The first time the Impala revved up its engine in front of someone other than Chevrolet engineers was in 1956 when it took the stage at GM’s motor show.
The feedback was impressive. Everybody was impressed with the Impala, so the carmaker had to build it. The car needed two years to go from the drawing board to the assembly lines, so in 1958, the first Impala received the go-ahead for mass production.
The first Impala debuted as a Bel Air version, but not even Chevrolet expected the car to be so successful from its first days on the market. The Impala eventually gained series status a year later, at which point it became the chosen one. The Impala spearheaded Chevy’s sales for decades, getting the crown for the best-selling model in the United States.
The 1958 Impala posted on eBay by seller mrocha1964 allows Internet users to own a little piece of automotive history, as the car has already been the subject of a partial frame-off restoration, requiring only the finishing touches to return to the road.
The car was completely disassembled, receiving all the necessary fixes before the owner got an Impala convertible and eventually abandoned the project. They put everything back together, so whoever buys the Impala will only have to complete the overhaul.
The vehicle exhibits an impressive shape, and you won’t have to care about rust or missing parts. Every inch of metal has been meticulously restored, and the only part not original is the driver’s foot pan, where the car received a patch. Otherwise, the floors, the trunk floor, and the rockers look good and require no fixes.
The Impala might look like a road-worthy model, but it’s not. Not yet, at least, as the engine under the hood is a mysterious 283 believed to no longer be running. Paired with a Powerglide transmission, the 283 is a replacement unit – an unfortunate one, I’d say, as the car rolled off the assembly lines with the almighty 348 big-block engine; however, the 348 is long gone, so the owner put a 283 inside.
If you’re lucky, the 283 isn’t yet locked up from sitting, so the Impala might require only minor engine repairs before returning to the road. Considering most of the restoration work is already complete, a working engine would be a Godsend, but you’ll have to travel to Camarillo, California, to get this information.
Meanwhile, the Impala has already become the subject of a fierce digital battle, with the auction already receiving 35 bids in a few days online. The top offer is $19,600, but it’s not enough to trigger the reserve. The owner didn’t share any specifics on the reserve’s value, but with the auction ending in approximately three days, it won’t take long until we find out if the Impala finds a new home.
The first Impala debuted as a Bel Air version, but not even Chevrolet expected the car to be so successful from its first days on the market. The Impala eventually gained series status a year later, at which point it became the chosen one. The Impala spearheaded Chevy’s sales for decades, getting the crown for the best-selling model in the United States.
The 1958 Impala posted on eBay by seller mrocha1964 allows Internet users to own a little piece of automotive history, as the car has already been the subject of a partial frame-off restoration, requiring only the finishing touches to return to the road.
The car was completely disassembled, receiving all the necessary fixes before the owner got an Impala convertible and eventually abandoned the project. They put everything back together, so whoever buys the Impala will only have to complete the overhaul.
The vehicle exhibits an impressive shape, and you won’t have to care about rust or missing parts. Every inch of metal has been meticulously restored, and the only part not original is the driver’s foot pan, where the car received a patch. Otherwise, the floors, the trunk floor, and the rockers look good and require no fixes.
The Impala might look like a road-worthy model, but it’s not. Not yet, at least, as the engine under the hood is a mysterious 283 believed to no longer be running. Paired with a Powerglide transmission, the 283 is a replacement unit – an unfortunate one, I’d say, as the car rolled off the assembly lines with the almighty 348 big-block engine; however, the 348 is long gone, so the owner put a 283 inside.
If you’re lucky, the 283 isn’t yet locked up from sitting, so the Impala might require only minor engine repairs before returning to the road. Considering most of the restoration work is already complete, a working engine would be a Godsend, but you’ll have to travel to Camarillo, California, to get this information.
Meanwhile, the Impala has already become the subject of a fierce digital battle, with the auction already receiving 35 bids in a few days online. The top offer is $19,600, but it’s not enough to trigger the reserve. The owner didn’t share any specifics on the reserve’s value, but with the auction ending in approximately three days, it won’t take long until we find out if the Impala finds a new home.
