of steering wheel offered in 1958? My 58 steering wheel did not have a straight line between the center and the rim.
I had a 60 Pontiac which had a wheel that matches this one.
Does anyone have the answer?
Bob
This guy does:
southeastchevyparts.com/1958-1964-Steering-Wheel-Identification_b_20.html
Brookwood was introduced as the mid-range wagon for ’58, but as the Yeoman was deleted from the line-up in ’59 Brookwood became Chevy’s entry level longroof ’59-’61
Had a 58 rag top in 63. Is this steering wheel correct for 58 ?
Mike; that depends on WHICH ’58 Chev you’re thinking of…! Don’t be lazy; go to the site I suggested above and you’ll realize there were no less than FOUR different wheels for ’58 depending on trim level
Please whomever buys her keep her stock….beautiful wagon
Gorgeous car!
Worth EVERY penny of the asking price, & probably even a few $$ more!
That said, I’m not sure you can state that this is a TRUE “Survivor” car.
I would fully expect that some level of restoration (even if just a minor external cosmetic refresh) has been performed in the past. & in MY book that would be completely acceptable & expected.
Although this is probably a ling-time California car I would still like to see a few pictures of the underside. (You can tell a lot about the true condition of a classic car by looking at the parts that are hidden from view, & usually only viewed by the car’s mechanic.)
This would be the perfect candidate for an LS swap!
That would be like “updating” the Mona Lisa with a Disneyland background…
It would be such a shame to take an original 22K mile car and modify it.
Great car!! What a good style!! Small block V-8!! How can you go wrong??? Worth every penny!!!
Bob, the last year for the 265 V-8 was 1957. In 1958 you got the 235 I-6, a 283 small block, or the 348 “W Series.” As far as I know, all 265’s were painted yellow and all 283’s were orange.
This one doesn’t look like it has power steering, so if you’re not a pro wrestler it’s going to be a bear to parallel park. I drove a couple of similar ones and it’s not real fun. Of course nobody’s going to pay good money for a low mile car and drive it a lot.
You can add power steering without much trouble on a 58. 55-57’s are a problem because the power steering pump is built into the back of the generator, and the motor mounts are in the front of the block where the later model pump wants to go. There’s nothing on the side like the 58 up block. I did it on my 57, but it’s not easy or fun.
Camaro Joe you are one of the very rare people who is spot on. I too have mentioned the yellow block 265s in early 57s. They had a surplus of them left over. Yes some early 57s had the new 283 but Chevy needed to empt the parts bin. Hemmings Classic Car magazine confirms this.
Funny the comments on engine color. My brother had both a 55 and a 57, the 55 had a 265 from a 56 and the 57 had a 283. From what I remember both had orange painted engines in them, not black and I assume the same paint schemes would have continued through 58. In fact after he wrecked the 55 we pulled the engine and transmission out of it so I know it was orange. Maybe GM painted engines more than one color in those years or they were replacement engines, I just happened to not have seen anything other than orange Chevy engines in that era.
Do your homework.
I did. Didn’t find any color chart for 1958 engine colors. Virtually every V8 photo showed an orange engine except for a couple of obvious replacement crate engines. I still have not seen any apparent oem v8 engines other than orange. If you have some photo’s, please share them.
That is one good-looking wagon! Love the interior and the color, very nice chrome, too. The 283 V8 should give this big wagon enough pep and having A/C is a big plus. No PS might be an issue for some, I’d look into adding that as Camaro Joe pointed out it’s an easy upgrade. I have no issue with the price, it seems fair for such a beautiful wagon.
Chevy454, as good as this may seem, if anyone were to attempt to remove the original mill, a bolt of lightning would rain down and smite the transgressor.
If anyone would be stupid enough to remove the original engine for more power the only proper choice would be a 409 and pass it off as a 348.
Love the car! Certainly a bare bones interior. Not even carpeting. Of course its not nearly as plain-Jane as Mopars were. At least it does have door arm rests and sun visors for both front passengers. Gotta think the O.D. is pretty rare.
The 58’s are slowly catching up with the 55’s/57’s in desirability.
I actually prefer the ’58 over the tri5 Chevies. This car is gorgeous, but I also believe some form of restoration has been performed here. I would happily pay the asking price for this.
Sadly….it’s a virgin no more with all that under hood stuff going on…….go ahead and LS it………
You mean like the modern battery? Yeah, you’re right – chop, channel, mod, slam. Too late to save her considering that atrocity…
I have seen maybe two 265’s that were yellow in 56 Belair’s but that’s all I remember. Maybe different engine plants ? I haven’t thought that for so long. Cool wagon. Later………………….JIMMY
Awesome looking car! I’ve always found the Chevy to be the best looking car under General Motors for 1958, whether it’s the Bel Air, the Impala, or the Biscayne. It’s awesome to see an original survivor. Whoever buys this car should enjoy this baby for years to come. I’ve driven plenty of cars with manual transmission, but never one with the control on the steering column (3 on the tree). This would be fun! :)
I seem to remember truck V8’s of this era being painted yellow. Don’t remember ever seeing a passenger car engine in anything but orange.