The Chevrolet Impala is perhaps best known for the later generations that were designed for power and muscle, but every vehicle has to have its start. That start for the Impala came from a design that had been floating around for a few years beforehand but never came to life until 1958. This time in history was exciting for carmakers because previous years had shown that the demand from the public was changing. They wanted more choices when buying. This allowed Chevy's vision of Clare MacKichan's design team to become a reality, giving the world the first generation of Chevy Impala.
10 Produced For Just One Year
It is so expensive to create a platform that it would not be thought that a car would only be made for one year within the generation. That is exactly what Chevrolet did when it designed and produced the Impala. For the '58 year, Chevy decided to create a top-of-the-line car with more extended trunk housing, a shorter roofline, and a lower height, all assembled on the new "X" platform. This gave the Impala a fresh look that set it apart from the rest of the market.
9 Produced In Honor Of Chevy's 50th Anniversary
In 1958, GM was in the midst of celebrating its 50th year of being in production. All the carmakers under the umbrella, such as Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac, were all producing a car that saluted the achievement. The Impala was the car chosen by Chevy to honor the moment in history, adding the new vehicle to the lineup, using design hints from the Corvette. The Chevrolet Bel Air Impala was created and quickly became one of the most amazing vehicles of the decade.
8 It Was The Top-Of-The-Line Trim Level For Bel Air
To this day, the Chevrolet Bel Air is a coveted car that collectors worldwide love to display at local auto shows. It is a classic car that set the tone for Chevy in the early 50s, so it was not a surprising decision when Chevy introduced a new vehicle by simply adding it on as a top choice for the Bel Air. The Impala, known as the Chevrolet Bel Air Impala, became the best version of the popular car, improving sales and pushing Chevy back to the top of the sales charts.
7 5.7-liter V-8 Engine Replaced The Six-Cylinder
Throughout the early years of the Bel Air, the standard engine placed under the hood was a small 145-horsepower six-cylinder mill. It was an engine designed to propel the car down the road, but not much else. In 1958, this engine was still an option, with a little more horsepower, but the go-to engine for the Impala was the 283 V-8. There were options above and beyond this engine as well, giving the buyer a 348 V-8 designed for everyday driving or a muscle car V-8 that could produce as many as 315 horses. Not too shabby when considering that it was the '50s.
6 Introduced Coils For The Rear Suspension
The lower, wider stance of the 1958 Chevy Impala was not the only significant upgrade given to the car. It became apparent to the engineers that the automobile needed better suspension systems as it became more powerful. That is why coils were designed as a part of the new rear suspension on the Impala, giving the car more stability on rough and curvy roads. Up until that point, the rear suspension was nothing more than half elliptical leaf springs.
5 Helped Chevy Claim The Number One Spot In '58
Out of all the Chevrolet production vehicles, around 15-percent of them were either the Impala coupe or the Impala convertible. The car came onto the market with the idea that a new and improved version of the Bel Air could create a marketplace that was leaning towards Chevy, and away from the competition that had slowly been taking business away from it. The Impala did as it was designed to do; capturing the hearts of consumers around the nation, leading them to open up their tightly closed pocketbooks and purchase nearly 200,000 cars by the end of the model year.
4 First Chevy With Dual Headlights
1957 was one of those years in the auto industry that was exciting because of the changes to regulations throughout the States. In this case, most states in the U.S. changed to allow the addition of dual headlights, meaning that the car could have two headlights on each side of the vehicle, creating more light when the brights were switched on. Chevy decided to continue production through 1957 with the single headlights until 1958 when they could produce all their cars with dual lights. Hence, the Chevy Impala was among the first to be designed and built with four headlights next to the grill.
3 Legendary Three Light Taillights
Another significant change that came along with the dual headlights was the addition of a second taillight to most of the Chevy models, except for the Impala. The Chevy Impala went one step further, offering three lights on each side of the car, two for brakes and one in the middle for the backup lighting. This was an all-new design for the 1958 Impala, setting it apart from the lower line of vehicles being offered simply by adding a lighting unit, a bulb, and a cover.
2 Tailfins Were Removed For The First Time
The 1957 Chevy is one of the most iconic cars of all time. It was known for its long angled fins in the back, which cannot be missed when looking at any car. In 1958, Chevy decided to tone the fins down a little, cutting them back to being shorter and more deeply sculptured rear fenders that blended into the car's body. Even though they still resembled the fins, only smaller, it was the beginning of the end for the big fins that made the car so famous.
1 Only Convertible Chevy Available In 1958
Being able to drive with the wind rushing through the hair has always been a part of owning a convertible that consumers love. It is always surprising when the convertible option is only available on one specific model for the year, which is the position that the Impala was granted by the Chevy team. This promoted the idea of the Impala being a higher valued car, which allowed them to charge slightly more for the coupe as well as the convertible. It helped grow sales to push the '58 Chevy corporation to the top of the sales charts, finally edging out Ford by over 2,000 examples for the year.
FAQ
Q: What Engines Are Available In The 1958 Chevy Impala?
The 1958 Chevy Impala came with a variety of engines available. The primary motor under the hood was the 283 V-8, with the option of upgrading to a high-performance 348 V-8 that could push out 280 horsepower or more. If fuel efficiency was more important, the smaller 235 six-cylinder could be ordered.
Q: Was The 1958 Chevy Impala A Muscle Car?
The '58 Impala can be said to be one of the first muscle cars ever built. It may not be as high powered as the 1960s cars and trucks, but for 1958 it had everything that a muscle car needs. It had the option of a big block engine, a small block that could be built up, a performance suspension, and a transmission designed to shift fast through the gears.
Q: How Much Did The 1958 Chevy Bel Air Impala Cost New?
In 1958 the country was coming out of recession, which meant that it was hard for carmakers to ask high prices for the new cars coming out onto the market. The asking price for the Impala was just under $3,000, which some experts felt was a little high for a car designed to be marketed to the middle-class people that had been hit the hardest by the state of the nation.
Q: How Much Is The 1958 Impala Worth Today?
Trying to judge the value of a car is not as simple as looking up a number and going with it. The value will depend upon the condition, the authenticity, the color, the location, and the demand. That said, the average cost of a 1958 Chevy Bel Air impala is just under $50,000, with the best condition cars coming in at a value of just over $100k. However, some auctions have shown these cars selling for up to $200,000, so it will all depend upon the variables in play at the time of the sale.