General Motors celebrated its fiftieth year of vehicle production in 1958, debuting the Chevy Impala as part of that celebration. The Impala was Chevrolet’s prestige passenger car, the flagship of the Bel Air line. It could be had as either a coupe or a convertible. Like the rest of Chevy’s full-size lineup, the Impala was constructed on the Safety Girder X-Frame that had been introduced on the previous year’s Cadillacs. The Impala distinguished itself from the rest of the Bel Air line with a lower roofline, a longer wheelbase, and the iconic triple taillights.
The 1958 Chevy Impala had a number of drivetrain options available. The base engine was an inline six cylinder, but several versions of the 283 cubic-inch Small Block could be had, fed either by carburetors or Rochester mechanical fuel injection. There was also an optional 348 cubic-inch Turbo Thrust W-head Big Block that could be optioned to produce up to 315 horsepower.
Our feature 1958 Chevy Impala convertible has been the subject of a three-year rotisserie restoration courtesy of the Chevy Shop of Almonte, California. The Impala was stripped to bare metal, and all brightwork was either replated or polished to a fault. It is finished in Aegean Turquoise with turquoise power convertible top over a tri-tone interior. The Impala is powered by a 348 cubic-inch W-head Big Block with tri-power carburetion that transmits power to the rear wheels via a modern 700R4 automatic overdrive transmission. Options include air conditioning, power windows and quarter windows, power steering, Trailmaster mirrors, AccuAir adjustable air ride suspension, modern four-wheel power disc brakes, wheel skirts, and a Continental kit.
This stunning 1958 Chevy Impala convertible custom will cross the auction block at Mecum Auctions Glendale, Arizona event taking place March 5th through 9th.
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Comments
Nice car.
My thought goes to this. In 45 years, will we (or our kids) see a Traverse or Tahoe going through a classic car auction like this? It’s really difficult for me to imagine anyone ever collecting or wanting to have one of those in a collection.
No, they will still see these cars of this age and earlier plus some up to 72 cars. And exotics.
One of my favorite colors, aboslutely gorgeous Impala. Chevrolet has used this metalic blue color, or shades very close to it, on and off for decades. I think it looks great on any Chevy body style; sports cars, sedans, trucks or SUVs. My dad used to bring home an early 90s full-size “Chevy Van” from work when needing to haul stuff on the weekends that was a very similar color. Even on a utilitaraian full-size van, that metalic deep turquoise blue really made the vehicle pop and looked sharp. Even as an adult 30 years later, I still occasioanlly nostalgically reminisced about Saturday’s with Dad and “Big Blue” when loading my Suburban at Home Depot.
This one is very special after all the work done to preserve a true classic. The hideous cruiser skirts have to go!
As well as the Continental Kit.
Cruiser skirts make the car look so sexy
I was 12 yrs old when the ’58 Impala came out. It was my favorite car for many years. This one would have been my ideal in ’58 especially with those “hideous” cruiser skirts, continental kit and especially the 348. A beautiful restoration – wish I could afford it!
Please provide the production stat breakdowns between the different models and optional equipment choices. Car guys love that stuff. The 58’s didn’t sell super well partly because of the popularity of the 55-57 models, many people weren’t ready for new car in 58 and because of the radical changes in the 58’s including four headlights and lower, wider appearance. I personally agree and consider the 58’s to be one of my least favorites. I am also partial to the 55’s because it’s our first family car that I can remember as a child. However this is a beautiful car and certainly a rare classic that earns my respect.
Wrong sales were not down because people wanted last year’s cars. People always wanted future cars 1958 was a very bad recession year; all sales were down by 30% or more. Detroit, the motor city, was in bad shape with high layoffs, and in those days, they did not get paid when not working. Packard went out of business along with all of the other independents. By 1959, the radical big-finned cars came, and the sales went crazy, proving no one wanted the 55-57s old shoe box tall cars that were out of style. Everyone liked the dual headlights that became law in 58; it helped lower the front end, giving it a modern look. Look up and learn your auto history
Typical restorer who did not live during the time this car was new. No one added all this junk to their cars. I own a 62,000 mile 1959 2-door hard top Impala, all-stock with no added dealer crap. It has a single rear antenna, no bumper or door handle guards, phony rear side exhaust bolt-ons ons, hideous spotlights , skirts and of course, the continental kit that no one in Michigan had in the 50s or 60s. The shame is its a rear car having factory A/C and 348 tri power he he ruined it. It could be saved be removing the junk but will require some metal and paint work.
I totally aggree. My theory, as to why people always add all these “accessories” to restorations, is because all of these items were still readilly availble NOS because noody actually bought them back in the day… Beatiful color, this metalic blue (and the many close shades therof) used by GM off and on for decades is my absolute favorite for any Chevrolet.
Well our family added every option you could on theses cars so not everyone wanted barebones. most wanted but couldnt afford all the goodies. Nobody “Wants” the V6 Camaro LOL or the single antenna on an Impala looks goofy.
I keep my vintage cars as designed by the experts of the day. I retired from GM Future Cars and have known car designers since the day. Adding antennas, spotlights, and bumper guards was an embarrassment to them. It was done by low-class people with no taste except in their mouths.
Apparently Hot Rodders like the sweets. No likey modifications LOL Harley Earl desinged alot of the mods of the day too. George Barris a sad embarrasment to the “Experts” Funny how the designers of the day created catalogs of said accessories.
Actually I don’t agree about the accessories. These cars were built a few years before me and by the late 70s were rusty hulks. I never cared for the big engines but I did like all the gadgets and gizmos that set a very apart from the millions of others. My first car, a 64 Impala convertible. A tired unit in 78 showing the wear of northeast life. The lady that bought it however felt different in 64. She ordered her car with 327, ps, pb, ac, tilt, tach, trunk opener, cruise control, power windows, seats, light dimmer, and a bunch of other dealer stuff. I only bought full optioned cars when they were pennies. I have a ratty 59 convertible with just as much stuff on it as this gorgeous 58. My 58 Caballero is troweled from the factory, as is my 59 Squire. Lots of folks bought accessories. You could get anything you wanted and that’s how dealers made money and car companies then could boast no two were the same. Sadly most high optioned cars were used and then used up. The ones that survived were mostly first owner units that were kept requardless of condition because they were liked out of the gate and were expensive for the time. I agree on the continental kit as these by the late 50s were unpopular and in all the years working in a wrecking yard few still wore them. Most were removed or damaged and not replaced. I met one fellow in the 80s with a 59 Chevy with the kit. We would compare notes I bought mine from its first owner and he was his cars first owner. He didn’t buy power windows but did buy the vacuum ashtray.
I keep my vintage cars as designed by the experts of the day. I retired from GM Future Cars and have known car designers since the day. Adding antennas, spotlights, and bumper guards was an embarrassment to them. It was done by low-class people with no taste except in their mouths.
58 Impala started my love for Chevrolet that lasted to my last Chevrolet 1976 Caprice Classic 4 door hardtop (when the full-sze ere relaxed with the square/chopped off look just never got use to. so we drove the Caprice Classic for 18 years).
Some commentators here should research the history of auto accessorization. It’s been a big thing since the early 1900s. I had a ’58 Impala that I bought from the original owner’s son. It had all the accy one could purchase from the dealer back then. Auto accessories are a big part of the 55 Billion dollar specialty aftermarket.
Just because people come up with this bolt-on junk does not mean a person should bolt it on their cars. Unless they think it looks better, which it never does, it usually looks like junk bolted on. These accessories are not designed by the car designers; they are created by people who want your money. Case in point I have a C8 I get 10 emails a day from companies selling add on junk. How many have bought 0? Why? Because all of it looks horrible and would ruin a $90,000 car? GM designed none of it.
I bought a ’58 hardtop in ’64. It was the second car I owned. I was 16 years old. I traded my first car for it, a beautiful ’59 Dodge convertible. My Dodge was in excellent shape but I disliked it; the Impala was a pile of junk when I got it but I loved that thing dearly despite its many faults. I’ve often wished I had the Dodge back today. It would have an OMG hammer price at auction. But if I had my beloved “58” back I would NEVER sell it no matter the price. Lord I miss that car!
The 1958 Impala with 3 duce carbs. ( Tri-Power was a Pontice Selling Term for their 3 carb set-up) linked with the Chevy auto trans wouldn’t pull a hat off your head DragRacing. I know as a then user in the 10th grade.