popularit;y of the 1958 chevy convertible impala?

Question

I owned one with a continental kit on rear bumber it was read with a black rag top, I dthink it was a great car

Answer 1

Can't remember for sure but think that was the first year that GM went with their famous "X Frame" on their cars. I know that they all had them in 59. that is where they attempted to lower their cars by having the frame shaped like an x which meant that there was no frame at the rocker panel area and that in the middle of the car the frame was only a couple of feet wide. This allowed them to lower the rocker areas and make the car lower. Reason I mention this is just that I have a very vivid memory of watching an old 16 mm auto safety film in driver's ed in the early 70's where they were showing bad car crashes and what would happen if you drink and drive, etc. One of the images was of a Chevrolet that had left the road at high speed and turned sideways and hit one of the telephone guy wires that holds up telephone and utility poles. (those things don't break or give much if you hit them) The guy wire hit at the middle of the body between the front and rear door. What made that wreck so imprinted on my mind is that the car bent double in half and both ends of the car were pointing in almost the same direction. You could see the entire front grill and hood as well as the rear and tailights on that side by side. Creepy image to me. :-) There were a few major injuries from being hit in the sides with these cars, due to the lack of a side frame, but regardless of all that were beautiful cars that were dependable as heck for the time. I love all those old cars and the 59 is my favorite of most of the Gm's. 58 though uses most all the same suspension and drivetrain and is also a very pretty car. You can get the "Old Cars" price guide from www.oldcars.com which prints the old cars newspaper and they give production figures in there for such as well. Will tall you how many Impala convertibles were made and how much it is worth in real dollars in different states of condition. Lots of book stores carry that guide too. Just ask for the "Old Cars' Price guide as it is one of the Bibles of the antique car business. You owned a real neat car there and the continental kit was fairly rare.

Answer 2

Today most people think that the '57 Chevy is one of the greatest examples of a hot car . In 1957 Ford outsold Chevy for the first time in many years. In 1958 Chevy outsold Ford. One of the reasons was Harley Earl, who is known to like to make cars low and wide. In 1958 he also introduced the Impala and the big block, 348 ci. "rat engine," into the Chevy line. It had mucho chrome and rounded corners with dual headlights and multiple tailights...4 for all models except the Impala...6 and Nomad....2. It was described to ride like a Cadillac. The engine later became the famous "409." And the following year the fins were restored, making the '58. a model that still "stands out."

Answer 3

Real popular...and really expensive now. Can't touch a driver quality car for much under 25 large and I recently saw a concours restoration convertible for sale at 110 grand!!!

Answer 4

They are popular as classic cars now. One of the better Chevy's made.