The Chevrolet Bel Air was overshadowed from within during the 1958 model year. That was when the Impala was born as a special edition and then became the company’s product leader in 1959. The ‘58s are known for being one-year wonders, as Chevy’s cars had three separate designs in 1957, 1958, and 1959. This Bel Air looks sporty as a 2-door hardtop but has a basic 235 cubic inch inline-6 under the bonnet, so it was a rather ordinary offering. Located in a field in Eaton, Ohio, this project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $4,200. Kudos to “Ted” for another cool barn find!
Chevrolet’s cars grew in size from ’57 to ’58. They rode on a wheelbase two inches longer while the overall length of the vehicles rose by 13 inches. I’m not aware that any of the additional size benefited any of the passengers, except those perhaps in the back seat. The 1958 Chevies weren’t overburdened by all the chrome that the other GM divisions lavished upon their cars that year. Even though the U.S. economy was impacted by a recession during that period, Chevrolet held its top spot as America’s best-selling automobile.
A new feature of the car’s design was the “Safety-Girder” cruciform frame that would underpin the full-size Chevies through 1964. While thought to be a safer platform, some pundits felt it lacked the same side impact protection in such a collision. With a 6-banger for power, a car like this Bel Air was no speed demon but drove nicely thanks to its 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.
The seller describes this Bel Air as being a “decent” project with some parts removed but still in the vicinity. Rust isn’t a problem and there is plenty of sheet metal to have attracted some of it. We’re told that the paint is yellow in color, but it looks more like white to me. And most of the interior has been removed with much of it in the trunk. If you want to do a restomod on this Chevy, the seller has an LS engine available for some extra coinage.
Rust isn’t a problem? Hope the extra front fenders come with the car so the buyer can concentrate on the rest of the car’s rust. Always thought the ’58s were neat cars what with the available big V8s and looks that shown above most of the ’58 offerings.
Does it have Fabian under the sun viser?
I am referencing “Peggy Sue Got Married” blue beauty with Nicholas Cage 😎
A shame this boat was not the V8 option
I know this will annoy but LS swap or a 1958 V8 exchange …
Good luck with Sale
Yep, that’s a piece of rusty junk. It’s everywhere.
The V on the trunk lid indicates that it was originally powered by a V-8 or the trunk lid has been switched from another car.
And, on top of that, the six banger that’s in the car is from at least 1963. The original 235 had two studs running up from the head through the valve cover. This one has bolts to hold it in place, plus there’s a PCV valve in the cover.
I’ve always wondered about the the 59 that wasn’t, the follow-on to this design that was ditched in a panic over the Exner competition and resulted in the bat-wing version. I’ve tried to search the internet without success because no matter how I try Google doesn’t seem to understand.Maybe it’s hidden somewhere in the GM archives and buried.
Hope this comes through readable – Very comprehensive book by John D. Robertson ” A Pictorial History of Chevrolet 1958 – 1960″ It has hundreds of factory GMC archive photos.
Mr Robertson worked for GM Photographic and wrote 4 books on Chevrolet cars all using factory photos;
1929 – 1939
1940 – 1954
1955 – 1957
1958 – 1960
He also wrote 5 books on the C1 Corvette.
Probably was originally a V8 car because of the emblems, but the six in it is definitely not a “stove bolt”.
I restored a 1958 Chevy Brookwood. Side chrome parts were very difficult to find. The top of the front fenders I basically remanufactured. Plenty of Chevy 5.7 motors around will go in this.
Hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to get this 1958 done.
I was going to post something snarky but I won’t. Another parts car that someone is trying to pass off as a project.
My grandparents had a 73 year old widowed neighbor, who bought a 1958 Impala convertible shortly after her husband died. It was beautiful! Whoever bought it when she died in 1964 got a cream puff. I don’t think she ever drove over 30 mph, and it was garage kept.