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An exclusive model marked by a distinctive badge, the Impala
was more than a trim option, and it differed structurally
from other garden variety Chevys. Available in only two body
styles, convertible and sport coupe, the coupe had a slightly
shorter roof and longer rear deck than the Bel Air hardtops.
Chrome rocker mouldings were added and dummy rear fender scoops
gave the quarter panels a unique look. Longer, lower and wider,
the new Chevy was also 200 to 300-pounds heavier, but with
a look that was downright luxurious for a car in the low-price
field. Inside the passenger compartment there was room for
six with tri-tone fabric and vinyl upholstery, with rich carpeting
and a full-function instrument panel with easy reach controls.
More good news could be found under the 58's long flat hood.
The 145 horsepower, 235.5 cubic-inch, six-cylinder was available
as the base engine with the venerable 283 V8 two-barrel and
four-barrel coming in with 185 and 230 horsepower respectively.
For those with a yen for even more performance, Chevrolet's
new optional "W" head 348 cubic-inch Turbo-Thrust
V8 was available in 250, 280 and 315 horsepower states of
tune.
When Neil Frantz of Starbuck, Man., went looking for a classic
car in 2002, he knew exactly what he wanted. "I was trying
to find either a restored '56 Ford Crown Victoria or a '58
Impala Sport Coupe," Frantz said. "I liked the Crown
Victorias and my friend had a '58 Impala around the time we
got out of high school and I always thought they were a nice
car." While scanning the Hemming's web site he came upon
a black 1958 Impala Sport Coupe located in Victoria, B.C.
After speaking with the owner several times and viewing many
photos of the car, Frantz and his wife Vicki decided it was
worth taking a trip West and have a serious look at the car.
With a deck trailer in tow they loaded up the pick-up and
headed out to Vancouver Island. The Impala was an original
northern California car that had been imported into Canada
in 1991 and had been treated to a recent frame-off restoration.
In immaculate condition with only a few hundred miles since
the restoration, Frantz completed the deal and loaded the
Impala on the trailer for the journey back to Manitoba.
The car is a true jewel and has a full compliment of optional
equipment including power steering, power brakes, power windows,
dual mirrors, windshield washers, AM/FM radio conversion,
tinted glass, electric windshield wipers, black/turquoise
and silver deluxe upholstery, fender skirts, Continental spare
tire kit and wide whitewall tires with the classic spinner
full wheel covers.
Powering the Impala is the 348 cubic-inch, Turbo Thrust V8.
Equipped with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor and dual
exhaust system it produces 250 horsepower at 4,400 r.p.m.
and 355 ft.-lbs. of torque at 2,800 r.p.m. Transferring the
power to the ground is accomplished with a dealer installed
Muncie four-speed manual transmission with Hurst floor shifter,
leading to a 3.55:1 final drive ratio posi-traction rear axle.
While the close-ratio four-speed gearbox wasn't an available
option for the full-size Chevy until 1959, many dealers offered
to retrofit three-speed manual equipped '58 models upon request.
The gloss black beauty is finished to an exceptionally high
standard and is a true representation of the later '50s fin
and chrome era. Another detail shared by the entire '58 genre,
is the single year styling. Generally cars from the '50s followed
a two-or-three year styling cycle with modest updates in subsequent
years, yet Chevrolet switched to a somewhat radical bat-wing
finned model for '59, leaving the '58 as a stand-alone classic.
Impala production for '58 was 125,480 Sport Coupe models
and 55,989 convertibles. Impressive numbers for a model in
its first year, the Impala name would go on to be almost synonymous
with Chevrolet and serve as a marketing success for many years.
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