The Chevrolet Impala debuted in 1958 as part of celebrating General Motors’ 50th anniversary in the automobile business. Based on the Bel Air, the ’58 Impala was only offered as a sport coupe or convertible, and some of its sheet metal was unique (that distinction was dropped in 1959). The seller offers a fully restored 1958 Impala hardtop that seems to have had no expense spared in the process. Located in Orange, California, this one-year-wonder is available here on craigslist for an undisclosed asking price. Real deal or make-believe?
All of Chevrolet’s cars were totally new in 1958, gaining length, width, and weight along the way. The Impala was the same length as the Bel Air, but the proportions were different with the greenhouse and rear deck, and the Impala got a longer wheelbase. The cars were bulkier in appearance than the Tri-Fives they replaced, and Impalas wore triple taillights on each side while the lower series autos had one or two. Chevrolet would redesign the cars again in 1959 to be competitive styling-wise with the “Forward Look” Chryslers (a trend started in 1957).
The seller’s Impala Sport Coupe is one of 125,000+ built in 1958, yet you don’t see many of them after 67 years. This one’s extra special because it has Chevy’s then-new 348 cubic inch “Turbo Thrust” V8 with triple carburetion rated at 280 hp back in the day. Is it numbers matching? We don’t know, as the seller doesn’t say or whether the automatic transmission is a 2-speed Powerglide or a 3-speed Turboglide.
At 70,000 miles, this Bow-Tie wears a “show-quality professional restoration” backed up by photos and receipts. It has all of the way-cool options of the day, including dual rear antennas, fender skirts, quarter panel exhaust ports, and a Continental spare tire setup. This Chevy sports what appears to be letter-perfect Tropic Turquoise paint with a factory-correct rework of the spectacular interior. Based on what we see and are told, what’s your top dollar for this trip back to the days of “American Graffiti”?
One of the better executed continental kits (no ridiculous bumper extensions!).IMO the quarter panel “exhaust ports” are overkill, with the real exhaust pipes sticking out behind. Otherwise, a seemingly beautiful restoration. GLWTS!! :-)
I ways thought the ’58s from GM were good looking cars, and a natural evolution of the previous years. The ’58 Impala is one of my favorites. I actually bought the Danbury Mint version of this exact car back in the 90’s exact same color and everything. I completely agree with what Moparman said above, this is one of the nicest integrated Continental Kits I’ve seen. My favorite color on this one too. Its just gorgeous.
Beautiful car, too much extra junk on it.
Beautiful looking car. I hope this car goes to a good owner, one who will enjoy it and take care of it. 🙂
Beautiful car: brings back memories of our 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible (same colour). But ours did not have seat belts and those silly faux exhaust ports; it also did not have the continental kit. If I were to buy one of these now, I would want this version and not the convertible. The upholstery in ours was identical to this one. But those rear fender antennas did not work so well: the radio reception in our Impala was (shall we say) “modest” for that era when car radios were HOT performers for long distance — more like the junky A.M. performance in cars of the 1970s and 1980s. The rear speaker in the upper centre of the rear seat was nice, though. Ours had a 283 V-8, and Powerglide, which worked well.
Lose the skirts! Very few opted for them back then and, although they add a “custom” touch, they’re a pain where the sun don’ shine to clean the wheels, especially with “whites.” I speak from experience as my folks had a ’46 Buick with the built-in skirts and, even with black sidewalls, keeping the rear wheels, hubcaps and tires as presentable as the rest of the car was bothersome.
Further, the rear wheel opening on the Chevy was never styled to have skirts.
Beautiful car: brings back memories of our 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible (same colour). But ours did not have seat belts and those silly faux exhaust ports; it also did not have the continental kit or the fender-skirts. If I were to buy one of these now, I would want this version and not the convertible. The upholstery in ours was identical to this one. But those rear fender antennas did not work so well: the radio reception in our Impala was (shall we say) “modest” for that era when car radios were HOT performers for long distance — more like the junky A.M. performance in cars of the 1970s and 1980s. The rear speaker in the upper centre of the rear seat was nice, though. Ours had a 283 V-8, and Powerglide, which worked well.
Beautiful!! I had a 58 BelAir with a 348 when I was in high school. Brings back a lot of memories.
I wonder if this is a Powerglide or a Turboglide?
The shift indicator says Powerglide.
I had a 58 Impala in high school 348 factory 3 speed on the tree loved that car was a 250 HP single four barrel
This one brings back some pretty good memories for me as my big sister had one, (348 Tri-power, automatic, white without all the froo-froo.) One quick note, the Turboglide was not a 3 speed. It was a 2 speed, but low was called “grade retard” and was basically worthless, (it was meant to slow the car down when going down steep grades) If you google “58 Chevrolet Turboglide” you will get quite a few ” 3 speed automatic” answers, but to the best of my knowledge the Turbo Hydromatic 3 speed was not introduced until the mid sixties. (I’m not sure where all the confusion comes from except maybe AI.)
you are rt on the turbolide was not a 3 speed was a piece of junk my 58 348 was factory 3 speed stick
The number and mixture of dealer-installed accessories suggest it’s highly unlikely this car left the dealership as presented. It makes no sense to my why someone would have the car built with a dual exhaust (factory option) and then add the dealer-installed exhaust ports. The profile of the car is busy enough without the tacky exhaust ports.
The workmanship appears outstanding. It’s unfortunate this car has been over-restored with all the knick-knacks.
I kind of think that those “exhaust ports” were cosmetic only.
You are correct. The exhaust ports were purely cosmetic. Like the vacuum ash tray they were a one year only offering.
IRL I’ve only seen one ’58 with exhaust ports. They don’t look any better in person than in pictures.
Lovely ’58! Always wanted one-so evocative of the era. As for the fake exhaust ports, given the plethora of fake vents already on ’58 Impalas, they hardly make a difference to me. Just more suggested Lockheed P38 goodness!
All of them I have ever seen. They had the 348 had the turbo glide transmission. I don’t remember ever seeing one with the power glide and a 348.
In.1958, all full size Chevrolet’s with the 348 engine could be ordered with either a 3 speed manual gearbox or a Powerglide or Turboglide automatic. There were also some very rare cars with dealer installed 4 speeds.
First one I ever rode in was a 348 4 barrel 4 speed floor shifter. Friends father gave it to him for a graduation present. Knowing him he probably still has it.
I’m sure some folks just love this car with all the trinkets and geegaws. Enjoy. It looks to be in beautiful condition. However, the amount of junk hung on this poor car is absolutely ridiculous IMHO.
We got a 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible, new — same colour — same upholstery and floor-mats — and this one brings back memories. We had one accessory which this one does not have — a colour-matching holder for a cube-shaped box of Kleenex, with padded weights on each side, to keep it riding on top of the transmission-hump. We also had those same two antennas in back, but the A.M radio, while better than most A.M. tuners in AM/FM combos of the last fifty years, was nowhere near up to par with other A.M. car radios in this era, usually titans for long distance reception: the one in our ’58 Chevy Impala was rather lackluster. But the rear speaker set into the top of the centre of the back seat was cool. We had the 283 with Powerglide, and that was good enough. And no Continental Tyre in back (but at least, with the ’58 Chevy, that accessory looked as if it belonged there and wasn’t an afterthought add-on). When you drive the ’58 Impala, you certainly notice the lesser tail-lamp arragements on the Bel Air, the Biscayne, and the Delray. Seems like yesterday. Too bad that G.M. chased after Chrysler’s finned ugliness for 1959 — what a bring-down those new ’59 Chevys were! They still look hideous to this day. The only one that managed to make excessive fins look stylish, was the 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 and its near-twin, the Canadian Meteor Rideau 500. But they sure whomped it with the ugly stick for their ruined 1958! I must say, however, that the 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie was one pretty car!
Craigslist? Nope.
My favorite year of Impala. I love this car!!