Never Run 409 V8! 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala

In 1958, to celebrate their 50^th year in the car business, each division of General Motors fielded a “halo” car. At Chevy, it was the Impala (technically part of the Bel Air series). The Impala was offered only as a hardtop and a convertible, but in 1959, it became a series of its own with a broader range of offerings. The seller offers a 1958 Impala Sport Coupe with a 409 cubic-inch V8 from 1964 under the hood. Missing some trim pieces, it’s available here on craigslist and in Franktown/Parker, Colorado, for $29,500. Thanks for the GM tip, Mike F.!

The 1958 model year was not a good one for most car builders due to an economic recession. Yet Chevrolet found more than 180,000 buyers for the Impala, which was new from the ground up from the 1955-57 Tri-Fives. The ’58 Chevies were longer, wider, lower, and heavier than the ‘57s, and the naming culture was shaken up a bit (the 150 and 210 were out, the Del Ray and Biscayne were in). With exclusive sheet metal from the cowl rearward, Chevy found more than 125,000 buyers for the Impala Sport Coupe. From 1959 on, the Impala would share the same bodies as the Bel Air and Biscayne.

This mostly complete Impala has been owned by the seller for two decades. During that stewardship, the original 283 or 348 cubic inch V8 was replaced by a rebuilt 409 (“she’s so fine”) that was never driven for reasons not specified. The carburetor float is stuck now, and the battery is dead, so those are the minimum items needed to attempt getting this old Chevy going again. The automatic transmission also has overdrive (factory?).

Except for a missing fender spear and the taillights, the rest of the car should all be there. The body looks good, and the interior is okay. The seller had the car sold a few months ago, but the buyer couldn’t produce the money, so it’s on the market once more. If you’re looking for one of these one-year wonders, this Impala might not be a major project – but you never know.