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57k Original Miles: 1958 Chevrolet Impala

The moment that I first saw this 1958 Chevrolet Impala, I so wanted to build a tribute car. This car immediately transported me back to the world of the iconic movie, American Graffiti, the world of Steve Bolander and Terry “The Toad” Fields. The car that they had in common was Steve’s ’58 Impala, which was a car that changed “The Toad’s” life forever. This Impala isn’t the one from the movie, but it could so easily be transformed. Whether you would be willing to do that to a largely original Impala with a mere 57,000 miles on the clock would be open to debate, but even if you didn’t, this really is a great project car. Located in Cochecton, New York, it is listed for sale here on eBay. Interest in the Impala has been very strong, with 59 bids to this point. That has pushed it to $19,600, but the reserve hasn’t been met.

This Impala is a nice solid car. The owner provides a number of photos of the car’s underside, and apart from a coating of surface corrosion, it looks really good. The only rust of note is a small spot in the left rear inner rocker corner, just forward of the rear wheel. The paint is showing its age a bit, with the car undergoing a repaint more than 40-years-ago. Still, it remains quite presentable, and could definitely be used as it is.

Unlike the movie car, this Impala doesn’t feature tuck and roll upholstery. What it does have though is all original. The rear seat is a bit sun-rotted across the back, and there is a small tear in the headliner, but the rest of it looks quite good. The original owner chose to have the Impala fitted with the optional factory radio, and that is still present in the dash. The rest of the interior looks to be quite presentable and has held up quite nicely over the past 61-years.

The drive-train of the Impala is original, which means that you get a 283ci V8, a Powerglide transmission (a $191.00 option when the car was new), and power steering. The owner says that the car runs strongly and that it has recently been treated to a new gas tank, a new dual exhaust, and a new battery. In his own words, the car is “ready to play.”

For those of you who have seen American Graffiti, I am the first to admit that I would have far more in common with The Toad’s character than the character of Steve Bolander. That also means that I would truly appreciate and cherish this car if someone handed me the keys. I’m not suggesting that someone transform this original Impala into a clone, but I honestly wouldn’t mind if they did.

Comments

  1. Avatar TimM

    Needs a little freshening up!! I just wish they (Chevy) would have made this style more than the one year!! Damn nice car!! I think if they produced these for more than one year we would have something similar to the tri-5’s!!!

    Like 11
  2. Avatar Ken Carney

    Very nice! It’s really a sight for sore eyes
    after not having seen one in nearly 50 years. Does anyone know what the color scheme is? Whatever it is it’s really sharp. And since it needs so little, I’d let my niece drive it anytime she wanted.

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Had Two

    Dare I say, 158,000 miles, but very well taken care of.
    Nice car deserving a loving home garage.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar Chuck

    Cloning this car would be a crime in my opinion. I agree, they should have kept this model a couple more years.

    Like 21
  5. Avatar OhU8one2

    I’m not normally a big fan of 50’s Chevrolet’s, but I really like this car. The colors are great, not often seen. Condition is perfect for being a driver. I have to drive all my car’s. And NO trailer queen’s. I’ve heard rumors that the vent looking trim piece on rear of roof, was actually copied, yet changed from a Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing. Anyhow, 1958 was definitely the year of the “Chrome”, it was everywhere.

    Like 6
  6. Avatar Wd62vette

    I believe the original colors are colonial cream on the body and anniversary gold on top. I really like that color combination. A pair of fender skirts will never fit the quarters on this car. Looks like bad repair jobs on both quarters. Skirts where aftermarket, and or dealer installed, not a factory option in 1958. There is no GM part number for fender skirts.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Angrymike

    It really amazes me that there are any of these left, my pop told me his father’s 58, that he bought new, started rusting above the headlights within the first year ! Will always love this style !

    Like 3
  8. Avatar bobhess Member

    Filler in the bottom of the driver’s door. If rust is minor this is a great looking car. One of GM’s few designs that didn’t support the ugly chrome theory.

    Like 2
  9. Avatar Carla Hernandez

    My uncle was out-running the headlights in his ’58 and T-boned a cow in the dead of the night. I wish that I had a picture of the car to show as it would back up my story. To simply state the extent of the damage, the motor was pushed against the firewall. Your disbelief is warranted, however, there’s got to be at least one of you who’ve seen the damage caused by hitting a cow. Hitting a horse can tear a car up pretty good, too.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Rodney - GSM

      Yes, commonly referred to as “horsepower”…

      Like 1
  10. Avatar johnmloghry

    I once owned a 58 Impala 2 dr hdtp. It was candy apple red with red tuck n roll interior rapped in plastic. It had the 348 h.o. 3 speed manual with overdrive. Unfortunately the Judge gave me 4 months or sell the car. I traded it for a 41 Chevy pickup. I sure hated to see it go, I loved that car. If this one was 348 stick I would be bidding on it right now. Never cared for the 283. Had that in a 57 Bel Aire 2dr hdtp. vapor locked a lot and was under powered.
    God bless America

    Like 3
    • Avatar Marty Parker

      Someone must have added the OD Transmission since GM never offered it with the 348 engine.

      Like 1
  11. Avatar 71FXSuperGlide

    That 283 looks so…tiny! That cavernous engine bay is crying out for a 348.

    And please, however buys it, lose the plastic fuel filter situated over the engine.

    Like 2
    • Avatar local_sheriff

      Don’t let a SBC fool you… though I’ll agree the w-engines look pleasing to the eye, in 58 it was still only 348 cubes and a heavy piece. The vacant space makes the 283 easier to work on !

      Like 0
  12. Avatar Bob McK

    Back in the 60’s/70’s nobody wanted a 58. They were often used for demolition derby cars. I remember when you could hardly give one away. Now they are loved.

    Like 2
  13. Avatar John B.

    When I was a teenager three of my friends had 58 Chevys; I liked the 58s, they didn’t. Later I bought a 58 from a neighbor and pulled the 283 to put in a 58 Corvette. The 283’s were IMHO one of Chevy’s better engines. I never was a fan of 348’s; lots of them blew up and I’ve seen 327’s eat them alive in drag races.

    Like 2
  14. Avatar Gene Bellegarde

    We had a ‘58 Biscayne with 283, ex- police car, gloss black. My dad rebuilt the engine. Shortly after my mom went to avoid a cat on an icy road in Maine and hit a tree and rolled the car. Mom and lil sister unharmed even without seat belts of any kind.
    Hitting a cow: I was coming down off Palomar Mtn in my 67 Volvo Amazon wagon, rounded a bend, and hit a black cow walking in my lane in the pitch dark. Fan machined the radiator fins down to the tubes, but no leaks, only got the hood and grille. Nearly hit a horse on the Rincon Indian reservation with the same car, narrowly avoided that one.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar canadainmarkseh

    One of my favorite body styles a much nicer looking car then the 57. personly I’d do a sympathetic restoration then repaint in the same colors. Judging by the condition of that trunk I’d say there is more rust in this car than meets the eye.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Mark Holmstrand

    I had the convertible version with tri-power and factory A/C. Hardest work was fixing the hydraulics to get the convertible top back into operation. Mine was red and white two-tone with a white top. Sold it in 2008. One of my favorite cars.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar mrgreenjeans

    I owned a Tropical Turquoise Impala Sport Coupe for nearly 20 years. It was a low mileage 348 Turboglide that was converted to a powerglide ( internal kit ), something GM did to nearly all Turboglides when new, because of failures and complaints.
    It was a very much LOVED car, by both myself and the original owner. It started to become a collectible with a great value, and regrettably sold it to buy land.
    This particular car selling here has some well covered over rust issues that are coming out again and if one looks at the underside photos, it shows hollowed out rusted areas in the rockers. It is going to take some good money to bring trunk floor, rockers, fender areas and door posts into good form. I do not believe the miles as original either, BUT they could be. I think it appears to be 150,000 miles with a somewhat careful owner. Except he drove it in salt and it got put away wet…… the ultimate invitation to the tinworm

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Gene Bellegarde

    I had a 1962 Impala 2dr hardtop with a 348 3-speed. The engine looked great with those chrome valve covers, but it was heavy, torquey, but slow. Wish it had a 327, much better all around.

    Like 1
    • Avatar local_sheriff

      If it was indeed a 62 you owned, some PO must have swapped in that 348 from an older Chevy. The 409 was introduced mid-year 61 replacing the 348 as Chevy’s big block alternative.
      I agree with you on the 327 though as it’s a great allrounder

      Like 0

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