Something else that's not known about these '58 Chevys is that the rear fenders of the Impala and BelAir are not interchangeable - the Impalas had deeper "coves" in order to accommodate the three taillights verses the two taillights on the BelAir. As far as I can tell, I think '58 is the only year that BelAirs/Impalas didn't share the same rear fenders. It amazes me how quickly cars changed back then - putting a '57 Chevy next to a '59 Chevy you'd think there was a ten-year age difference between the two, todays cars (pods) look the same for 10-20 years. The 50's-70's were good times for "car guys" and I'm so glad I was around then to experience it.
When you are dominant seems there is money to burn. I had noticed the "coves" were different for three or two taillights. Thus different rear fenders for Impala and BelAir. GM spent a lot of money for seemingly trivial appearance differences.
a) I used to enjoy watching Tom Snyder interviews at night, the dark set, with curls of white cigarette smoke wafting upward as they talked. b) As a kid I was very good at telling what kind of car that is on the freeway at night, just by the taillights in the distance. As you state, that's not something you can do much of any more, cars are all so similar.
Nowadays, you just watch every year as the top gets "chopped" or squashed down every year more and more, with increasingly narrow slit windows, and how the "headlights"(if you can even call them that anymore) become narrower and narrower slits,and the front rubber/plastic fascias get more and more bizarre and exaggerated looking....
If I didn't know the '58 and '59 were both using the same X-frame - I'd never guess. I like the '59 much better because my father had a two-door Biscayne sedan - which was the base model, but a '59 sure stands out today.
My mother was working for a Chevrolet dealership fall of 1957, a salesman had a shine for her and offered a ride in a new shiny one. Luckily I got to go along as baggage. Remember standing behind him and seen the speedometer go to 110. Was really cool for a 7 year old.
Was really irresponsibly unsafe for a 7yo to be standing up in that car!...But back then, even seat belts were an option...no one gave a crap about safety, it seems!
For years, I had been indifferent to the 1958 GM cars. However, in the last few years I have come to appreciate the coupes and convertibles. With the Impala at the top. Thanks for another great video.
@@Drew-bc7zj It actually had a 348 big block, but in the movie, Terry the Toad brags about it having a “327 with 6 Strombergs.” Regardless of power plant, it’s my favorite car in the movie. So many cool rides in American Graffiti!
How many of us guys walked out of the American graffiti movie wanting that car… I was class of 75, in high school I drove my dream car : a 63 impala SS that my Boy Scout assistant drove all my years with the troop. He raced it and stored it in the winter ( rust belt Ohio ). He was in college and was getting married . All of a sudden it was up for sale. This car used to show up at the scout meetings ( once in a while … he had a junker that he usually drove) … with open headers that made the pavement vibrate . I can take my mind back there now🤔. I worked with my dad on weekend beside my other (shortly later) after school job. He was sick of hearing about motorcycles. My friends had em. At 15 I payed for the car with a small loan from dad…. But the damn thing was : he got Ronnie to take off the speed equipment !!! I guess I was not listening when that happened! Frame was exposed to a couple years of salt before Ronnie got a hold of it. That was all it took for holes to develop in the frame . Then cracks. Had a couple plates welded on then lost interest . Took dad to look at a mint 67 gto .. that had everything … He got out of car white as a sheet. And stutter: ‘you aren’t buying this car!’ ( my dad worked outside in his side gig , always tan, and never stutter). That was the last time I took dad along … found a faster 68 gto ( it came with Cheeter slicks) . Extra tires . Cut out exhaust . Yeah , I hardly ever had the tunes on. Dad was into el caminos .. when I lived in Texas , I was bringing a 59 back for him ( sister getting married ) .. week before , getting tailpipe installed : Meineke muffler shop four-point rack with cables,,, cable snapped!!! Totaled it. Later in the early 80s n Georgia I found a nice one owner 72 el Camino , I brought it back for him. Rip dad.
Thanks! I learned a lot. As a 9 ~10 year old I was so impressed by the 1958 Impala that would park in front of our home every school day, I got a plastic model car kit to build.
My Dad probably owned 15 1955 to 1957 Chevy's. Never owned a 58....he thought they were ugly, but I always kind of liked the looks. I had a relative who bought a new 1958....he was a cool guy...he gave me my first cup of coffee with cream and sugar when I was 6.
I actually like the 1958 Chevrolet better than the tri five Chevy's. 1958 Buick's were the same way. probably because of the gobs of chrome on them. I guess I'm different than other people. and I'm good with that.
I never disliked Continental Kits, but fender skirts simply don't belong on 58 Chevys. 49 - 52 and 53 - 54 Chevys, yes, as they were factory options, but 58s, NO.
@@Paramount531 I never looked at it that way, but I don't like them because the wheel openings have a raised bead around them, making skirts like like amateurish modifications, as that bead is still there with skirts installed.
I like fender skirts myself, but I agree with you on those gaudy continental kits! Some of them stuck out so far, I'm sure they didn't fit in some garages back then.
Dad had a black '58 Biscayne two door police car. A local department had ordered it, then decided they didn't want it. It was pretty basic aside from heavy duty suspension and the tripower 348. It was a pretty quick car for its time.
I’ve always hated the ‘58. It was a huge DOWNGRADE from the tri-5 cars in my opinion. IMO, the ‘58 is the worst looking car of the ‘58-‘64 full size Chevy cars.
Thank you for producing this video--great information and well done, and I see by the comments here that I am not alone in the memories you revived. When I was a senior in high school in 1975 -- '76, there was a black '58 Chevrolet for sale at a used car dealer on the north side of West Main Street in Anoka, Minnesota. I don't know how many times I stopped to look at it. I didn't buy it but years later for redemption I bought a 1975 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale convertible, which I still own, and love.
Earlier chevy frames were more of a ladder frame than Perimeter. Which was introduced in chevys 1965 model year what is unusual on 1958 chevy frames was how the rear axle upper mounting was done using a wishbone style control arm with a single balljoint. Also i have seen many 1958 chevys that have had the frames welded and Reinforced in the steering box area mostly on power steering equiped cars Although I still need to own one eventually
Of all GM’s ‘58s, the Impala is my absolute favorite and would love to own one. While it certainly had its share of chrome adornments, they weren’t the overkill found in the other divisions’ ‘58s. I recently saw a series of photos of a fully restored white ‘58 Impala with the dual antennas and the fender skirts that was just gorgeous from every angle.
The '58 Chevs are gorgeous. I had a Bel Air; not as cool as an Impala but I bought that car for $50 in 1976 and drove it for 2 summers, including a coast-coast road trip. The 283 in it was perfect and I'd love to find another one.
As move as I love the Impala, I like the Bel Air better. The lines were simple compared to the Impala but elegant. These are rare sights. The Bel Air got overlooked by the previous years version and the 58 Impala, so there are fewer survivors as a result.
In a decade of great looking cars, the 58 Impala has to be one of my favorites regardless of manufacturer, and my favorite Chevy. In person, these cars almost feel like they have a chopped roofline and other "custom car" touches, even in factory form. I'll take mine in turquoise or teal with a white top (although black is also pretty stunning), skip the skirts and the option faux chrome vents aft of the rear wheel openings, and stick with those nice wide whites and chrome wheel covers. Really one of the best designs to ever come out of GM
My grandmother had a '58 Biscayne, four-door sedan, two-tone white and blue. I've always considered it to be a beautiful vehicle. It was serenely smooth and quiet. She ordered it with a V8 engine (don't know the exact size, other than it was a smooth V8) automatic transmission, A/C, power steering and power brakes - no radio. She drove it for 10 years, and then she bought a '68 Biscayne, which she drove until her death 18 years later. That was also a beautiful car, with the sublime coke bottle styling.
GM wasn't the only manufacturer that had the power steering pump mounted to the generator. Chrysler also did that on their power steering equipped vehicles.
The Delco generators with power steering pumps were used throughout the GM car lines. It was a great way to add power steering to a vehicle without having to add a separate belt. It was an excellent option for the people who modified vehicles. When we added power steering to our 1950 Chevy 265 V8-powered Jeep CJ, we used a Delco generator w/ ps pump from an Oldsmobile. Another thing you could have mentioned was 1958 was the 2nd model year that the ill-fated TurboGlide automatic was available. It was usually found behind the 348 V8. It was Chevrolet's attempt at a non-shifting automatic like the Buick DynaFlow. The TurboGlide used a multi-stage torque converter. At this time Buick also tried a multi-stage torque converter which didn't work either. Both transmissions were discontinued in 1961. The TurboGlides were usually replaced with conventional PowerGlides. In Chevrolet's case, in 1962, the TurboGlide was used as the basis for the new aluminum-cased PowerGlide. This transmission lasted, virtually unchanged, into the early-70's. Air suspension vehicles were always troublesome because of leakage. Late-50's cadillacs into much later Lincolns and other Ford products. Mercedes-Benz used an air suspension system on it's 300SEL. Nothing but problems. Remember the rear air shocks which were popular on Cadillacs and El Caminos. The 60's vintage Cadillacs used a vacuum-powered air compressor which worked automatically to keep the cars level. It worked very well.
GM wasn't the only manufacturer to have the power steering pump mounted to the generator. Chrysler also did that on their power steering equipped vehicles.
Nice video. I read in a book some time ago that the 1958 Chevrolet cars were supposed to be the 1957 models, but problems, like you said with the suspension, and other 'production delays' caused them to be 1958 models. They put more pronounced tail fins on the 1957 models, but GM mandated they were flat, that is, no rise, to them. Thanks for the video.
Torques yes...but how could even 280hp in that heavy car, provide "lots" of power? It took a couple of more years, before GM cranked up the larger, more powerful engines.
I believe the fake roof vent appeared on the 58 Bonneville coup too. Chevy Impalas had the fake vent in 59 thru 61, although the 61 was a trim piece at the bottom of rear window.
In 1958, my mother bought a Cay Coral Impala 2-door with the 348 and 3x2’s, TurboGlide, Air Suspension, it had all the desirable options it had a Wunder-Bar radio option, wish I still owned that beauty. I was in high school back then and I had lots of fun racing that Impala back in those days.
The ps pump on the back of the generator was also on my 57 Bel Air with a 283. This pared with a linkage boost cylinder for power steering. Later they went with an integral ball nut power piston gear used until the rack and pinion came in. Cheers.
That external ram cylinder was used on the C3 Corvettes all they way up through the end of that model in 1982. That due to the fact that the entire front suspension on those cars was based on the full sized 1963 Chevy, this to free up money to design the 1963 and up independent rear suspension.
You were talking about the air ride system. I do remember Popular Mechanics had an article talking about Mercury having an air ride system in it. a major problem they had was oscillations after riding over a hump in the road say like going over railroad tracks. The fix was delaying valves to help stabilize the ride. This was in the middle 50's. It must not have had great support because it didn't last.
Thanks so much for these wonderfully informative and interesting vids. As a UK American car owner the indepth detail you provide is encyclopedic and would require many hours of reading and study. I drive a 1972 502 ci heavily modified Trans am - 10 years in the making and much loved. (basically a brand new car ). In the past I've owned a 1972 429 Mercury Marquis Brougham, a 1969 440 Dodge Charger and a 1977 Chevy Caprice, without knowing too much about them at the time. ( I wish I'd kept the Mercury ). But it is only now as I grow older that I have the time and money to really appreciate what I had in the past and have now. Once again many thanks for passing on your knowledge of these beautiful and surprisingly practical classics.
When I was 18 I had a 58 with 348 tri-power,3 on the tree and position. I loved it. Now at 73 I bought another one,283 two barrel. I love it. Nice job on video.
I always loved the 58 Impala. We had a Del Rey when I was a kid. My brother built an AMT model of it with perfectly painted chrome molding and interior.
‘58 Impalas are second only to ‘59 Impalas, closely followed by ‘94-‘96 Impala SS. My three absolute favorite cars of all time. Please keep up the outstanding work, Adam, LOVE your videos!!
The '58 Impala Sport Coupe is my all-time favorite car. The styling combined with the sweet memories I have of them back in those days when they first came out.....the sentimentality attached to it wins me over. Style-wise, my favorite Impala's in order are: 1958 Impala Sport Coupe, 1965 Impala SS, 1962 Impala SS, and then the 1964 Impala SS.
Enjoyed this, Adam. I thought that the 1958 G.M. line up across the board were extremely heavy in chrome and overly bulbus, specifically the "58" Buick, however I liked the look of this year for the G.M. family.
My favourite Chevy design of the 1950s. My Uncle had a two tone blue Impala which we loved to ride in the back seat as kids. There was a rear seat speaker in the back we thought was cool!
My father had a 58 Impala for our family car in Northern Wisconsin. It rusted out terribly by the early 1960s. Mother said she wished she had her Studebaker back.
Some call the 1958 Impala is the only "true" Impala, that is, it was the only Impala that had a body that was different from other Chevrolets of the same model year.
My friend’s first car was a ‘58 Del Ray 4-door, with a straight six and three-speed. So far as I could tell, no thought was given to sway control, in those days. Windshield defrost was fairly useless, too. We met someone with a ‘58 Impala, so got a chance to compare some of the differences. IIRC, that car had three two-barrel carbs.
My dad was a lifelong "Ford man" and he had a 1959 and a 1960 Chevy as company cars. I remember him complaining about the low seating position. He called things like the phony air extractor vents and triple taillights "General Motors bullshit!" Memories.
i was just a 3 year old in 58. i absolutely love the classics. back in those days, and earlier, cars had style, class. i once owned a 63 impala, loved everything about that car.
one of the 1958 Chrysler comparison films has a Buick that limped off the test track with a popped air bag on the rear axle. The narration to the incident was humorous.
The 58 Impala coupe also had a shorter roofline than the other models which not only gave it a close coupled effect but ended up making it look visually longer (which it wasn't). Started the tri-tone interior trend for Chevy, which Pontiac would use to great effect through the early 60's on higher trims.
Years ago i was told by a Chevy executive that the 1958 Impalas were built at the Cadillac factory .. the reason was that chevy had to do a lot of retooling for the 1959 Chevy’s The staff at Cadillac had inserted the big long “V” on the hood and trunk of the car, in a subtle way that people would know it was built by Cadillac. Can you verify if that is true? Thanks … love all your videos 👍🏼
Nice note on the power steering pump drive. I had a 1962 Chris Craft with Chris Craft 283’s. They drove the seawater pumps off the generator. I had not realized that was a G.M. piece. Makes sense now…
Thank you for posting this videio of one of my favorite mid 50's Chevrolets. I'm sure you are aware that Pontiac also produced a very similar model. At 3:43 in your vidoe you stated the Impala was only available in 2-door hardtop models. The fact is they were also available in 4-door hardtop models. I have a photo of my best friend back in the day, standing next to his black beauty. It was equiped with the 348, but I don't recall which version. On a side note, when I took drivers education in high school we had had three '58 chevrolets, all, 4-doors with the boring blueflame 6. Thanks's for the memory.
In the 60's in Windsor, the Big-3 would hide the new year models behind plastic fencing all over town. The Impala 3 lights, Bel Air 2 and Biscayne with 2?! All sense of logic In my 8 yr-old mind was challenged. The "New Model Year" was such a big deal in Detroit/Windsor back then when it was primarily about new sheet metal lol.
Another observation about the styling: there's yet another GM nod to airplanes, in the front the turn signals look exactly like the paired nacelles of a B-52 or B-47, there's even a remnant of the wing strut between the nacelles.
My dad had a '58 Impala 348 4v with a 3 spd stick, those old bias plys never had a chance. Now I'm certain you've heard the story as to why the 58s were a one-off year. Short version; in the period that the '58 GM B bodys were committed to production, GM designers heard & peeked the new not ready for sale Chrysler Corporation winged A-bodys, and rushed a redesigned '59 B body on the same 'X' frame. Don't remember where I learned that, Im sure you've the details. Always good Adam👍🏽🏁
A couple of weeks ago at a private car show, I saw a recent barn find ‘55 Chevrolet Bel Air with 265 2-barrel, PS/PB, and factory a/c with eyeball vents on the ends of the dash. It also had the power steering pump driven off the end of the generator.
Excellent review, thank you, I still remember the Black Beauty rolling off the rack of the delivery truck. This was the first time I seen it and thought was the best-looking car ever. My timing was perfect to catch this because it was my lunch time, and the dealership was about a little over block from my school.
The 1958 Impala is such a gorgeous design, I'm both glad and sad it was a one-year only design. As an aside, it's a little uncanny how my eyes were drawn to each feature *just* as you started talking about it. I've noticed this happen in a few of your videos. I'm a musician and teacher, I work on timing all the time, so it's something interesting I noticed.
The taillights on the car shown at 3:30 aren't stock. It has custom taillights with blue dots in the centers. Also, the stock center clear backup lights have been replaced with additional taillights.
THE SUDDEN PASSING OF MY DAD IN 2014 WE WERE WORKING ON HIS 58 WAGON I NEVER NEW HOW BEAUTIFUL THESE CARS WERE UNTIL THEN. LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU ALWAYS DAD !! 😭😥💔
Very informative. My (sort of) grandfather had a 1958 Chevrolet Delray, below the bottom-of-the-line model. It was Navy blue, bone stock, with cardboard interior door panels. But it was nonetheless a handsome automobile. My actual grandfather had a 1958 DeSoto Firedome, and seeing the two cars together, it is easy to understand why those GM stylists got scared witless when they saw the new 1957 Plymouths behind the fence.
My dad's grandfather bought a brand new Impala when they first came out. He held onto it in his garage throughout his life. After he had passed away before I was born, the "Old Chevy" stayed in the garage as my dad would occasionally inspect the engine and tires and take it for a quick spin. The grandfather's wife was still alive and living in the same house the car would be parked at. Once I was about 5 or 6 years old, my dad would sometimes take me for a short-distance ride in the Impala and I'd get to watch him inspect things whenever we'd visit my great grandmother. Once my great grandmother passed away in 2002, the "Old Chevy" was part of her estate, which meant it was time to say bye to the car. The color combo on the car was pink-on-pink. It had an automatic and no rear skirts. The wheels weren't anything special. Not sure which engine it had. I have a picture of me kneeling next to the car in my great grandmother's driveway on the day the new owner came to pick it up.
The 1958 Impala shares all its glass with the 1958 Pontiac Bonniville and not the hardtop Bel Air. The package tray: The '58 Impala is one of two cars that has it formed from stamped steel and not cardboard. ; the other being the '58 Bonneville. The 1958 front and rear control arm bushings on all '58's were doubled in size for 1959 along with other suspension modifications. Only the 1958 Impala has a full circle horn ring . 1959 and 60 had half rings because the full ring broke easily. . The 4 front parking lights two are real two are fake. That a few more quirks.
I had a beautiful 58 bel air sport sedan 4dht ,283, power glide,all original down to the radio and hubcaps,from about 1985 until 1987, i couldnt keep up with the repairs necessary in driving an old car around as a daily driver vehicle....it was small things like the e brake cable and carburetor, but it did its job well.... problem is,in Massachusetts you have a yearly vehicle inspection where everything must work or you cannot drive it. I still regret selling it to this day. It was the only 58 chevy in my town and so,it got lots of attention....i even had cops pull me over just to look at it ( after scaring the crap out of me!) Lots of memories of friends long since passed too in that car. Yesrs latet,i got a 4dr sedan to restore with my son, but divorce cost me everything. Ill ALWAYS love the 58 above all other chevys❤
1995-2002 Lumina had a version of the triple tail light too. One assembly, but divided in to three segments. The Monte Carlo and Lumina LTZ just had a single light.
I own a 1998 Lumina..you are correct about the rear tail lights...one flaw in my car...around 10 years ago, I was cruising home from work, when it started to rain...the guy behind me almost plowed into me...but then, he yelled at me, as my brake lights were totally not working!...I felt horrible about that...and it took well over $200 bucks for my mechanic to trace down the electrical component that failed. Inexcusable for GM to design such a flawed brake-related system.
Thanks for this one, Adam.. I’m a huge fan of the GM 1958 models. The lower body fork scoop trim on Impala is a scaled up larger version of the front fender fork scoop found on the 1958 Cadillac, but reverse orientation. That wrap around front and rear glass was pure jet age. That’s one of my favorite features for GM cars that era.
Might be worth mentioning the '57-'61 Turboglide transmission with triple turbine torque converter. It did not shift gears like a traditional automatic transmission, it was basically an early CVT.
One 'fact' that the author fails to mention, is that the 1958 Chevrolet Impala, is factually a "BEL AIR" Impala. In its first year (and only in 1958), the Impala was a "sub model" to the Bel Air line. In 1959, the Impala was its own model. Again, it's technically a: "1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala." For anyone that would refute this fact, read the Tag on the Firewall! ;) CHEERS! AL Z.
Something else that's not known about these '58 Chevys is that the rear fenders of the Impala and BelAir are not interchangeable - the Impalas had deeper "coves" in order to accommodate the three taillights verses the two taillights on the BelAir. As far as I can tell, I think '58 is the only year that BelAirs/Impalas didn't share the same rear fenders.
It amazes me how quickly cars changed back then - putting a '57 Chevy next to a '59 Chevy you'd think there was a ten-year age difference between the two, todays cars (pods) look the same for 10-20 years.
The 50's-70's were good times for "car guys" and I'm so glad I was around then to experience it.
Lower Roof line and door curvature were different on the Impala as well, the door handles would not fit from the other models except the wagons.
When you are dominant seems there is money to burn. I had noticed the "coves" were different for three or two taillights. Thus different rear fenders for Impala and BelAir.
GM spent a lot of money for seemingly trivial appearance differences.
a) I used to enjoy watching Tom Snyder interviews at night, the dark set, with curls of white cigarette smoke wafting upward as they talked.
b) As a kid I was very good at telling what kind of car that is on the freeway at night, just by the taillights in the distance. As you state, that's not something you can do much of any more, cars are all so similar.
Nowadays, you just watch every year as the top gets "chopped" or squashed down every year more and more, with increasingly narrow slit windows, and how the "headlights"(if you can even call them that anymore) become narrower and narrower slits,and the front rubber/plastic fascias get more and more bizarre and exaggerated looking....
If I didn't know the '58 and '59 were both using the same X-frame - I'd never guess. I like the '59 much better because my father had a two-door Biscayne sedan - which was the base model, but a '59 sure stands out today.
Adam needs to have these videos played at all Car museums on big screens! So much factual and interesting content 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Walt Weiss sonny? Runniong defense stil.
@@PaulLorenzini-ny2yw Weiss 7 ⚾️
The videos should be uploaded to another website to better ensure preservation.
Not accurate enough for that use...
I am down for this
My mother was working for a Chevrolet dealership fall of 1957, a salesman had a shine for her and offered a ride in a new shiny one. Luckily I got to go along as baggage. Remember standing behind him and seen the speedometer go to 110. Was really cool for a 7 year old.
Was really irresponsibly unsafe for a 7yo to be standing up in that car!...But back then, even seat belts were an option...no one gave a crap about safety, it seems!
1958 chevrolet lead sled p.o.s.
I remember my '57 Olds 98 running up to 140...
For years, I had been indifferent to the 1958 GM cars. However, in the last few years I have come to appreciate the coupes and convertibles. With the Impala at the top. Thanks for another great video.
Ron Howard drove a bitchin' 1958 (customized) Impala in the 1973 film "American Graffiti"
327 with 6 Strombergs
@@DGillyy Really? I don't remember getting to see the engine in the movie. Gonna have to rewatch it!
@@Drew-bc7zj It actually had a 348 big block, but in the movie, Terry the Toad brags about it having a “327 with 6 Strombergs.” Regardless of power plant, it’s my favorite car in the movie. So many cool rides in American Graffiti!
How many of us guys walked out of the American graffiti movie wanting that car… I was class of 75, in high school I drove my dream car : a 63 impala SS that my Boy Scout assistant drove all my years with the troop. He raced it and stored it in the winter ( rust belt Ohio ).
He was in college and was getting married .
All of a sudden it was up for sale.
This car used to show up at the scout meetings ( once in a while … he had a junker that he usually drove) … with open headers that made the pavement vibrate .
I can take my mind back there now🤔.
I worked with my dad on weekend beside my other (shortly later) after school job. He was sick of hearing about motorcycles. My friends had em.
At 15 I payed for the car with a small loan from dad…. But the damn thing was : he got Ronnie to take off the speed equipment !!! I guess I was not listening when that happened!
Frame was exposed to a couple years of salt before Ronnie got a hold of it. That was all it took for holes to develop in the frame . Then cracks. Had a couple plates welded on then lost interest . Took dad to look at a mint 67 gto .. that had everything …
He got out of car white as a sheet. And stutter: ‘you aren’t buying this car!’ ( my dad worked outside in his side gig , always tan, and never stutter).
That was the last time I took dad along … found a faster 68 gto ( it came with Cheeter slicks) . Extra tires . Cut out exhaust .
Yeah , I hardly ever had the tunes on.
Dad was into el caminos .. when I lived in Texas , I was bringing a 59 back for him ( sister getting married ) .. week before , getting tailpipe installed : Meineke muffler shop four-point rack with cables,,, cable snapped!!!
Totaled it.
Later in the early 80s n Georgia I found a nice one owner 72 el Camino , I brought it back for him.
Rip dad.
For me , the car ,was Bob Falfa's '55.
Thanks! I learned a lot. As a 9 ~10 year old I was so impressed by the 1958 Impala that would park in front of our home every school day, I got a plastic model car kit to build.
Thank you!
Ron Howard's '58 in American Graffiti was beautiful!!! Just perfect for one of those cars.
Sold for $300 before the movie came out...
My sister had a powder puff blue one. I think I was 6 years old and I loved it!
It was called Cashmere Blue.
My Dad probably owned 15 1955 to 1957 Chevy's. Never owned a 58....he thought they were ugly, but I always kind of liked the looks. I had a relative who bought a new 1958....he was a cool guy...he gave me my first cup of coffee with cream and sugar when I was 6.
My first car was a 57,gave 600 dollars for it in 76.your dad's right,58> was ugly.
@@graybailey6015 The Chevy was the only '58 GM car my dad liked.
I agree with Darrel’s dad.
I actually like the 1958 Chevrolet better than the tri five Chevy's. 1958 Buick's were the same way. probably because of the gobs of chrome on them. I guess I'm different than other people. and I'm good with that.
Im not a 50s car person..but the 58 Impala caught my heart. I like it. Classy..but suttle. Very nice.
Thanks for showing one without fender skirts and a continental kit. Looks so much better without that junk.
I never disliked Continental Kits, but fender skirts simply don't belong on 58 Chevys. 49 - 52 and 53 - 54 Chevys, yes, as they were factory options, but 58s, NO.
I completely agree, they just make the car look bulkier and heavier.
@@Paramount531 I never looked at it that way, but I don't like them because the wheel openings have a raised bead around them, making skirts like like amateurish modifications, as that bead is still there with skirts installed.
I like fender skirts myself, but I agree with you on those gaudy continental kits! Some of them stuck out so far, I'm sure they didn't fit in some garages back then.
Can't say I mind the fender skirts, but I detest continental fake spares.
Dad had a black '58 Biscayne two door police car. A local department had ordered it, then decided they didn't want it. It was pretty basic aside from heavy duty suspension and the tripower 348. It was a pretty quick car for its time.
the whole 58 GM lineup is awesome...so much style and performance. They kind of standalone from other cars of the 50's
One of the three taillights was a backup light on stock vehicles. The car in the video is modified.
The middle light was the backup
All six have the blue dot modified lites
Which they should not have , plus , as stated by others , the center light was the reverse light . @@rogerdodrill4733
Definitely one of the best looking Chevrolets of all time!
I think the "58 is stunning!
Yes, it is.
I remember, that that year was considered either cool, or kinda ugly, by the folks around back then...no middle ground.
I am a big fan of the Impala. Please make more videos!
The 1958 Impala is the reason why I buy lottery tickets. 😃
I’ve always hated the ‘58. It was a huge DOWNGRADE from the tri-5 cars in my opinion. IMO, the ‘58 is the worst looking car of the ‘58-‘64 full size Chevy cars.
Correction: The 1959 Impala was/is butt-ugly...and is the worst looking of the Impalas.
Why you buy lottery tickets? Maybe I'm being a little dense, but I don't get it. 🤷
@@Drew-bc7zjhe'll buy one if he wins the lottery!🙄Doh!!!🤭
Hands down the coolest hardtop ever made
Thank you for producing this video--great information and well done, and I see by the comments here that I am not alone in the memories you revived. When I was a senior in high school in 1975 -- '76, there was a black '58 Chevrolet for sale at a used car dealer on the north side of West Main Street in Anoka, Minnesota. I don't know how many times I stopped to look at it. I didn't buy it but years later for redemption I bought a 1975 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale convertible, which I still own, and love.
Earlier chevy frames were more of a ladder frame than Perimeter. Which was introduced in chevys 1965 model year what is unusual on 1958 chevy frames was how the rear axle upper mounting was done using a wishbone style control arm with a single balljoint. Also i have seen many 1958 chevys that have had the frames welded and Reinforced in the steering box area mostly on power steering equiped cars Although I still need to own one eventually
Of all GM’s ‘58s, the Impala is my absolute favorite and would love to own one. While it certainly had its share of chrome adornments, they weren’t the overkill found in the other divisions’ ‘58s. I recently saw a series of photos of a fully restored white ‘58 Impala with the dual antennas and the fender skirts that was just gorgeous from every angle.
The '58 Chevs are gorgeous. I had a Bel Air; not as cool as an Impala but I bought that car for $50 in 1976 and drove it for 2 summers, including a coast-coast road trip. The 283 in it was perfect and I'd love to find another one.
As move as I love the Impala, I like the Bel Air better. The lines were simple compared to the Impala but elegant. These are rare sights. The Bel Air got overlooked by the previous years version and the 58 Impala, so there are fewer survivors as a result.
$50 was the price for a beater in 1976.
The effort and cost of refreshing / renewing whole model ranges every year must have been eye-watering.
The air suspension option you mentioned was called "Level Air".
I've been in love with '58 Impalas since I was a teenager and saw the one in American Graffiti.
In a decade of great looking cars, the 58 Impala has to be one of my favorites regardless of manufacturer, and my favorite Chevy. In person, these cars almost feel like they have a chopped roofline and other "custom car" touches, even in factory form. I'll take mine in turquoise or teal with a white top (although black is also pretty stunning), skip the skirts and the option faux chrome vents aft of the rear wheel openings, and stick with those nice wide whites and chrome wheel covers. Really one of the best designs to ever come out of GM
Thoroughly enjoyed this.
My grandmother had a '58 Biscayne, four-door sedan, two-tone white and blue. I've always considered it to be a beautiful vehicle. It was serenely smooth and quiet. She ordered it with a V8 engine (don't know the exact size, other than it was a smooth V8) automatic transmission, A/C, power steering and power brakes - no radio. She drove it for 10 years, and then she bought a '68 Biscayne, which she drove until her death 18 years later. That was also a beautiful car, with the sublime coke bottle styling.
1957 belairs with ps also drove pump off rear of generator. Thank you for the outstanding work!
GM wasn't the only manufacturer that had the power steering pump mounted to the generator. Chrysler also did that on their power steering equipped vehicles.
Always loved the 58 Chevy, and I don't care what others think.
Couldn’t agree more. A lot of people go “huh, really?” when I tell them the ‘58 Chevy is my dream car
@@thomaslemon3971 Always good to march to the beat of your own drummer, not everybody else's.
@@jamesbosworth4191I'll second that!👍
So...if you do not care...why are you commenting?
@@curbozerboomer1773Affirming that I love 58 Chevys. Have a problem with that?
The Delco generators with power steering pumps were used throughout the GM car lines. It was a great way to add power steering to a vehicle without having to add a separate belt. It was an excellent option for the people who modified vehicles. When we added power steering to our 1950 Chevy 265 V8-powered Jeep CJ, we used a Delco generator w/ ps pump from an Oldsmobile.
Another thing you could have mentioned was 1958 was the 2nd model year that the ill-fated TurboGlide automatic was available. It was usually found behind the 348 V8. It was Chevrolet's attempt at a non-shifting automatic like the Buick DynaFlow. The TurboGlide used a multi-stage torque converter. At this time Buick also tried a multi-stage torque converter which didn't work either. Both transmissions were discontinued in 1961. The TurboGlides were usually replaced with conventional PowerGlides. In Chevrolet's case, in 1962, the TurboGlide was used as the basis for the new aluminum-cased PowerGlide. This transmission lasted, virtually unchanged, into the early-70's.
Air suspension vehicles were always troublesome because of leakage. Late-50's cadillacs into much later Lincolns and other Ford products. Mercedes-Benz used an air suspension system on it's 300SEL. Nothing but problems.
Remember the rear air shocks which were popular on Cadillacs and El Caminos. The 60's vintage Cadillacs used a vacuum-powered air compressor which worked automatically to keep the cars level. It worked very well.
GM wasn't the only manufacturer to have the power steering pump mounted to the generator. Chrysler also did that on their power steering equipped vehicles.
Nice video. I read in a book some time ago that the 1958 Chevrolet cars were supposed to be the 1957 models, but problems, like you said with the suspension, and other 'production delays' caused them to be 1958 models. They put more pronounced tail fins on the 1957 models, but GM mandated they were flat, that is, no rise, to them. Thanks for the video.
If you look at 1957 Cadillac and Buick coupes they had a similar roof line to the 1958.
@@MarinCipollinaCadillac had the roof line a year or two before the other divisions
I have always loved this design.
I own one. 2dr H.T. 348 with a turbo hydra magic 350. Lots of torqued and horsepower!
Torques yes...but how could even 280hp in that heavy car, provide "lots" of power? It took a couple of more years, before GM cranked up the larger, more powerful engines.
@@curbozerboomer1773 it is torque that accelerates an automobile, more so than horse power.
Chevy had the power steering pump on the back of the generator at least since 1955.
An uncle had a new '59 Impala in black that everyone loved.
I believe the fake roof vent appeared on the 58 Bonneville coup too. Chevy Impalas had the fake vent in 59 thru 61, although the 61 was a trim piece at the bottom of rear window.
Always liked the 58's, a one year wonder for me, looked good from any angle, Bob Hope had a beauty.
I always learn so much from your videos. Thanks for all of your efforts!
In 1958, my mother bought a Cay Coral Impala 2-door with the 348 and 3x2’s, TurboGlide, Air Suspension, it had all the desirable options it had a Wunder-Bar radio option, wish I still owned that beauty. I was in high school back then and I had lots of fun racing that Impala back in those days.
Another great video on another icon Chevy! Always loved the Cadillac inspired cues!
The ps pump on the back of the generator was also on my 57 Bel Air with a 283. This pared with a linkage boost cylinder for power steering. Later they went with an integral ball nut power piston gear used until the rack and pinion came in. Cheers.
That external ram cylinder was used on the C3 Corvettes all they way up through the end of that model in 1982. That due to the fact that the entire front suspension on those cars was based on the full sized 1963 Chevy, this to free up money to design the 1963 and up independent rear suspension.
You were talking about the air ride system. I do remember Popular Mechanics had an article talking about Mercury having an air ride system in it. a major problem they had was oscillations after riding over a hump in the road say like going over railroad tracks. The fix was delaying valves to help stabilize the ride. This was in the middle 50's. It must not have had great support because it didn't last.
Absolutely groundbreaking first year design 👌🏼
Only year.
@@Greatdome99 True, but first year for the X frame full sized Chevy. Chevy held on to that frame until the end of the’ 64 model year.
All chevys had significant yearly style change from54/68
For the first time I noticed the similarity of the 1958 Impala rear end and the 1961 Plymouth front end trim.
Thanks so much for these wonderfully informative and interesting vids.
As a UK American car owner the indepth detail you provide is encyclopedic and would require many hours of reading and study.
I drive a 1972 502 ci heavily modified Trans am - 10 years in the making and much loved. (basically a brand new car ).
In the past I've owned a 1972 429 Mercury Marquis Brougham, a 1969 440 Dodge Charger and a 1977 Chevy Caprice, without knowing too much about them at the time. ( I wish I'd kept the Mercury ).
But it is only now as I grow older that I have the time and money to really appreciate what I had in the past and have now.
Once again many thanks for passing on your knowledge of these beautiful and surprisingly practical classics.
Thx!
When I was 18 I had a 58 with 348 tri-power,3 on the tree and position. I loved it. Now at 73 I bought another one,283 two barrel. I love it. Nice job on video.
I always loved the 58 Impala. We had a Del Rey when I was a kid. My brother built an AMT model of it with perfectly painted chrome molding and interior.
‘58 Impalas are second only to ‘59 Impalas, closely followed by ‘94-‘96 Impala SS. My three absolute favorite cars of all time. Please keep up the outstanding work, Adam, LOVE your videos!!
When you see pictures of these cars you see the beautiful designers work by their hands and drawings.
The '58 Impala Sport Coupe is my all-time favorite car. The styling combined with the sweet memories I have of them back in those days when they first came out.....the sentimentality attached to it wins me over. Style-wise, my favorite Impala's in order are: 1958 Impala Sport Coupe, 1965 Impala SS, 1962 Impala SS, and then the 1964 Impala SS.
Enjoyed this, Adam. I thought that the 1958 G.M. line up across the board were extremely heavy in chrome and overly bulbus, specifically the "58" Buick, however I liked the look of this year for the G.M. family.
My favourite Chevy design of the 1950s. My Uncle had a two tone blue Impala which we loved to ride in the back seat as kids.
There was a rear seat speaker in the back we thought was cool!
My father had a 58 Impala for our family car in Northern Wisconsin. It rusted out terribly by the early 1960s. Mother said she wished she had her Studebaker back.
Sounds like something a mother would say
I really enjoy any opportunity to see the 1958 Impala. Such a great looker.
Some call the 1958 Impala is the only "true" Impala, that is, it was the only Impala that had a body that was different from other Chevrolets of the same model year.
My friend’s first car was a ‘58 Del Ray 4-door, with a straight six and three-speed. So far as I could tell, no thought was given to sway control, in those days. Windshield defrost was fairly useless, too.
We met someone with a ‘58 Impala, so got a chance to compare some of the differences. IIRC, that car had three two-barrel carbs.
My dad was a lifelong "Ford man" and he had a 1959 and a 1960 Chevy as company cars. I remember him complaining about the low seating position. He called things like the phony air extractor vents and triple taillights "General Motors bullshit!" Memories.
i was just a 3 year old in 58. i absolutely love the classics. back in those days, and earlier, cars had style, class. i once owned a 63 impala, loved everything about that car.
one of the 1958 Chrysler comparison films has a Buick that limped off the test track with a popped air bag on the rear axle. The narration to the incident was humorous.
Beautiful car always loved that style never could afford one
The 58 Impala coupe also had a shorter roofline than the other models which not only gave it a close coupled effect but ended up making it look visually longer (which it wasn't). Started the tri-tone interior trend for Chevy, which Pontiac would use to great effect through the early 60's on higher trims.
One of my favorites.
Years ago i was told by a Chevy executive that the 1958 Impalas were built at the Cadillac factory .. the reason was that chevy had to do a lot of retooling for the 1959 Chevy’s
The staff at Cadillac had inserted the big long “V” on the hood and trunk of the car, in a subtle way that people would know it was built by Cadillac.
Can you verify if that is true?
Thanks … love all your videos 👍🏼
Nice note on the power steering pump drive. I had a 1962 Chris Craft with Chris Craft 283’s. They drove the seawater pumps off the generator. I had not realized that was a G.M. piece. Makes sense now…
My grandfather's last car before he passed away was a '58 Impala 2-door. I vaguely remember it as a small child in the early 1960s.
Thank you for posting this videio of one of my favorite mid 50's Chevrolets. I'm sure you are aware that Pontiac also produced a very similar model. At 3:43 in your vidoe you stated the Impala was only available in 2-door hardtop models. The fact is they were also available in 4-door hardtop models. I have a photo of my best friend back in the day, standing next to his black beauty. It was equiped with the 348, but I don't recall which version. On a side note, when I took drivers education in high school we had had three '58 chevrolets, all, 4-doors with the boring blueflame 6. Thanks's for the memory.
Another very enjoyable video. I'll be checking out more of them, for sure! Thanks, Andy
My favorite year of Chevrolet!
I was 10 that year, and I love this car. To this day one of my favorites .
Beautiful car
In the 60's in Windsor, the Big-3 would hide the new year models behind plastic fencing all over town. The Impala 3 lights, Bel Air 2 and Biscayne with 2?! All sense of logic In my 8 yr-old mind was challenged. The "New Model Year" was such a big deal in Detroit/Windsor back then when it was primarily about new sheet metal lol.
The black one is absolutely stunning.
Another observation about the styling: there's yet another GM nod to airplanes, in the front the turn signals look exactly like the paired nacelles of a B-52 or B-47, there's even a remnant of the wing strut between the nacelles.
My dad had a '58 Impala 348 4v with a 3 spd stick, those old bias plys never had a chance. Now I'm certain you've heard the story as to why the 58s were a one-off year. Short version; in the period that the '58 GM B bodys were committed to production, GM designers heard & peeked the new not ready for sale Chrysler Corporation winged A-bodys, and rushed a redesigned '59 B body on the same 'X' frame. Don't remember where I learned that, Im sure you've the details. Always good Adam👍🏽🏁
A couple of weeks ago at a private car show, I saw a recent barn find ‘55 Chevrolet Bel Air with 265 2-barrel, PS/PB, and factory a/c with eyeball vents on the ends of the dash. It also had the power steering pump driven off the end of the generator.
The black Impala with all that chrome is beautiful . 🙂
Thirty years ago at fall Carlisle swap meet, there was a gold convertible with factory Tri-power and factory air ride that sold for $13k! Super rare!
Excellent review, thank you, I still remember the Black Beauty rolling off the rack of the delivery truck. This was the first time I seen it and thought was the best-looking car ever. My timing was perfect to catch this because it was my lunch time, and the dealership was about a little over block from my school.
The 1958 Impala is such a gorgeous design, I'm both glad and sad it was a one-year only design.
As an aside, it's a little uncanny how my eyes were drawn to each feature *just* as you started talking about it. I've noticed this happen in a few of your videos. I'm a musician and teacher, I work on timing all the time, so it's something interesting I noticed.
The taillights on the car shown at 3:30 aren't stock. It has custom taillights with blue dots in the centers. Also, the stock center clear backup lights have been replaced with additional taillights.
Great video. As always.
Hey Adam, that was really interesting. Thanks for sharing this. Cheers!
THE SUDDEN PASSING OF MY DAD IN 2014 WE WERE WORKING ON HIS 58 WAGON I NEVER NEW HOW BEAUTIFUL THESE CARS WERE UNTIL THEN. LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU ALWAYS DAD !! 😭😥💔
Maple Motors (Hendersonville Tn.) has a very nice model in this video for sale as we speak!! Adam, you cover all of the greatest automobiles!!!!~~
Very informative. My (sort of) grandfather had a 1958 Chevrolet Delray, below the bottom-of-the-line model. It was Navy blue, bone stock, with cardboard interior door panels. But it was nonetheless a handsome automobile. My actual grandfather had a 1958 DeSoto Firedome, and seeing the two cars together, it is easy to understand why those GM stylists got scared witless when they saw the new 1957 Plymouths behind the fence.
Of course, the 57 Chevy is one of my favorites in design but i actually think the 58 Impala is EVEN BETTER. Still a 10 vs 10.
Excellent video Adam!
Adam- Your model specific or cameo videos are very interesting indeed!
Thank you.
I learn something new with each of your videos.
My dad's grandfather bought a brand new Impala when they first came out. He held onto it in his garage throughout his life. After he had passed away before I was born, the "Old Chevy" stayed in the garage as my dad would occasionally inspect the engine and tires and take it for a quick spin. The grandfather's wife was still alive and living in the same house the car would be parked at. Once I was about 5 or 6 years old, my dad would sometimes take me for a short-distance ride in the Impala and I'd get to watch him inspect things whenever we'd visit my great grandmother. Once my great grandmother passed away in 2002, the "Old Chevy" was part of her estate, which meant it was time to say bye to the car.
The color combo on the car was pink-on-pink. It had an automatic and no rear skirts. The wheels weren't anything special. Not sure which engine it had. I have a picture of me kneeling next to the car in my great grandmother's driveway on the day the new owner came to pick it up.
The 1958 Impala shares all its glass with the 1958 Pontiac Bonniville and not the hardtop Bel Air.
The package tray: The '58 Impala is one of two cars that has it formed from stamped steel and not cardboard. ; the other being the '58 Bonneville. The 1958 front and rear control arm bushings on all '58's were doubled in size for 1959 along with other suspension modifications. Only the 1958 Impala has a full circle horn ring . 1959 and 60 had half rings because the full ring broke easily. . The 4 front parking lights two are real two are fake. That a few more quirks.
I had a beautiful 58 bel air sport sedan 4dht ,283, power glide,all original down to the radio and hubcaps,from about 1985 until 1987, i couldnt keep up with the repairs necessary in driving an old car around as a daily driver vehicle....it was small things like the e brake cable and carburetor, but it did its job well.... problem is,in Massachusetts you have a yearly vehicle inspection where everything must work or you cannot drive it. I still regret selling it to this day. It was the only 58 chevy in my town and so,it got lots of attention....i even had cops pull me over just to look at it ( after scaring the crap out of me!) Lots of memories of friends long since passed too in that car. Yesrs latet,i got a 4dr sedan to restore with my son, but divorce cost me everything. Ill ALWAYS love the 58 above all other chevys❤
1995-2002 Lumina had a version of the triple tail light too. One assembly, but divided in to three segments. The Monte Carlo and Lumina LTZ just had a single light.
I own a 1998 Lumina..you are correct about the rear tail lights...one flaw in my car...around 10 years ago, I was cruising home from work, when it started to rain...the guy behind me almost plowed into me...but then, he yelled at me, as my brake lights were totally not working!...I felt horrible about that...and it took well over $200 bucks for my mechanic to trace down the electrical component that failed. Inexcusable for GM to design such a flawed brake-related system.
Thanks for this one, Adam.. I’m a huge fan of the GM 1958 models. The lower body fork scoop trim on Impala is a scaled up larger version of the front fender fork scoop found on the 1958 Cadillac, but reverse orientation.
That wrap around front and rear glass was pure jet age. That’s one of my favorite features for GM cars that era.
Might be worth mentioning the '57-'61 Turboglide transmission with triple turbine torque converter. It did not shift gears like a traditional automatic transmission, it was basically an early CVT.
Maybe it was derivative of the Buick "Dynaflow"? My dad owned a 59 Buick...it was a good cruiser, but sort of slow, off the line.
One 'fact' that the author fails to mention, is that the 1958 Chevrolet Impala, is factually a "BEL AIR" Impala. In its first year (and only in 1958), the Impala was a "sub model" to the Bel Air line. In 1959, the Impala was its own model. Again, it's technically a: "1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala." For anyone that would refute this fact, read the Tag on the Firewall! ;) CHEERS! AL Z.
Once again you've nailed it. Great video
Growing up we had a 58 Brookwood wagon with a 348 4bbl 3 on the tree. That car would really get up a go!
Thanks for another informative video!
I had a white '58 Impala with turquoise interior. It was a 348 with three carburetors (315 hp) with positraction. It was a GREAT car.