1958 Chevrolet Biscayne: Regular Car Reviews
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- The Chevy Biscayne was a car for people who let life pass them by. "Well, Francis... you gave life your best shot but all the little opportunities you had, you waved-off over the past 50 years. You could have joined that community beautification group, but you didn't because "what's the point?" The point was the owner O'Leary Trucking and Logistics is also a member and was looking for someone with your skill set, oops. You could have taken that free calisthenics and, not only leaned how basic exercise would make your knees and back last longer, but also have met the school's guidance councilor there and that would have gotten preferential treatment for little Billy, giving him extra time to finish his math tests, better grades and confidence, which would have lead to scholarships. But you didn't do that, because "what's the point?"
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The Impala was the poor mans Cadillac. The Biscayne was the poor mans Bel Air.
And the Bel Aire was the poor man’s Impala.😊
I'd drive all of them
Exactly!
Those are '57 hubcaps
Or even a poor man's galaxie 500.
I'm a contrarian, a new 1958 Chevrolet was aspirational for a lot of people. The thing is CONTEXT. People like my grandpa grew up in the hollar in southwest Virgina during the depression. In a 3 room log cabin shack with no electricity or running water. Farmed a 150 acre plot of land with a team of mules and a plow. About 20 of those acres were on flat ground and flooded all the time. I can't even imagine the grinding poverty. By the time 1958 rolls around grandpa has the family moved into a brand new 3 bed ranch house on a couple acres with a first for the family, indoor plumbing. Now coming from that context, having a brand new Chevrolet in the driveway is very aspirational, something he didn't indulge in until the 1970's when he bought a loaded Silverado pickup after my aunt moved out.
From a post-war European perspective, this also applies. This was more luxurious than most European luxury cars. Sure, it was certainly less sophisticated than most European luxury cars, but this was the kind of thing that people oohed and aahed at when a GI stationed in Europe drove past in it, simply due to its size and exuberance. He may not have been king of the road with this thing in his home country, but he certainly was king of the Autobahn.
Well, that's not oddly specific or anything XD
For real though, it doesn't make you a contrarian to offer a different perspective on things, especially if you lived through it or had family who did. Hell, just like the other commenter here from Europe said, a "step up" is relative: for all anyone knows, maybe you consider the pinnacle of your Boulevardier to be, instead of a Rolls Royce or a Maybach, a manual 280zx 2+2, maybe with T tops and some custom equipment and gear personally installed. Not that I would know anything about that, I'm just asking for a friend here....
The Pwerglide in this car should be a special one, made entirely of cast iron, no transmission pan or filter, and bolted together multiple piece torque converter. Imagine a wood stove full of hydraulic fluid.
I'm not sure I like the idea of sucking unfiltered hydraulic fluid into a valve body. But you are correct, all cars prior to the Dexron era used hydraulic oil, chemically different from modern automatic transmission fluid.
"rewriting scenarios in the shower with comebacks they should've used" oooof. I feel attacked.
AKA l'esprit d'escalier. We've all been there.
Jesus Christ the level of ornateness never ceases to amaze me with old cars, especially considering they were mass produced
Cheap materials and labour went a long way.
that and old buildings with all their filigree. I always wonder how much it would be today to recreate those ornate designs
The time and energy we put into safety engineering and trying to eek out another quarter mpg, they put into designing bodywork and polished trim because they didn't have to care about anything else.
You could probably make them even cheaper nowadays but they simply wouldn't be road legal. Making them road legal makes those details impossible even on most luxury cars.
I like how the Biscayne was a cheaper car of its time, when today it looks like a peace of art next to a modern Rolls Royce.
On the contrary, take the mankiest new car today, and technology-wise, it would be a freaking spaceship compared to anything made in the 50s. Despite the said Biscayne looking like a spaceship.
Such a beautiful car. When I see the styling from cars from that era, I imagine people believing they are walking into a better future.
Post war optimism
I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE ROAST MY HUSBAND’S CAR THIS HAARRRDDD LMFAO thank you, RCR 😂 Told him to tell you I had a 2012 Dodge Avenger ready for you to review after seeing your original Avenger video and laughing myself to tears. Awesome vid as always (and even better when it’s the car in my garage getting laid into 😂😂😂)
Glad you liked it!
Love it when someone appreciates a good natured roasting. Shows they care about what they own, let alone good character.
Somewhere in 1958 GM styling studios, a designer gets his first idea of BROWN as the central theme of a car.
Oh yeah, somewhere in a GM boardroom, after a few too many tokes of the jazz lettuce, Brad looked up from his manila folders and announced aloud, seemingly to no one in particular,
"...but what if, instead of pastels and chrome, we styled around warm, earthy tones?"
And, without realizing it, he was overheard by the head of the design department.
@@bsti112590 Cocaine's a hell of a drug.
@@bsti112590 Coak ane is a helluva derug.
Second to last year of the Harley Earl design studio.
God. That car is a work of art.
Anyone who makes a Sam and Max/Desoto reference, is immediately, and without reservation, my compatriot.
A beautiful face of a car with GTA SA Tornado rear lights ... even when the front looks all grumpy with a 6 month untrimmed moustache. Pixar's Cars 4 grandad in a rocking chair character.
Oh sh*t, here we go again
@@joelpabalinas7457 Nice bouncin' Ese
Knowing GTA I bet they got some inspiration from this thing for the Tornado but we did get some straight up clones of cars in GTA like the Sabre Turbo is a Buick Cutlass 442
@@Cyberdeamon Almost every car in the GTA games is a loosely veiled version of a real car, it's not meant to be a secret. Also Buick didn't make the Cutlass, Oldsmobile did.
the Biscayne filled a market niche, it was reliable, fit a family, the 6 got decent mileage for the day and had a big trunk and was CHEAP, there were frugal people who could afford a Caddy but bought a Biscayne and the pleasure the money saved gave them real satisfaction
The car's 1950s safety standards are actually a selling point. You can't declare bankruptcy over medical debt if you're dead.
there you go!
The lack of crash safety, seatbelts, bad brakes and wallowy suspension encourages safe driving. If u know a relatively minor crash is likely to kill you, you will definitely drive defensively😊
@twoeightythreez honestly this is real. I drive like an absolute menace in my Fiat 500 turbo but I'm extremely cautious in my wife's 61 Invicta (we have a wide variety of cars in our household).
@@twoeightythreezabsolutely! When I drive my 55 pontiac, I'm always way more cautious. Like my drivers ed instructor is in the passenger seat.
The only real safety feature it has is that everyone notices it.
The Dennis Miller of car reviews strikes again. You nailed it as usual. Well done Sir.
Do they sell these at Kunkleman Chevrolet?
20 percent interest rate
@@stevecooper7883NO CREDIT NO PROBLEM ($0 down, 35% APR)
In 1958, yes. Now, "Can I interest you in a clearance deal on a 2024 Equinox?"
Only if you agree to come inside the martini room. Sit down, have a cigar, my secretary will make you a drink. Well has out the terms and get you on your way.
KUNkleman Chevrolet Jeep Dodge Fiat
Most guys who bought this car lived through the depression and would have thought twice about spending a lot of money on nonessentials. And, actually, this Biscayne is nicer looking than the typical 1960s models, which had blackwall tires with hubcaps, little chrome, and spartan low-spec interiors. Re the radio, I don’t think FM was available in any US cars in the late fifties.
My first car in 1966 was the ultimate 1958 Chevrolet. A 2-door sedan delivery. Dark blue, 235 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree with bucket? (individual) front seats. For all its failings, I really do wish I had it back. 🙂
12:30 to 13:00 sums up every old Chevy I've ever owned. Wouldn't change my Chevrolet problems for any other makes problems.
I had a 58 as my first car . in high school , it was our party car . six teenagers and two six packs
You’re crushing it lately, RCR. All the cool Australian car reviews and the obscure ones like this Chevy. Thanks for giving me something to look forward on Monday mornings!
Thank you for liking RCR!
obscure? GM had close to 50% of the American auto market back in '58. One in two cars was a GM.
@@brandonquinto4852obscure in that hardly anyone dailies one of these in today’s world, so we don’t see these classic cars from the 50s very often.
Jesus Christ that is a one good looking piece of art.
Harley Earl thanks you.
Silver lining to being sick: watching this in the morning
Here's to hoping you watch this again in better health.
58-59 American cars has some crazy styles, like the 59 Buick Lesabre.
Beautiful, Now that's a car...
For all its low spec, to my British eyes this is so American-looking that I love it
Thanks for appreciating our cars as we appreciate yours.
My Dad had a 58 Impala in the mid 1960s in Northern Wisconsin. We used salt on our roads in the winter. That car was so rusty one of the headlight housings fell off. Straight to the junkyard.
An Impala!?! So Fancy! I bet it was nice growing up rich! 😂
I fucking love the ‘58 Chevy bodystyle
This is a weird Ford Falcon review.
Marty Detweiler is Tommy Fenstamacher’s grandpa in the RCR extended universe.
Such a beautiful looking car, such that i wouldnt care how it drives if i owned it as a weekend vintage drive.
🚨 WINGA DINGA ALERT 🚨
The color matches the oil haze
A classic RCR review. What a treat
Man that keep driving piece is brilliant reminds me of my much missed 77 Civic. Great episode , much appreciated
Honestly Biscaynes of that era were still pretty nice looking in spite of being the base model.
In 58, the Biscayne was not the base model. The Delray was. Why is everyone too lazy to do simple research?
Your car is prepared for OVERSIZED LOADS
Looking at it today from Australia without all the prejudices of it's history, that's a really pretty car. I especially like the colour.
Actually, Salisbury Steak and Creamed Corn sounds pretty good!
Your scripts are impeccable. Much the way two house wrens make an acrobatic display on a warm winter's day because, to them, it is effortless. I look forward to your narration and insight into the social impact cars have on our lives and had to those of past lives. Thank you, sir.
Nailed it. In the 2000's, I had a '59 4-door Impala with the identical drivetrain . . . and everything you said here is 100% true. Well played, sir.
13:42 MANDATORYFUNDAY MENTIONED
and time for a obscure fact, original transmission fluid requirement was type A which was based on.. wait for it, WHALE OIL!
18:18 I'm pretty sure there was a ton of music on AM back in 1958.
8:18
From what I understood, the Biscayne was the entry trim, the Bel Air was mid trim, and the Impala would be top trim until the introduction of the Caprice in '65. I think there was the Delray that was lower than than Biscayne trim, but I think it was dropped after '58. Seems like Chevy had a shit load of trims and options during the 50s and 60s.
I'm not all too familiar with the trim levels after '58, but in that year the Delray replaced the Chevy 150 as the lowest, followed by the Biscayne replacing the Chevy 210 as the mid level, and The Bel Air was still the top trim until the next model year
@@rhodietheridgeback7766 del ray was as option for 210 57 chevys, that gave them a different interior, no noting on the vehicle its self. then in 58 del ray was its own trim, noted on the vehicle, which was also the lowest trim. then its biscayne > Bel air > impala.
That's a beautiful Biscayne! I'd love to have one to drive today! It's getting a bad rap here, by guys too young to remember how nice those cars really were.
The Biscayne was the poor mans Impala, not even close to a Cadillac.
An easy disguise for the cracks are stained moldings just wide enough to cover if it bothers you. Great looking dresser - and great job!
This is Major! This is Real ! This is Deep! Behold The Glory! How Much Do We All Love 1958 Chevy Biscaynes? I think they're Terrific!
The driver of a Chevrolet Biscayne still calls the Northeast Extension "Route 9" and has never heard the word "aftercare"
The funny thing is, by late 1950s standards, this was an average car. Nothing special at all. But by today's standards? God, it's attractive.
One wonders how the 60s would’ve looked if GM had continued the 58 styling cycle unchanged. Even if Mr. Exner did go a little crazy in the early 60s, the Forward Look Chryslers making GM reconsider and restyle for 59 and 60 changed the next decade completely.
My father had the 2 door version of this; with a 6 cylinder and three on the tree. Thanks for the memories.
Keep fighting the good fight and keep fursuiting on.
I wrote out a big elaborate thing but I ultimately just wanted to say that RCR was there for me in the hardest part of my life, so I just wanted to finally say thank you for being there when I needed the laughs.
You have a funny, fair, commentary voice❤LUV YA🎉❤
My brother had a biscayne station wagon for a number of years, he loved that thing.
It is a great looking car, and your seat upholstery looks in great shape. I like it because I have almost this exact same car. Silver blue with same interior. However mine is the 6 Cylinder version, otherwise identical. I am also in NY state and use vintage registration plates. I purchased my Biscayne in 1998 from Southern New Jersey and brought it up to central New York. It was repainted in the 90s, and the paint is holding up well, but they upped the color a little bit so it's slightly more of a brighter blue than the original silver blue. In 1958 my uncle bought this exact same car new, 1958 Biscayne 4dr sedan with a V-8 engine, silver blue with a blue interior. He took two photographs of the car just after he bought it on Kodachrome color slides, still as bright and clear as if it was yesterday. It was these color slides that gave me the inspiration to search for one of these, and I've been driving it every year since I bought it. I have kept the Biscayne dead stock with vintage black wall tires and small original hubcaps on blue painted rims. I know this is not my Uncle Bill's Chevy because he must have asked the dealer put in a radio and they installed a rear fender antenna and there was no antenna on the front fender! I cannot imagine a rear antenna being installed on a four-door Biscayne from the factory. On top of that, he was a Catholic priest, so I doubt very much he was looking to make the car sporty. He passed away in 2012, but when I spoke to him after I bought my Biscayne, he could not remember anything about the rear antenna.
My brother had a 1969 Biscayne which I learned to drive in. Not as cool as it sounds, was a V6 and floating around like a boat in every turn. No rear seat belts because GM made them optional and the front were lap belts if you didn't unclip the shoulder belt attachment. What great safety initiatives.
V6? I believe you mean Inline 6, Chevy didn’t offer a V6 until 1978
@TheGiggler333 It was a transplant from a Chev CK(?) pickup, in the time the two brothers he bought it from owned it there were 3 different engines. Would be a decent car if the stock 350 had stayed intact. Given time farm kids are going to eventually make some bad decisions.
Really a 3.8 v6?
Enjoyed the random dive into the early history of Conelrad.
0:31 this sounds like every interaction on the internet
“And I’m SOOO happy for you”
Surprisingly, both the Biscayne and the Bel Air nameplates made it until the mid-70s, though I think they were primarily fleet sales by then.
And in tightwad Canada, we got the Bel Air through the 1978 redesign until about 1981. Yeah, they looked at the Impala and thought we'd buy something even less equipped, and they were right. The big cars were the last vehicles made by the Big 3 specifically to cater to Canada's wonky and compressed dealer networks. After that, we got special rebadges of imported already rebadged cars, like the Eagle 2000GTX and Vista, or the Pontiac Sunburst, or the Pontiac Acadian (Chevette Scooter, not the 1960s and 70s rebadged Chevy Novas where Acadian was the brand name), and then we just got some cars when the US didn't, like Pontiac Pursuits in sedan form, or Ford Escort wagons right until 2000. Lame.
283 with a 2sp powerglide. I'd love to try out that combo. I've driven an inline 6 with a powerglide in a 65 chevy II (oh that powerglide sound), and a spicy 283 with a th350, and also drove a 6 with a 3 on the tree (still have it). A 6 cyl with that 2 speed in that car would have made it the brownest blue car ever.
for me, these end of the 50's/early 60's GM sedans are governed by the rule of cool. Particularly the follow-up year - 1959. There is something about the rear of the 59 model year Chevies that is just iconic to me.
Ah yes, the starter carpool car from Sims 1. :P
Apparently that was a 57 Chev Bel Air, which I find funny considering it was an aspirational and expensive car by the late 90's. Especially as a 2 door.
Got oils? Got gasoline? GO!
It's beautiful!
Back in the early 80s a friend gave me his '62 Bel Air 4 door because the trans had died. I had the power glide fixed and dove it for a few years. Absolutely bare bones with the 235 6 cylinder and a one barrel carburetor. It even had a set of bias ply tires on it. It did have an under the dash aftermarket Montgomery Wards air conditioner with a hole drilled into the hump for the drip hose. That car was slow as molasses but got me to work and where I had to go. When you floored it it just downshifted, got louder but didn't really go any faster. I ended up selling it to a friend of mine.
i have a 57 chevy with the 235, and my powerglide does the same thing. at least you dont have to be fast to cruise.
Never thought I'd hear either bias ply nor Montgomery Ward from another soul ever again. What a time.
The Biscayne took the place of the “Two-ten” which was a “Mid-priced” car for 1958 only. In 1959 Chevrolet shifted the models and the “Bel-Air” became the “Mid-priced” car and the Biscayne became the “Base” model Chevrolet.
Wrong, the one-year-only “Delray” was the base model Chevrolet in 1958
@ I had thought about mentioning the one year only Delray series but neglected to do so. I had thought it was interesting that they had used the “Biscayne” nameplate on a showcar around 1955, then put it on a “Mid-range” trim in 1958 and then the very next year use it on the base trim Chevrolets. I had a 55 Chevrolet 210 sedan for a first car 40 years ago.
I wish they brought those names back, instead of the AI generated bullshit that they name cars today.
A subcompact named "One Fifty", with upscaled version named "Delray"
A no frills model for fleet customers, literally named "Fleetmaster".
A midsized sedan called "Styleline" with optional Deluxe trim.
Compact crossover called Biscayne.
Large SUV called Landmaster (spelled with cursive letters).
A flagship model called Bel Air or Impala, with a high-performance version called "Chevelle".
I had a 1962 Biscayne, I was going to restore it and have a cool car at 16 but sold it and now there are 2 at the Junkyard. Cool car
I'm gonna say the Station Wagon flub at 9:36 is simply due to a mutual love of them.
22k equivalent is crazy for this. For people who haven't been around one, these are HUGE cars. Like yes they say this about old cars, it is broadly not true, the 57 is a fairly reasonable sized car. One year later, in 58? It became HUGE.
I fricken believe it. My 59 pontiac starchief is HUGE. Wider than my 98 f150 and just as long... I have to do a full restore on it before I get to drive it but I'm looking forward to it. 389 v8 with a 2 barrel and a 4spd auto. No OD though. A custom thing it has is a tow hitch mount and load leveling shocks in the rear. Looks bitchin too even in its no floor pan state
Had I had a 1959 Plymouth Belvedere with 318 Polly and a two speed torque flight. Basically the Chrysler counterpart to this car. I had the same problem. The owner of this car had with his De Soto, couldn’t find parts and had to make stuff. But it was running it was a blast, but it almost never was so I sold it to someone who knew how to work on him and bought a 93 Acura legend coupe. 😊
... I gotta ask, how well did the Legend run? I promise there is a reason I ask.
“Poor man’s Cadillac in search of the right pair of cargo shorts to fill its seat. Someone to park it outside of an old firehouse where-“ Gonna stop you right there because DAMN you hit the owner right between the eyes 😂 But hey, he’s a hipster car owner and this old beauty is always great to see!
My dad bought a duplicate to this car except with six and standard trans, in same color. Nice car, nice styling. He traded for a 1959 Bel Air. In comparing them (I was 11), I saw a big change. The Del Ray changed to a Biscayne and the Bel Air was tinnier than the '58. GM, in my opinion, had cheaped all their cars; including the Eldorados which were no longer built in the Cadillac custom body shop. I allege that Ford followed suit in 1960. Both companies built beautiful and fast cars in the 60s. Nowadays, many generations later, everything has been cheaped, shrunk and inflation has gutted the buying power of the USD. Any comments?
Was not expecting a mandatory funday ref!
Spot on buddy!
@5:00 in fairness, a whole lot of people are here because the 50s were filled with cream pies... no pun intended.
I would unironically daily this car. Fight me.
Ironically, I would fight you just to daily this car myself XD
12:30 I feel this lol, even having an old car from the 60’s but not one that’s super bespoke or desirable
About the argument of it being a Bel Air, it's true if you think about it, they share the same chassis, so it's a bit disingenuous to say they're not the same. I mean in our modern day most cars share the same chassis, even within different brands, they share the same chassis.
I’m working on a 58 Biscayne and wanted to get it on RCR!!!! :( glad someone got one on though!
RCR is a Pennsylvania show Let's Goooooo
When I turned 16 my Mom took me to look at a 58 Biscayne. She had this idea thst 50s cars were safer than modern, because they were tanks. Anyway this car we looked at had just 7000 miles on it. The little old lady story made good. Seller stood there looking incredulous as my Mom explained how she intended to turn this museum piece over to a teenage new driver. Naturally we didn't get to buy it. But it did get me into vintage 50s cars in a big way.
My pappy has a '58 Impala 2-door hardtop. 348 big block, big fun!
14:04 nice seeing the suits there. Thought I was dreaming
That's a clean looking BelAir
"First he bought a '57 Biscayne - he put it in a ditch: he drunk up all the rest that son-of-a-bitch - his blood's bad whiskey, I was raised on robbery!" Love the CONELRAD markings on the tube AM radio. And at least one can push-start a Powerglide. Bet it burps tablespoons of ATF from the old torque converter seals if not driven for a couple weeks - they all seem to. Always wished Chevy had a three speed option- the Corvair sure could have used another gear.
My mom's, which she found in the field and fixed up to use as her first car, was only a few years newer and would do 140 downhill with a 6 cylinder, at least according to the corvette she had passed.
My grandfather had a Biscayne. He went for a drive in the winter, and while taking a corner out of the neighborhood, the steering column snapped, and he had to abandon it for several days before someone could come and tow it out of the snow.
I love the aviation inspired designs of the 50s. They aren't super fast or anything, but aesthetically, they're super interesting design wise. My grandparents were born in the late 40s , and so a lot of stuff they were into was from this era to the 70s. Theae cars kind of make me nostalgic for an era I wasn't around for because we used to go to 50s inspired diners and watch old shows together. Ofc, these cars aren't AMAZING and there were lots of issues with civil rights and oppression...war, etc., but it makes me nostalgic for the good parts of the era by proxy.
i had a 58 bel air sedan 2 years ago, liked it much /sweed
😂Love the Sam and Max reference!
And for this one year only-- 1958- there was actually a trim level BELOW the Biscayne. The Delray (replacing the discontinued 150). For '59 and up, the Biscayne was as spartan as they got.
Showed my husband FRANCIS this. Got some laughs.
POV: You're Joni Mitchell's dad.
Thank you for the motivation to fix up my old alero even tho I bought a replacement I wont get rid of it coz it still runssss despite everything
"We had a little money once,
They were pushing through a 4-lane highway.
Government gave us 3,000 dollars
You shoulda seen it fly away.
First he bought a '57 Biscayne,
Put it in the ditch
Then drunk up all the rest, that son of a bitch
His blood's bad whiskey,
I was raised on robbery."
-Joni Mitchell.
Beautiful car to me, great video!
I’m a good friend of Dorthy, always have, always will. She’s a solid friend, our ax throwing team was out a player. She got us to finals!
I make axe handles as a hobby. Sometimes I even make a dollar or two doing something I really enjoy so that's cool.
brilliant post!