When a seller uses phrases like “all original” to describe a classic, it is fair to expect the vehicle to be unchanged from its factory specifications. This 1958 Chevrolet Impala misses the mark in a couple of areas, but the changes are minor enough that the new owner could easily reverse them for authenticity’s sake. It presents beautifully, and its mechanical specifications ensure an effortless driving experience. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finders Chuck F and 55chevy for spotting the Impala listed here on Craigslist in Warren, Michigan. The price for this classic is slightly eye-watering at $56,500, so let’s dig deeper to determine whether that figure is justified.
Chevrolet introduced the Impala as the top trim level for its new Bel Air range in 1958. However, in an interesting move, cars rolling off the line didn’t wear Bel Air badges, and nor did the name appear on any of the Sales Brochures. The single-year styling marked a significant change for Chevrolet, with the previous year’s Bel Air fins disappearing almost entirely. Finished in Rio Red, this Impala looks stunning. The listing text is slightly confusing, though I interpret it as suggesting the seller had the car faithfully restored at some point. The paint has a mirror shine, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. The seller doesn’t mention rust, and I see nothing in the listing images suggesting potential problems. The trim looks extremely clean, and once we add fender skirts, twin rear-mounted radio antennas, and crystal-clear glass to the mix, this classic makes a very positive impression.
The first owner selected the entry-level V8 to power this Impala. It is the 2-barrel version of the 283, producing a factory-quoted 185hp and 275 ft/lbs of torque. They teamed the motor with a two-speed Powerglide transmission, power steering, and power brakes. That combination won’t produce neck-snapping performance, but relaxed cruising with one hand on the wheel and an arm draped across the seatback will be a viable option for the driver. The engine bay looks clean without being detailed within an inch of its life. The Edelbrock air cleaner jars slightly, and I would source an original one if I became the new owner. Otherwise, the Impala runs and drives well, and is ready for action with its new owner behind the wheel.
This Impala’s interior reinforces my belief that modern manufacturers have lost their touch with interior trim. Drive the latest offering off the showroom floor, and you will confront a sea of technology. However, most interiors now lack visual appeal, which isn’t the case with this Impala. Its Tri-Tone seatcovers are bold and are in excellent condition. The remaining upholstered surfaces are equally impressive, with the paint and bright trim exceptional as well. The seller added a retro-style stereo during the restoration, but reinstating a factory unit would be easy. Otherwise, this interior needs nothing.
This 1958 Chevrolet Impala presents exceptionally well, from its sparkling paint to its spotless interior. The seller has made a couple of obvious changes, but they aren’t irreversible. They also wouldn’t cost a fortune to address, allowing the car to return to its factory form. The seller’s price pushes towards the top end of the market, but it isn’t unprecedented. That is especially true if the show images in the listing accurately indicate its condition. I acknowledge it isn’t cheap, but are you tempted to give this ’58 Impala a new home?
how far from “original” can a restored or like new “original” mid 60s car be from as was on day one of existence? Does that mean an original 66 anything still has 2 ply 4 ply rated OEM type tires and the non-sealed battery? This 58 is nothing short of what a one week old 58 would have looked like, nice car.
Not all original if it was restored to me.
Back in the day when these where new or next to new no one that I knew would have put finder skirts on it and dual antennas?. Maybe a 2″ drop in the rear and 3″ in the front 820X15 meat in the back 640X15 in front 16″ glass pack dual mufflers,,now your talking.
NO!!! Keep it as Chevy made it! Locate, restore, and install the original air-cleaner, and locate an original A.M. radio (the BETTER one, not the base version which came in our Impala convertible in ’58!). The rear antennas were standard in the Impala, or a common accessory that year. And they looked snazzy. We didn’t have the fender skirts, though. We had the 283 two-barrel and powerglide, which got good gas-mileage for its time, and ran practically for ever. There was plenty of power to cruise effortlessly on any road — just not to burn rubber — which is fine with ME! It didn’t growl at a stoplight as though it wanted to eat someone alive. It could run on regular, but it was a bit smoother and got better mileage if you ran Ethol or “High Test”. Seeing this dashboard brings back so many memories of driving that Impala! And those tri-colour seats are exactly what I remember so very well (except for this rather garrish colour-combination; our Impala was aquamarine blue-green, which is far more mellow than this smashing red which screams to everyone that you’re HERE!). At this point in my life, I would not want the convertible, but this one, brought back to entirely original, would suit me fine (hope they didn’t put a quartz movement in the clock! — and that no one ever smoked in it!). And is the owner’s manual still in the glove compartment? Sadly, I lack anywhere near this kind of money — or this Impala would be MINE! One caveat: these cars RUST something TERRIBLE!!! rockers rot away (no matter how carefully you clean-off the winter salt), and holes rot up from inside and underneath behind the headlights. Watch for rust in the floors and in the bottom of the trunk behind the rear wheels! And the straps holding the gas tank in place rust away, too! Check ALL of those places, as well as the frame rails in the area of the rear wheels. Watch for holes in the area of the rear wheel-wells that would penetrate into the area behind and under the sides of the rear seats. Unlike the ’57,, the ’58 Chevy is a real rust-bucket, and the rust can be SNEAKY, doing great damage before you notice it. Those strips of trim along the rockers hide a host of sins!! So, before you buy at THIS price, bring a magnet with you, and watch for hidden body repairs! Beautiful car I wish I could own!!!
and the narrow whitewall is not as original, typical in 1958 2.5 to 2.75″. The dual rear antennas were a factory option and not uncommon on Impalas
AND……….The BIG PLUS……….NO Continental Kit !
You can say THAT again!!!
For stereo?
To Garry: Only if you modify it. These came with a front speaker and a second speaker in the upper middle of the rear seat. Don’t mess with it: just drive it the way that Chevy made it. If you insist upon stereo, then buy something which originally came with a stereo radio. As for me, I might install a hidden high quality low power A.M. transmitter attached to a CD player in the trunk and have my own CDs of records such as “Chanson D’Amour”, “Little Star”, “Poor Little Fool”, “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu”, “Devoted To You”, “Beep-Beep”, “Kathy-O”, “Pussy Cat”, “When”, “What Am I Living For”, “The Little Blue Man”, “Swinging Shepherd Blues”, “Everybody Loves A Lover”, “Queen Of The Hop”, “Susie Darlin'”, “If Dreams Came True”, “Return To Me”, “Magic Moments”, Uh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again”, “Stupid Cupid”, “Don’t”, “Try The Impossible”, “Here I Stand”, “Summertime, Summertime”, “Trickle, Trickle”, “Summertime Blues”, “The Purple People Eater”, “The Witch Doctor”, “Don’t You Just Know it”, “It’s Only Make Believe”, and all my other fond 1958 memories! — to tune-in on the radio. I might even try to locate old clips of Dr. Bop and old commercials for Brylcream and Ipana Toothpaste! 1958 is still “only yesterday” to me! Where did all of the years go!
Got to drive a friend’s 348 with 4 on the floor. Had to have been the fastest car around those days. Good looking car here.
Damned sight better than the ’58 Chevy shown earlier this week, the wagon someone had barbarously mangled and saddled with a camper.
My dad bought one of these in 1958 for me to drive to high school. It was white with a green(ish) interior. Yes, it came with antennae, but skirts were not factory.
Original? That’s a stretch. Maybe numbers matching.
Let’s start with the1963 Impala SS wheel covers.
’64.
Oh. I didn’t NOTICE that!!! Would HAVE to get the original ’58s in “mint” condition! Thank you, oldredsel, for pointing out this travesty!
Lose the skirts. At least it doesn’t have that hideous continental kit!
Skirts came with these originally, if you wanted them.
This car was the crown jewel of GM’s lineup. No other model of any GM marque comes close. BOPs were overdone chrome orgies creating soon to be rust buckets.
Beautiful car, but it has the wrong hubcaps. Chevrolet even had a deluxe Impala hubcap for 1958 that had a spinner on it. My uncle had one.
One rainy day about 5 decades ago I was driving my customized 58 Impala after drinking to many beers I attempted a right hand turn a slid into another car waiting at the light. Car wasn’t hurt that bad but I went to jail. The Judge gave 4 months in the pokey. My mother-in-law went to see him and he said if I got rid of the hot rod car and enrolled in school he’d let me out. She agreed, got me released but would not let me have the car. So I traded for a pickup and enrolled in Airframe & Powerplant school at Clover Park Tech. It took me along time to give up alcohol but I finally did in October 1988. Life got good after that.
God Bless America
Great! Well done
Congratulations and blessings on your journey of sobriety.
Thank you Jon. God has been good to me. I spent 40 years in rebellion then the bottom fell out. It was 1988 when it happened to me. Most people don’t believe in jail house conversions, but that happened to me and it wasn’t fake it’s lasted all these years. I am so grateful for the second 40 years God has given me.
God Bless America
That certainly wasn’t the Impalas fault.
No it wasn’t. Alcohol and a stupid young man was the fault. The car was beautiful. Painted Candy Apple metal flaked red with matching leather interior wrapped in clear metal flaked plastic( who remembers those?) matching door panels. High output 348 hooked to a 3 speed manual with overdrive.It was a beautiful machine.
God Bless America
These are rare because alot of them got crushed – same with the 1959….nobody like them back then in the years that followed….the tri-5’s were always popular and those 1960’s ? You’ll find nine 1960’s to every 1959 out there….ask me how I know.
i see quite a few things that day this is not all original. seller love to throw that around when they really have no idea what they are talking about.
I saw a ’58 Impala hardtop coupe a few years ago. 348 with factory air. There’s been enough said about this car.