Convertible season is winding down for most of us, but a heated garage is the perfect place to get a drop-top like this 1958 Chevrolet Corvette for sale in Sacramento, California, ready to cruise by next year’s spring bloom. Take a look at the listing for this $43,500 “running, driving project” here on Facebook Marketplace for a decent number of pics–including the underside!
This ‘Vette appears to be sporting the silver-blue paint available from that year, and while there are some obvious issues with body panel cracking and chipping, it’s easy to imagine how beautiful the presentation could be with a fair amount of elbow grease. Rust doesn’t appear to be an issue, and the chrome–boy, is there a lot of glorious chrome–appears to be in pretty good shape. So do the windshield and all of the headlights and taillights. The top is shredded, though, and will need to be replaced if this vehicle is ever again put into a situation where a roof is needed.
The seller calls it a barn find (don’t worry; I already contacted our lawyers), but if this car with that top was stored in a barn, it must’ve been one of the cleanest barns in the world. I mean, there’s no sign of vermin anywhere in this interior. I do see a small tear in each seat, but the dash, instrument panel, and gauges all look pretty good. I’d love to see this interior after a really thorough cleaning. I also spy the manual shifter to settle the transmission ambiguity in the description, but no word from the seller on whether it’s a three- or four-speed, and both were available on the ‘58, along with a Powerglide automatic.
I’m not sure what to make of this engine; as far as I can tell, a “400 b.h.p., 341 cu. in.” motor wasn’t available from the factory on the 1958 Corvette. Also, the stated mileage of 2,222 is suspect. This car should have a 283 V8 engine capable of putting out anywhere from 230 to 290 horses, depending on which options were selected, so either the engine has been swapped out, or maybe they added the air cleaner because it has a cool font. At least there is video of the engine turning over, though a tow truck is visible in a lot of these pics, so…what do you think? Too much mystery? Too much of a project?
Price seems high for the condition it’s in. Complete restoration would cast about the same but without the correct engine I couldn’t say you’d get your money back. Nice find, but again, price seems high for what is being offered.
A 58 Vette in a great shade of Blue and they do not show that incredible front grille with the 4 headlights !
Best view of any vette, short of the split window, from behind.
But seems like too many needs for the money.
Perfect candidate for a “Hot Rods to Hell” Corvette Clone.