The 1958 Chevrolets were a “one-year wonder” in that the body would be used just one time. The cars were larger, lower, wider, and heavier than the 1955-57 Chevies and would drop the tailfins used on the ‘57s, only to gain them back for ’59. Located in Metairie, Louisiana, the seller has a pair of these 1958 beauties, one a hardtop and the other a convertible. Other than some rubbed off the paint on one of the cars, they both look stunning and well-cared for. They’re being sold only as a pair, so the final price will net the buyer two cars. They’re available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $111,100. Start making room in the garage!
We’re not sure why the 1958 Chevies were a single-year design, but this applied to all GM products that used the new X-member frame. In the past, Chevrolet would spread the same body style over two or three years with only minor changes from one to the next. However, the 1958 Chevrolet neither resembles the 1957 nor the 1959 editions. 1958 would be the first year that the Impala name would be used, displacing the Bel Air at the top of the Chevy food chain. Nearly 56,000 Impala convertibles were built for 1958, but there is no breakdown for the 2-door hardtop. 142,600 coupes would be built, both the Impala and the Bel Air.
The seller of this pair of Impalas has owned them for at least five years and they both are said to run great. They originated in California and found their collective way to Louisiana in the 1980s. These cars wear the same color paint, Honey Beige, which is original on both, and each sport an anniversary gold interior. Neither of the cars is said to have any rust, primarily due to being stored indoors when not used. There is some worn paint on one of the car’s driver’s side doors where someone may have rested their arm on trips, but we don’t know which car that applies to.
1958 Impala Convertible
At 99,000 miles, this Impala has had more work done over time. It carries a 348 cubic inch V8 which has been rebuilt and balanced (we don’t know when) and the engine bay fully restored. At that time, a new NOS radiator was installed. The front suspension was also rebuilt, and the car has a new NOS exhaust system. The newer tires are Coker reproductions which would be correct to the car. This Impala has an automatic transmission (Powerglide?) and power steering and brakes.
1958 Impala Hardtop
The mileage is lower on this car; so, at 67,000 miles, the seller is unaware if the motor, also a 348, was ever rebuilt, but it runs as it should. Like the convertible, it also carries a set of Coker reproduction tires. It, too, has an automatic transmission and power steering, but the brakes do not have power assist. Inside the trunk are an extra set of full wheel covers and what may be fender skirts. There are quite a few of these cars in excellent condition for sale, and none of them are below $50,000 and a few are above $100,000.
Makin’ me scream and holla ’bout these Chevy Impalas!
wanted to holla, had to ditch the impala, looked to see if they would follow…
…me. Hit a fence hit a fence and another, met me a baby pit bull and his mother…
The only thing missing is a YouTube drive video with Dinah Shore singing “See The USA in your Chevrolet”. Both beautiful cars.
Nice Impalas from my birth year. Just wish I looked as good as they do. I have an 1:18 scale convertible model in chocolate ice cream brown with the fender skirts and continental kit.
I had one of these blk 2dr. ht , with cont . kit befor I went to Nam . back in 67, was a beaut. car, let my sister use it ,while over sea,s she totaled it , while I was gone but I must say , it was a beauty, and a good riding car . if memory serves me right though the 348 used to have a oil problem? not sure . these car,s are still beautiful, I can,t touch these today , to much $$ have good memory though.
Thank You for your service!
Bidding has now reached $135,100.00 for the “almost-twins.” Five days bid time to go!
The 1957 Chrysler products were such a styling sensation that GM scrapped its plans for facelifted 1959 models and started over from scratch. It was something of a coup, as Bill Mitchell initiated the new styling program for 1959 while VP of Design Harley Earl was overseas. That’s why the 1958 Chevrolet (and Pontiac) were one year designs.
It was said that at the end of summer, 1956 GM was busy big-time revising their plans for `59 models after seeing `57 Chryslers/Dodges rolling out of the factory from the chain link fence. Stylists apparently worked 16 hr days to get the job done. But even by `59, Chrysler products still looked light-years ahead of GM!
A lot of things were said. Doesn’t mean any are true.
Looked light years ahead…
or like something from outer space?
59 Chrysler products lost the purity of line of the 57th and 58 with a bunch of added gimmicks
59 GM were so advanced they were as much from outer space or more as the 57 Chryslers had been.
I remember seeing a black 59 LeSabre coupe driving from the dealer to the car wash before introduction. It was flabbergastingly startling to me
Some would say that the ’59 Chevy styling was botched only because the ’59 Ford outsold Chevy that year. I like the gull-wings myself, and thought they were better looking than the facelifted ’60 Chevy (which outsold the ’60 Ford). Go figure.
not true Terry, designs started 2 to 3 years out, finalized almost a year before production. The 59 chevy toned down to the 60 due to the 59 ford outselling chevy.
The funny thing is, in 59 Ford outsold Chevy , but in 60 ,Fords used a similar tail fin design the 59 Chevies used . I’ve heard that Ford thought the 59 Chevy would be a huge seller and changed the 60 models to have a similar fin . And then the toned down Chevies outsold them
BlondeUXB,
Have no idea what “UXB” stands for but, but, I get the “Cripto” on the ‘58 being from another Galaxy.
In my recollections of 1958 Chevy model year, to me, it was always a “Dud.”
I was TOLD that when a kid, and never forgot it.
Then my folks bought a 1960 Impala and I KNEW it was TRUE!
The “Twins” may get attention here, but not mine.
wow I had both 1958 Delray 2-Door sedan when I was in high school ,I got a 1958 Impala with con.kit 283 stick. Great car sold it in 1986 for 8,000. I also had a 1960 Impala 2 Door Hardtop 283 PG also a great car. All the cars were rust free and nice. I would love to have my 58 impala back. To bad we cant show pictures neat cars.
My dad had a 4 door sport sedan when I was a kid in blue/white had it only 3years traded up in 61 I loved that car .I was 5
Beautiful! Nay double beautiful😊❤️. I owned a candy apple red 58 Impala 2 door hardtop. Had red and white leather tuck n roll interior. 348 with 3 speed manual with overdrive. I loved that car.
God bless America
I’d take the 4-door HT too. Here in Florida, they sock you 3 times the monthly rate for car insurance if you own a 2-door car because the state
classifies any 2-door car to be a sports
car– no matter what make it is. That’s
why I only buy 4-doors.
🤔 I’d register the car in another state. Or, go “limited use” “antique” “classic” and perhaps “parade” use.
I never knew why the 1958 design was only used for one year.
1958 was the GM 50th anniversary.
The convertible is rare- they only made 2800 converts. You would need to be sure that these are all they say they are. Like undercarriage, and body filler, goes without saying. up to 125 large. Good luck and stay safe. That convertible might be close to 100k by itself. Plus both have 348s. Sweet.
Cheers
GPC
55,989 was the production total for 58 Impala converts. Not sure where you got your 2800 number.
2800 convertables.
My understanding is that GM continued to use the X-frame through 1964. I also understand that it was a rather fragile design. I wonder whether the X used in 1958 may have been different from the one that GM used in ’59 – ’64. ‘improved’ for ’59 and subsequent years but still never strong. In 1965, GM replaced the X with a perimeter-frame – the same year that Ford replaced its ‘coke-bottle’ frame with a perimeter.
I read somewhere that the 58 was supposed to be the 57 model but due to production probs they pushed it out to 58 and rushed up the now infamous 57 finned car. No proof of this but read it somewhere couple years ago.
My friend had a convert when we were in the army in El Paso. Had a blast riding around the drive inns. May he reads the K.K.
Toad liked em’.
348 meh…
502 Crate would make it fun, and the glide is cast iron too.
Bob
Pretty cool that they found two with the same unusual color combination. Great addition to anyone’s collection.
what a weird seat color combination
I had a triple white ’58 convertible. In the spring of ’64, 6 of us (3 couples) drove non-stop from upstate PA. to Ft. Lauderdale for spring break. On the way back, in North Carolina (I think, but it could have been SC or VA), it caught fire when someone dropped a lit cigarette on the rear seat. The car burned to a cinder, leaving us stranded. We pooled our $$, bought 6 bus tickets back to school. No idea as to what became of the burned car after we left..
Would love to have that car back today!! Boy, would I ever!!
Our family of 7 kids had a 4 door Delray 6 cylinder 3 on the tree , still remember as a little guy the vacuum wiper operation on the plain Jane that served the family well. These shown here are gorgeous and reminds me of Ron Howards / Toad driving in AG
I really like the ’55, ’56 and ’57 Bel Airs. But I LOVE the ’58, ’59 and ’60 Impalas!
Had 3 1960 Impalas ,2 hard tops and one conv. ,just sold the 2 hard tops 4 years ago. Should have kept one .
I love the 58 interiors. They say ” late 50’s – early 60’s so much…I never knew how colorful they were until a couple of years ago, only ever having a 57. I was never a 58 fan but appreciate them more now.
Last year I installed a hidden stereo in a ’58 red convertible. What a beautiful car, even had the underdash record player.
Found a complete 348 engine, four V carb, in the trash during the 1973 gas crisis. Mounted it and it ran perfectly. Sold it to a guy who was going to put it into a dump truck.
I think that 58 was the best looking Chevrolet ever.
I had a ’58 Chevy from the other end of the spectrum. It was a plain white with gray interior DelRay with a six and three on the tree. I had it while overseas in The Philippines, (early 70s) and we called it the Carabao. I drove that thing to Manila and all points in between.
back in high school in 1964 i had a black on black 1958 impala 348 single 4 barrell factory 3 speed on the column was the fastest car in school friend had a 1959 vette 283 2 4s 245 hp impala beat it
Are Ya sure it was a 348??? My Dad had a 58 Belair….slipped in a 409 single 4bbl…I never knew about the swap…Nothing could touch it top end….I was about 14 at the time….Car was sold when I turned 16..He gave me the old 348 engine and I still have it to this day…I miss that Man PS I was born in1952 so you know the time frame….Those old 348s were some strong engines though..Many thanks For The Memories..
it was a 250hp 348 i was only 2nd owner bought it in summer of 1963 from neighbor for $900 sold my 1956 chevy bel aire convertible for it the 1956 power glide 6 sold for $350 lol wich i still had both now i was born in 1945
The 409 oil dip stick was on the opposite side of the 348. Lot of guys looking for money runs would try to pass off a “09 for a 348.
All 58 Impalas had 3-colored striped seat inserts. Beige or gold cars got the gold interior. Don’t know what’s ‘weird’ about it?
A lot of people would mistake that first photo to be 2 Cadillacs because GM used a lot of the same front end styling as a 58 Cadillac not done as expensively
My grammar school principal had a 58 Impala convertible in ice blue that he used to leave parked with the top down at the side of the school on the street in Alameda California
I had a red ’58 convertible w/348/pglide back in the day…beautiful car but a real slug. I sold it to our 16 yr old paperboy and he had it painted period-purple.
you sure it was a powerglide most 348 s came with troboglide it was bad
Look at the shifter indicator. If there’s an “L” to the right of the “D”, it’s a Powerglide. If it’s “Gr” to the right of the “D”, it’s a Turboglide.
You are 100% correct about the dipstick…Most folks around here did not know that.Best to keep the hood closed….Many Thanks
I love the 1958 Chevy Bel Air and Impala.
My uncle worked on one like this when he was in high school. I don’t know if he owned one or not, but according to him he did work on it.
Had a dozen 59 and 60 Impalas starting with my first, a rotbox in 1978. Also bought 2 convertibles right out of junkyards in 1979 and 1981. My last one I paid $6500 for in 1989 a rust free 2dr hardtop right from California. Belonged to a convent of nuns. No kidding, sold that in 1999 or 2000 for 15 or so. Could get 40 plus now, oh well.
gour rt terry dip stick is on different side but the oil pans are interchangeable so can make 348 have dip stick same side as 409
dad was an auditor for GM, said the 348 was a truck motor, originally. real bad valve float above 5600 r.p.m. Turboglide was the worst transmission GM ever came up with, should have added a 3rd gear to the powerglide.
1958 was a recession year, and the steel was often imported, due to steel mill strikes, therefore, in the rust belt the 58s’, no matter what manufacturer rusted out badly within about 3 years, another reason, not many 58 models of any brand are available today.