- Desirable 348 big-block engine
- Equipped with factory air-conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power top and boot
- Striking exterior color with complementary tri-tone interior
- Iconic '50s style and design from the Harley Earl era
LOT 636
Selling on Saturday Evening
1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
Chevrolet embarked on a major redesign for 1958. Starting with an all-new "Safety Girder" chassis, a cruciform-type backbone without side rails, the evolution included lower, wider, and longer bodies. The wheelbase grew two inches to 117.5, and styling adopted a sculptured theme, with cove-like rear fenders wrapping around into the rear fascia where the taillights were ensconced.
Emphasizing the newness of the bodies were new model names. The One-Fifty (150) and Two-Ten (210) series were replaced by Del Ray and Biscayne, respectively. Bel Air remained at the top of the catalogue, but a new subseries was created for the convertible and hardtop sport coupe. "Impala", named after the swift African antelope, these two body styles had distinctive, rear sheet metal with three taillights per side and special trim with simulated side air scoops. The Impala name was subsequently used to signify a top-of-the-range luxury trim level rather than a separate and distinct body style. Marketed as "All New, All Over Again", Chevrolets were altogether more modern in appearance every year during this period, growing longer, lower, and wider than the year before. The 1958 Impala Sport Convertible was Chevy's prestige car that year with approximately 55,000 sold and its own over-the-top trim package.
This beautiful convertible has benefited from a high quality restoration done some years ago and it remains in beautiful condition. The grille and quad headlamp layout took on an almost mini-Cadillac-like flair, and the six-taillight arrangement would later become a hallmark of Impala styling. The 1958 body style would last only one model season.
The Impala was offered with a mind-boggling array of engine, transmission, and trim options from a meager straight-six to a rip-roaring big block. This Impala has been treated to a frame-off restoration with great attention to detail and has many desirable and rare options, including a new-for-1958, 348-cubic-inch big block engine fitted with a four-barrel carburetor paired with Chevrolet's rugged Powerglide automatic transmission and dual exhaust. Finished beautifully in Aegean Aqua with a white power activated convertible top, notable exterior options including fender skirts, decorative chrome exhaust ports on the lower quarter panels, angled dual rear antennas, right and left exterior chrome mirrors, door handle scuff shields, deluxe spinner wheel covers and wide whitewall radial tires.
This Impala's interior features a dazzling aqua, gray, and black tri-colored interior done in cloth and vinyl materials. This includes a split front bench seat, tinted glass, an AM pushbutton radio with rear speaker, in-dash clock, blue carpeting with matching carpeted floor mats, rare accessory vacuum ashtray, unique dash-mounted "traffic light viewer", chrome Chevrolet tissue dispenser, metallic dash facings and Impala model identification. Additionally, this car is equipped with a highly desirable optional factory air-conditioning system. Other optional amenities are power steering, power brakes and two-speed wipers with windshield washers. Under the hood is detailed and authentic in appearance, with correct air cleaner, four-barrel carburetor, generator, points ignition system as well as rare and correct air-conditioning compressor and brackets, Harrison radiator and proper fan shroud.
The overall beauty of this Impala is seen throughout in every detail. This is a highly optioned, professionaly restored, first-year big block convertible that significantly enhanced the legacy of Chevrolet performance. If you have been searching for an iconic '50s convertible, here is one with a great color scheme, powerful and reliable drivetrain and an unmistakable eye-catching presence.
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