Chevy was great

[herr_oberst]

In the fifties. Lotsa cars sold, a new model every year.



This example isn't the greatest color, but still easy on the eyes. At the time the '58 was the most expensive Chevy ever manufactured because they were lining up all the year to year changeovers across all the GM lines and this one needed a one year only complete redo to fit into the family.

"The real reason for the single-year Chevy is simply a scheduling detail. Back in the mid-1950s, GM planners decided sharing body platforms clear across the GM line—and that meant Chevy, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac—would reduce costs and make sense going forward. From that point on, a two-year cycle with a minor facelift after the first year would be the future path for all divisions. The 1959 model year would be the platform to do this because Cadillac, Buick, and some Oldsmobiles were coming off of their second year of bodies, having received all new architecture in 1957.
What this meant was that Chevy got pulled forward into this schedule, leaving the 1958 Chevy as a one-year-only anomaly."

https://www.motortrend.com/news/the-most-expensive-chevy-ever-made/

[Baz]

On the way home from the dentist today and stopped at a light, I rolled down my passenger window and shouted to the guy next to me "Nice Silverado!".

I was in the Volvo.

He asked if I was from around here - I said yes - and he asked where he could get some gas.

Then the light turned green.

Like a rock!

[porsche930dude]

My father has always been a 58 impala fan. He bought his from a barn in NJ 35k mile car. The original owner was a lady that got too old to drive it and her mechanic bought it and put it in his barn in 73 where it sat until 2000. My dad painted it silver and doll'd it up a bit. But its a pretty original rust free car.

[herr_oberst]

Sweet ride. W block, too. Is that a 409 or a 348?

[LWJ]

I have been a fan of 58’s forever. My Dad had a 59 348 power glide when I was a kid. That car was over the top.

[asphaltgambler]

Pretty sure only 348's were available, the larger CI would come later. I'm also pretty sure Chevy lost money on every one they sold, too far in with short term development and a recession was in full swing. I don't really care for them but love the rear roof scallop and detail....

[craigster59]

Ron Howard's '58 Impala was my favorite car in American Graffiti. When it comes to American cars 58-65 Impalas are at the top of the list.

[Norm K]

For way too long, the popularity of the Tri-Fives has relegated the '58 to second class citizen status.

I think it's an overall more attractive design than any of those three.

_

[Scott Douglas]

Having grown up next door to a '57 Bel Air Sport coupe I'm partial to them.

[GH85Carrera]

My former boss who took early retirement at age 92 talked about the common practice of buying a new car every year. All the manufacturers kept the new models under wraps until a certain date. They would cover the glass windows to the dealership to prevent anyone peeking in.

On the big day, the coverings came down and the crowds came in to see the new cars. Often unique to that one year and unlike the previous year. He said the well to do would come in and buy a new car every year. He had a favorite salesman and had a standing order to get a new car each year. One year the salesman sold the car my former boss was supposed to get to someone else for a huge markup. He never bought another car from that salesman, and he changed from Chevy to Ford that year, and never stopped buying Fords. His new salesman really loved the standing order. One year he arranged to get a new car in his garage at home two days before it was supposed to be out. He was asked not to drive it until that release date.

My former boss joined the Army Air corps during WW2, one day he was told to change uniforms to the USAF. He retied from active duty due to his wife insisted before the Koran war. He worked as a pilot instructor for C-47s for much of his Air Force career. He joined the CAA and had a three digit employee number and worked at the FAA for a full career. In 1947 he started the company I worked at it was raking a nice income as a "side gig" and when he retired from the FAA turned it into full time.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Ron Howard's '58 Impala was my favorite car in American Graffiti. When it comes to American cars 58-65 Impalas are at the top of the list.

Originally Posted by Norm K

For way too long, the popularity of the Tri-Fives has relegated the '58 to second class citizen status.

I think it's an overall more attractive design than any of those three.

_

I loved the '58 in American Graffiti as well. '58 Chevies are good looking but look a little heavy to use as hot rods. Maybe it's just the look, I don't know what they weigh compared to other years. Also, wasn't the '57 a one year only design as well?

[monoflo]

Sorry --not a 58

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Having grown up next door to a '57 Bel Air Sport coupe I'm partial to them.

Yes, 57s were cool. In 57, I was 4 and 2 brothers next door had black 57s. One coupe and one vert. These guys were Fonzi cool. I never got a 57 but a 55 was ok for me. Still remember those black 57s parked nose to tail in the driveway.

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by speeder

I loved the '58 in American Graffiti as well. '58 Chevies are good looking but look a little heavy to use as hot rods. Maybe it's just the look, I don't know what they weigh compared to other years. Also, wasn't the '57 a one year only design as well?

The '55 is the most hotrod-able

The '56 is the most elegant

The '57 is the most popular

The '58 is just plain cool and stylish

_

[jcommin]

The biggest reason for a one year styling of the 58s was what the GM stylist saw at Chrysler in 1956. The are many stories that Chuck Jorden, Bill Mitchel and many of the GM staff peeked thru the fence and saw the forward looking cars that Virgil Exner designed.

The 3 year cycle that GM had - all of the 58s were set in stone, the 59s were still on the drawing board. The 59's were completely re-designed. The 58 Chevy was the cleanest of the chrome cars, it got progressively worse with Pontiac, Olds and Buick. BTW, It was essentially the end of the era of Harley Earl.

Exner's era would end a few years later because he couldn't get past fins on cars.

[Scott Douglas]

^^^Not my car, just a picture I took.
My '57 was a Colonial Cream 150.

[Racerbvd]

[herr_oberst]

Nice concept, the treatment of the roof, sadly, is a swing and a miss.

[dheinz]