VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1958-1960 58 Impala 2 Door HT

Hello All,

I made a deal for one of these today! I didn't even know they had stainless steel trim until today.

Its a basket case but looks good.

Well here we go again!

Hello All,

I was told this morning that this car is the first year for Impala. Is that true?????

It has a 350 engine is that stock?????

A little help here!!

Yes,1958 was the first Impala.There was a 1956 GM dream car called Impala.

The first 350 engine was used in a 1967 Camaro.

The 1958 cars had a 283 and large block 348 only for V8's...standard engine was a 236 6 cylinder.

Thanks Gene,

That will help alot. What I may have is a large block 348. The car is being picked up today by a rollback so tomorrow I can go over it.

The body shop owner who had the car lost the seats somehow? Everything else appears to be there in boxes.

The 283 small block and a later 350 small block look almost the same.The 348 will have the spark plugs located above the exhaust manifolds - smal block below.The valve covers on the 348 are large - and the lower edge in a W shape.

A 1958 is a one year only car body wise.The Impala body shares no parts with the "lesser" 1958 bodies.The top series was the BelAir with the Impala coupe and convertible a sub or luxery series of the BelAir line.There was also a regular BelAir 2 door coupe but the body is not the same as an Impala...what I am getting at is the Impala parts will be more difficult to locate.

I would invest in all the 1958 books available from the Filling Station for 1958 including the assembly manual.A convertible or hard top in the Impala line can bring high bucks and are worth the restortaion expense.

The 283 small block and a later 350 small block look almost the same.The 348 will have the spark plugs located above the exhaust manifolds - small block below.The valve covers on the 348 are large - and the lower edge in a W shape.

A 1958 is a one year only car body wise.The Impala body shares no parts with the "lesser" 1958 bodies.The top series was the BelAir with the Impala coupe and convertible a sub or luxery series of the BelAir line.There was also a regular BelAir 2 door coupe but the body is not the same as an Impala...what I am getting at is the Impala parts will be more difficult to locate.

I would invest in all the 1958 books available from the Filling Station for 1958 including the assembly manual.A convertible or hard top in the Impala line can bring high bucks and are worth the restortaion expense.

Hey Gene,

What automatic transmissions were available in 1958??

I was also told that one of the 1958 Pontiacs had the same body. Is that true??

And thanks for all the info.

There were two automatic transmissions available with 8 cylinder engines.There was the trusty old Power Glide which was a 2 speed with a cast iron case.Then there was the infamous Turbo Glide with an aluminum case.The Turbo Glide was a completely no-shift transmission -at least no shifting could be felt.In 1958 it was a disaster and if the car had one it probably has been replaced with something else.Often the later aluminum case Power Glide was used to replace the TG.

The upper level 1958 Pontiac used the same body as the Impala although the outter sheet metal was mostly different,The Pontiac version was called the Bonneville Custom.The Impala was a good seller in 1958 - the Pontiacs are rather rare.

The 1959 Chevrolet was the last to use stainless steel for the lower body side mouldings.After that they went to aluminum.The '58 had a lot of side trim and it was held on by bath tub clips,/a strange looking oval oblong clip that fit into a hole in the body and a special tool expanded the clip to keep it in place.Then the moulding slipped over the clip.All the clip holes in the body were oblong also.

The '58 did have aluminum inserts that fit between the long body side moulding and aluminum louvers on the side of the front fenders-just behind the head lamps.

The 1958 chassis was completely changed from the 1955-57 version.It has coil rear springs and an X type frame with no side rails.Other than the 6 cyl. and 283 engine and brakes almost every thing was new.It was the first big Chevrolet and felt more like an Oldsmobile when driven.They made one mistake though.It had the same brakes as the 1951-57 cars and with the increased weight and the 14" wheels covering the drums the brakes tended to overheat...that was all changed in 1959.

John,

My folks bought a new one in '58. 348 with a four barrel - 250hp rating as I recall. Factory dual exhaust and I somehow talked my dad into installing Smithy type mufflers! But, 'worse' than that, the salesman 'sold' my dad on the 'benefits' of the new Turboglide. I was just 16 and had my 'new' drivers license. My-oh-my, Lyman Slack Chevrolet replaced the Turboglide twice before somebody figured out the trans wasn't the problem. I got quite a lecture from the Service Manager and my father!!

It was really a nice car overall. All that Gene says is (of course) true. Including the 'value' of the '58 Impalas in today's "specialty car" market. VERY high dollar car at the auctions or just a "private" seller-to-buyer type sale.

Bill.

Gene & 42bill,

I'm still not sure what I'll do with this car?

I found it by accident in a small Georgia town.
My close friend wants the car so he can turn a buck.

But the more I think about the car the more hooked I'm getting. I had a BelAire 58 once and loved it.

Still thinking??

Good buy John!

Ah! What the Heck!

Not Impala! This is!

SOK,

It appears the left side has three tail lights and the right side has two. What is it BelAire or Impala??

Were you trying to take a short cut across the English Channel????

The Impala has three lights and the Bel Air has two.

The car shown in the photo is definitely an Impala!

The third light on the right hand side is hanging on its wires & can be seen above the "bumper?" I'd a called it a fender!!

Is it Impala or Belaire or swamp buggie???

Hey Kipper?

Posted September 25, 2005 19:31:

"The car shown in the photo is definitely an Impala!"

JYD,

I'm ashamed! I got so excited when I found this car I bought a BelAire by mistake.

I did not even have one drink-its true!

Shame Shame!!!!! Kipper knows!!

That $1,000. is down the drain!!

:( :( :( :(

John,

You didn't buy the car Kipper/Tonto/Son of/et al posted a picture of, did you??? That's just some wrecked out Impala he had a picture of, right???

You bought a different car.....

And it turns out the car you bought (for $1000) is a Bel Air, not an Impala???

Is that right????

Set me straight on this, please.

Bill.

:)

42bill,

Your good - Your really good!!!!!!

Where is Michael, the shrink, when we need him!!!!!

Hey John, maybe you got the '58 from the American Graffiti movie????

What model was the '58 with the little scope above the center of the rear window? I liked the way that feature looked.

Hey Gator,

I remember that little nerdie guy driving that 58.
But I just can't remember which car it was - are you surprised???

I liked that feature also.

"What model was the '58 with the little scope above the center of the rear window? I liked the way that feature looked."

Gator, Gator, Gator! Go back and read the recent postings above......IT'S AN IMPALA!

Gator, an Impala, probably with a scope on its rear....