Chevy’s product line was all-new for 1958 and the Impala would be an addition to the line-up. It first became an upgrade on the Bel Air but then the top-line Chevrolet for 1959. For who-knows-how-long, the seller has collected four of the 2-door hardtops offered that year. They’ve been taken apart with three of them and their parts filling a barn and a fourth is outside in the underbrush. The seller would like someone to take it all off his hands, but he will break things up. Available in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and here on craigslist, $39,500 will take everything you see. Thanks, Gunter Kramer, for finding this “collection” for us!
Competition between Chevrolet and Ford has always been intense and 1958 was no exception. Even though ’58 would be a down year in the economy, the all-new Chevies beat out the Ford retreads for the top sales spot in the industry. Of those new longer, wider, lower, and heavier cars, 15% of production would be the new Impala of which 125,000 of them were sport coupes like the menagerie the seller has amassed.
Everything in the seller’s barn is packed such that you really can’t tell where one car stops, and another begins. One Impala is red and another is black, but grey primer seems to be the predominant color. Three of them are considered viable cars (?) while a third (perhaps the one that’s outside) is thought of as a parts car. In reviewing the numerous photos the seller provides, you’ll see bodies, interiors, motors, doors, hoods, and a bunch of stuff scattered about. The most difficult aspect of pairing the cars out is figuring out what goes where.
The seller has an interesting way of separating the pack if you’re not interested in taking the whole lot. You can get the best car, whichever one that is, for $18,500. The second best is priced at $15,500 and the third is $12,500. You can have the parts car for $7,500, but you must buy one of the other three to get it. Have you booked your flight to Manitowoc yet?
Low Riders !
Why would you ruin something and make it into a low rider???
Jack, Why not? It’s theirs and can be appreciated and loved. Unlike now. Anything is better then the current condition of these 58’s which looks like a sad group of parts cars.
I think you or anyone would have nothing but praise for the lowrider community if you were in their turf. Yet hide behind a keyboard though and we are a man!
I hope someone ends up with them but the price is to high.
I would suggest actually clearing off picture distractions and post new pictures.
Show engine vins as well as car vins to allow a real offer to arrive. The current state and lack of pictures will mot bear the best response rrares.
This type of sale is very hard to determine what your actually getting. If you could lay everything out to see it, it would be easier to judge. 30 years ago, I’d be up for doing that…. but, sadly, not these days.
The way the cars are displayed they are junk. No telling what is there until you get it out and look at it. Seller’s been smoking old door rubber with those prices so the thrill of the hunt just isn’t there on this lot.
Perfect example of why some people have NO business owning or messing up old cars as is the case here. Imagine creating an absolute mess like this one, throwing in the towel for something that never should have been started in the first place…and then charging top dollar to get bailed out of your ineptitude. Not a chance – it should be the other way around…he pays someone to clean up his old mice infested, damp dirty barn. That might be the key, folks having to pay for screwing up good cars – that’ll keep them from repeating the offense. Just sayin’ – LOL!
This “collection” is located near me and it’s been for sale for a long time. He’s out of his mind if he thinks he’ll get anywhere near that money for a bunch of scrap metal…
In this case the photos just make things worse.
What is in the water in Manitowoc that this seller has been drinking? That maybe explains also why nothing was ever done with these cars before this point. The number of dreamers rather than doers coupled with gold diggers rather than fair sellers are what is ruining our beloved hobby.
Id need to see a little bit better pictures but $10k a piece doesnt sound so bad to me. IMO the ’58-59 Chevys are so underappreciated. They are beautiful cars with bold styling that made for a great continuation of the tri-fives that are so loved by most. Dont get me wrong, if i had to pick between a ’55-57 or a ’58-59, we know the obvious answer there but these are also when done very nice cars. The 348 tri power pic shows potential for atleast one nicely optioned car. This would maybe be worth the short trip north (2 hours?) to atleast peak a little better. Did anyone not like the ’58 in American Graffiti?!? Ive started noticing more ’58’s at car shows lately. Seems red was popular…..One of my uncles had a black one i believe in the late 60’s.
If these are anywhere near solid and you have the time to deal with this mess, $40k for four complete cars and a parts car seems pretty reasonable. There were 2 W engines shown in pics. For those into it for the money, these can pull good money at auction. Ive seen $80k+….
I agree with Bob and Howie. And can we vote this one for the worst pictures with the highest price ?