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....

Hey Gator,

Look here.

The Impala sport coupe had the simulated air vent located on the rear of the roof centered with the window. The 59 Impala also shared that feature, in 60 that part was no longer made of chrome plated die cast but rather stainless and was relocated to the bottom of the window. This had inserts painted black. The concept carried all the way through the 62 Impala, in 62 they went back to chrome plated die cast.

I am also pretty sure that the American Grafitti 58 was a Bel-Air.

I have been following this thread and could not help but notice the 58 in question, it seems like that could be a rather expensive project
John

John,

A little soap and water and air in the tires, it will be a whole new car!

Throw in some seats, glass, and about $60,000 at it and you might have something, let alone some tires that will hold the air you want to put in them. Yes don't forget the quarter panels, I am sure that you can pick up a good solid pair for a few grand plus shipping, after you find them
GOOD LUCK
John

John,

That's Kippers 58. He posted it and passed it off as mine. "good buy John".

JYD, I guess I wasn't clear on my question...I wanted to know which model/models (2 door, 4 door, coupe, sedan, wagon, etc.) of the Impala had this feature or are you saying that all Impala models had this feature above the rear window?

Was there a convertible for both the Impala and the Bel Air?

Gator, I made a mistake I deleted your post (58 for sale) by mistake while trying to delete my failed attempt to insert a photo of a 58 Belair that I took yesterday in a junkyard out in PA. I am sorry.

In answering your question(s) the Impala in 58 was a sub-series of the Belair, and was only offered as a convertible and a sport coupe. So the Belair convertible was an Impala. As far as the roof vents it was only on the Impala coupe in 58
John

One more try!

Soooooooooooooo, we're all in "Agreement" ??????

The picture posted just above is a '58 Bel Air. Notice, just two 'tail lights' - one brake light and one back-up light.

The '58 Impala 'coupe' was the only Impala with the 'scoop' on the roof line. The convertible, well...... And there weren't any other Impalas in '58.

I'm still don't understand if John Gillooly (a.k.a. John Gill) actually bought a '58 Chevy. And if he DID, is it a Bel Air or an Impala???

I also don't understand why somebody posted a picture of an animal that looks like an antelope. What's with that???

Bill.

One other thing to mention is that the Nomad wagon was also offered as a sub series to the Belair line.
John

I'm not biting Bill! I'm not biting!

Thanks John, that clears the vent question up for me. You also said "In answering your question(s) the Impala in 58 was a sub-series of the Belair..."; this raises some interesting points for me...it also means that Impalas were Bel Airs...so calling a '58 Impala a "Bel Air" would be correct...you need a program...all of this information is good to know...thanks again.

I will try to repost the other '58s for sale I found.

After it boots up...scroll down for all the Chevys for sale including 2 1/2 '58s.

http://www.tinafayscrafts.com/antique-chevrolet.html

It might be correct, technically.... but nowhere does it say Belair on the Impala. It would be an argument that would never end. The Impalas were all listed as 1800 and 1700 model series as well as the Belairs The 1800 were eight cylinders and the 1700 were six cylinders. In 1959 the Impala became it's own series, also the Delray was dropped in 59 which was lower than the Biscayne in 1958, leaving the Biscayne to be the cheaper line, with one exception........who knows what the lowest priced model was on the full size platform until 1961? Hint: this also was a "subseries" but of the Biscayne series
John

Do you mean the Biscayne Utility Sedan,[no back seat],or the Biscayne Fleetmaster

Fleetmaster is correct! Never saw one in my life that I knew of.
John

As far as the simulated roof vent feature look on the back cover of the August '05 G&D there is a good rear photo of a 59 that depicts it well. The 58 one was actually sculpted into the roof the 59 is not
John
PS I took the photo! Look at the upper left corner, the top of the Montauk Light House is just rising above the tree line

Were any of the rear vents on any year functional?

No

Thanks Gene.

Hey Mr. John Gill:

A little over a week ago you got everybody all 'excited' about your 58 'find' and 'we' still don't know what happened - and - we don't even really know what it is???

Ten days now John.

What ever happened?????

Bill.

I'm on vacation attending my mother's 95th B day.
Had planned to go to Hershey but didn't make it.

Will give a report when I return in two weeks.

Sorry, mom is still the boss!

John, You are lucky to still have your Mom...95 wow!

While you are in WV look around in the hills you might find some other Chevys in the weeds and barns.

Opps, I forgot, don't let a moonshiner shoot you when you are looking around. :eek: :eek: :eek:

John,

I'll be interested to hear your "report" on the '58 Chevy.

Congrats and Happy Birthday to your mom. 95 is one heckuva lot of candles, huh???

Incidentally, I'm right in the middle of planning a 90th birthday party for both of my folks. My dad turned 90 in May and mom turns 90 on October 27th. The "party" is going to be on Sunday, Oct 30th.

We're not even going to try to do 180 candles! But, we're all looking forward to having a nice time 'honoring' them.

Bill.

Gator,

They only shoot strangers!!

....and Feds....John.

Did you find anything on your trip? What about the '58?

Hello All,

About the 58 chevrolet, BelAire? After I discovered it was not an Impala I gave it to my friend George who sold it to, two Canadians living in Tampa. George's son is para-pelegic and they made a couple thousand dollars on the deal.

End of story on the 58.

Gator on this trip to WV I was as busy as a one legged paper hanger. Never really got to look for cars. And quite honestly have not recovered from the trip yet but getting there.

John,

Thanks for the update on the 58 Impala that turned out to be a Bel Air.

Too bad you decided not to keep it. 58's are nice cars.

Bill.

OOPs! How did I get moved over here from Re-Resumes,, DUUUUH

Ok, I put new Goodyear radials on our 1968 Impala "Betsy" and also a new fan clutch and a new water pump, hoses, sparkplugs and wires. So I guess she is cool, wired and re-tired.

We may just have to recruit a "word is a word" Moderator