The 1958 Chevrolets would turn out to be a one-year outing as General Motors scrambled to rework them for 1959. That’s because of the success that Chrysler was having with their 1957-59 futuristic “Forward Look” automobiles. The Impala was the head of the pack at Chevrolet, including this Sport Coupe with ‘bubble-top” styling. With some recent work, this likely restored red Chevy looks amazing and is priced accordingly. From Santa Rosa, California, the Impala is available here on craigslist for $80,000 OBO. Our appreciation to Pat L. for another fine tip!
Consumers were introduced to the Impala in 1958 as a gussied-up Bel Air available only in hardtop and convertible forms. The next year, when the Chevrolets were all-new yet again, the Impala was the head of the class as a series of its own, and more body styles were offered. Tailfins would reappear on the cars after taking a year off, using a horizontal “batwing” styling approach with “cat’s eye” taillights. The top powerplant, for the second year in a row, was the 348 cubic inch V8 which was on the options list in passenger cars through 1961. It had a bore of 4.125 inches and a stroke of 3.25 inches and was offered in an assortment of horsepower ratings. One of these motors is in the seller’s car and we’re told it’s numbers-matching.
This ’59 Impala looks like it has been restored, although the seller doesn’t use that choice of words. The body is clean and straight, and the deep red paint is quite sharp. The odometer reading is just 400 miles, and the seller admits the car has turned over 100,000 miles. The interior is brand-new, and we assume the gear shifter is for a 2-speed Powerglide automatic although the listing also says it’s a manual transmission.
A long list of recent repairs and maintenance is noted. That includes new tires and rims, a conversion to front disc brakes and new drum brakes in the back, ball joints. and a new exhaust system. So, this comes across as a turn-key automobile that could be driven anywhere. The seller is quite accommodating, indicating that delivery of the car is available, and he/she will accept payment in cryptocurrency.
Please keep original…don’t make a low rider out of her.
One of my favorites. No need to lower it as it already looks that way. Beautiful car.
The seller doesn’t even know how this car’s equipped. The listing says it has a “manual” transmission, yet I see the gear selector quadrant on the steering column, and NO CLUTCH. Ooops….
The check boxes on the right may say “manual”, but the seller lists the trans in the ad itself as a “Power glide transmission”.
In early 70s one of parents daily driver’s was a 59 2 door post, 6 cylinder,3 on the tree,big studded snow tires in winter,Dad slid off road took out 3 fence post, only damage tore off one fender ornament and small crease, didn’t even get stuck.
What is the rule regarding pictures in Craigslist ads? Is there a limit to the number of pictures allowed? Is there a limit to the allowable resolution to a picture, or a maximum allowable total resolution of pictures?
I ask these questions because, well, call me crazy, but if I was trying to sell a car for EIGHTY GRAND, I would put as many high-resolution pictures in the listing as I possibly could, even if it meant paying a few extra bucks for the privilege.
Was this seller cheaping out on the listing, or did he not have anything better to take the pictures than a 15-year-old phone camera?
There was no “numbers matching” until 1968. The parts may be “date code correct” to the approximate build date of the car, but that’s as good as it gets for this vintage.
Beautiful car none the less.
My 1963 buick is one of 17 Lesabre built with a T10 Borg Warner four speed. When I rebuilding the trans not only was it date coded but it had the VIN of the car on the case It also has the date of manufacture. So who knows
The BF readers always throw out a bunch of Red Flags ,I haven’t even thought about. All I can think of it’s a beautiful car and I would love to have it. I started High School in 1959 and nothings changed ,I still want the car and I still can’t afford it. One thing has changed not for the beast, where can you find one even if money isn’t an issue?
Beautiful car. Kind of expensive for me. But someone has the cash.
Looks more like a 2 dr hardtop to me than a sport coupe, The sport coupe would be more in the style of the 2dr post car. Also, the ’59 models were never referred to as a bubble top car, that did not come about till the ’61 Impala came out. I’ve owned a couple ’59 El Caminos over the years and like them as much as this hardtop. Prices on these have gone thru the roof in the last 5 years, has anyone here priced a convertible lately? Better have some big deep deep pockets for one today!
“Sport Coupe” was the manufacturer’s name for a 2 dr ht. The 4 dr hts were
“Sport Sedans”. The older use of “Sport Coupe” was on the 2dr coupes vs 2 dr sedans from earlier times. The last of THOSE “Sport Coupes” was in the early 50s.
And here I always thought a 2dr hardtop was just that, never knew they referred to that as a sport coupe. The 4 dr hardtop was also just that, I thought. How about this, I own a 1965 Pontiac GTO Sport Coupe which in some eyes would be a 2 dr sedan, but Pontiac a GM division no longer in business did call the post car the “Sport Coupe”. This can be somewhat confusing to many of us here, but I did learn something new, even at my old age, lol.
Oh yeah, additional to my previous post ,Mom could chirp tires when she hit second ,for all you 3OT lovers
I remember when these came out Mad Magazine had a cartoon of one with a guy pulling up to the curb and his exaggerated horizontal fin slicing up the pedestrians…
I remember that cartoon!
I agree with gearjammer. Frankly, if I was selling a beautiful somewhat rare vehicle for that much money, I would skip Craigslist and go straight to eBay and Hemmings. Maybe it’s the elitist in me, but I consider Craig’s list rather low class.
Come on, bring on the comments to my post
Well, I Adore Red Heads, and Red 59 Chevy’s Make it a 2 door Station Wagon and Dear we’ll Call it Home of The Range.!
I agree with gearjammer. Frankly, if I was selling a beautiful somewhat rare vehicle for that much money, I would skip Craigslist and go straight to eBay and Hemmings. Maybe it’s the elitist in me, but I consider Craig’s list rather low class.
Come on, bring on the comments to my post
My single not having any children father’s first car was a 59 Impala he bought in 1961 same color. But it was a 4-door, my father was kinda corny back then, he was never a car guy. Bought whatever was available Ha!
Oh, this is one of my dream cars. A ’59 Impala in red on red with a 348. The only thing that would make it better would be to have 3×2 carbs and a 4-speed.
However, this car has that beautiful 348 but NO pics of it?? Seems odd for a car with an $80,000 price.
Let’s see, the price is $80,000 and there is no mention of the body coming off the frame. And the inexcusable part is that the plastic emblem on the trunk lid appears to be sun-faded. So, why wasn’t it replaced?
I always thought Craigslist was for lawn mowers and go-carts.
Terrible presentation on the wrong site for an 80 thousand dollar product. Wow! But a beautiful automobile
Something odd here, the car has a dash picture and shows a radio in the dash, however there is no antenna on the car, a lot of the Impala’s had either one or dual rear antennas from the factory. Also, if you look closely at the rear end pix the L & R lower valance panels are missing. Makes one wonder what else is missing or not being disclosed properly. $80k is a lot of green for this and I think a good personal inspection would be a very smart move.
In 78 I bought a 1,200 Dollar 59 Red on Red 348 2Spd. Nice car but a real slug. Chicks loved that car, could of been the red but I believe it was just me.
Big heavy and RED. Lots of red and chrome. I should of kept that car as even in that time frame not many 59’s survived.
No pictures of engine compartment and one picture with disc brakes. Doubtful that car is original 348 car as there are no pictures, why hide or delete the fact? 80K, I hope he gets it.