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Features The 116 MPH '58 Chevrolet

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Ryan, Feb 3, 2014.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

  2. Man,116 is moving for a 2 ton plus sled.

    I bet he had a lot of hot rodders scratching their heads when he blew past them! HRP
     
  3. wicarnut
    Joined: Oct 29, 2009
    Posts: 9,052

    wicarnut
    Member

    Very Kool! and Very Quick for that time frame. Had a 58 impala ragtop back in the day, fun car, another great memory. John
     
  4. That's still fast today. Most folks can't break 100 in the quarter.
     

  5. raymay
    Joined: Mar 2, 2008
    Posts: 2,532

    raymay
    Member

    The two I have owned were never that fast but I still rank a 58 Chevy as one of my favorites years.
     

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  6. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Mine was, but 20 years and a BBC later than '63.
     

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  7. froghawk
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 857

    froghawk
    Member

    One of my favorite custom '58 Impalas. Love the grill with those little faceted rectangles from a '59 Buick.

    Gotta wonder if that low front and crazy rake is part of the reason the front bumper's crooked?...
     
  8. Tuck
    Joined: May 14, 2001
    Posts: 5,780

    Tuck
    Tech Editor
    from MINNESOTA
    1. Early Hemi Tech

    its hard to look at that pic... the front bumper alignment is driving me crazy ;-p I just wanna fix it-

    I feel like I married this car- been restoring this 58 impala for the last couple years now for a guy in North Branch Mn. Total frame off- did all the metal work/ bodywork/ paint etc- its in storage until spring when I'm done teaching and then I'll finish it up. Everything else seemed easy until you get to all of the little stuff at the end...

    Never really liked these cars that much until now- I guess you get attached a little-

    i would love to come across a nice 2dr wagon- :)
    I love seeing them as Kustoms-

    Tuck
     

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  9. hansboomer
    Joined: Nov 15, 2008
    Posts: 103

    hansboomer
    Member
    from new york

    The 58 with the 54 grill is my favorite Chevy custom ever. The grill corrects the most boring part of the whole car.
    I had Biscayne when I was in college, but it didn't look like that. It came from Buffalo and among my friends it was widely regarded as the the worst car in North America. The floor was so rusty there was no place to attach the gas pedal, but it was a strong and dead reliable 283. I wish I had it back.
     
  10. hansboomer
    Joined: Nov 15, 2008
    Posts: 103

    hansboomer
    Member
    from new york

    One more thing. Those cars weighed under 3500, not 4500 as the original post reported. Even most Buicks were under 4500 back in the day. but it's still an impressively fast car.
     
  11. flamingokid
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 2,200

    flamingokid
    Member

    I bought one in 1990 in Dallas for 1800.00.I sold a Benz down there and found this gem with a sign in its dust covered window parked on a side street.I used to buy cars in the area of where I sold something as I could make money driving it back to Omaha,versus being out a plane ticket.That '58 was pretty damn quick for a tired old gal.I stopped in KC to spend the night,and someone left a note on my windshield and after a phone call and a gaze through the KC Star,I was headed back to the Big O in a 70 Monte Carlo.
     
  12. Dat Dirty Rat
    Joined: Jan 15, 2003
    Posts: 3,505

    Dat Dirty Rat
    Member

    Ive had that cover hanging on my walls forever...its the 58 (aside) from the American Graffitti car that got me into 58s...I started to clone it but with most issues with divorce and losing my job...had to sell it...But, I love seeing articles like this and knowing that some of these guys actually built cars like this and ran them unlike now a days they barely leave the garages or do laps around the block and actually clock miles racing them...
     

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    Last edited: Feb 3, 2014
  13. iamq
    Joined: Feb 26, 2009
    Posts: 250

    iamq
    Member
    from Ma

    Here's my version of the 58, had it in 1962, 348 with 409 innards, 4 speed and 4.11 gears... no it wouldn't go over 100 with those gears but off the line... great...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  14. When I was learning how to drive my aunt had the cheap model post car with a 283 and a 3 on the tree,for a 15 year old kid that car seemed quick. HRP
     
  15. Dat Dirty Rat
    Joined: Jan 15, 2003
    Posts: 3,505

    Dat Dirty Rat
    Member

    God i love this car!!
     
  16. slappy1eye
    Joined: Mar 12, 2013
    Posts: 9

    slappy1eye
    Member

    '58 is still one of the best looking Chevrolet's ever made. I've wanted one every since I saw American Graffiti.
     
  17. Man, I love hotrodded '58s. This one is especially sweet!!
     
  18. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,341

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    That' d be mid 11s on modern tires...The fastest SS/S 409s were running around 112 at Indy in '62. They'd be a little faster at Pomona or Lions, but something smells here...

    Edit: Just looked it up, Strickler ran 115.68 in a '62 409 A/S at Pomona in '63. The fastest Z-11s were running 119, they were 300lbs lighter than this car, and had cold air through the cowl. Stop and think about this for a minute...
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2014
  19. So-cal Tex
    Joined: Aug 24, 2005
    Posts: 1,384

    So-cal Tex
    Member

    Anybody know if this red is a factory color or custom mix?

    I would love to paint my '32 this color if anyone has the code.
     
  20. Yup. I call bullshit on 116

    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  21. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Beats me... I wasn't born yet.
     

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  22. Gotgas
    Joined: Jul 22, 2004
    Posts: 7,175

    Gotgas
    Member
    from DFW USA

    There were half-mile drags in Riverside. :D

    My '57 Chrysler will be a similar build, with an 11:1 392, roller cam, 555 heads, and a Tremec TKO. It might be kinda quick but I don't imagine it will run anywhere near 116 in the quarter mile.
     
  23. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,341

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    very good point on the 1/2 mile drags, that would explain it. Not saying its impossible that this car ran 116 mph 1/4s in 1963, but considering the best racers in the country, using the same basic engine, with open factory backing, were running slower in Bel Air bubble-tops, which are probably lighter than a '58 Impala full of T&R, you gotta look at some numbers printed in a magazine with some healthy scepticism.

    Cool car, nonetheless.

    I just looked at the underhood photo, and I see the corner of a chromed exhaust manifold. So now, we are starting with a 20/25 hp handicap against the examples I posted. At this point I gotta say, the 116 mph claim defies any sort of logic.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2014
  24. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,341

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    I'll add this, even if the 116 was at the half-mile drags, that is BOOKIN for a custom in 1963...
     
  25. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    exactly put. anywhere near this speed was FAST for that kinda car. thats way too much horsepower (if there is such a thing:rolleyes:) for that kinda car too. think about this though.... 400-somethin' HP. the 2013 mustangs have around 350-370 and up. thats pretty close, but still its more, in 63', in a 1958 chevy hardtop. this is ONE KOOL KUSTOM.
     
  26. WOODEYE
    Joined: Feb 21, 2010
    Posts: 375

    WOODEYE
    Member

    I love the nose down stance on the 58 Impalas. They almost always turn out cool no matter what the modification.
     
  27. yeah its very hard to mess these up, i hope i can own one eventually!
     
  28. BSL409
    Joined: Aug 28, 2011
    Posts: 623

    BSL409
    Member

  29. Strittan
    Joined: Sep 15, 2010
    Posts: 134

    Strittan
    Member
    from Sweden

    That is one killer '58 right there!


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  30. 1958 IMPALA
    Joined: Sep 25, 2009
    Posts: 140

    1958 IMPALA
    Member
    from CA

    Paul I sure like your old 58!

    [​IMG]
     

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