Customs Pics of 58 Chevies

Tex Smith And One Of His First Real Jobs...

 

I don't know if this one has been posted but I love the paint on it. Sweet ride.

 

1958 bronze Impala vs our black 58 Impala Lions Dragstrip circa late 1957 or early 1958.

Hello,

The above photo is one of the earliest photos of our 1958 Chevy Impala 348/280 HP at Lions Dragstrip in late 1957 or early 1958. It was a screenshot from an old 8mm movie. That bronze Impala was set up very similar to our 1958 Impala with 280 HP, 3 speed stick on the column and 4:11 rear Positraction gears. It could have been a twin straight off of the Chevy dealer’s showroom floor.

When my brother purchased the new 1958 Impala from the local Chevy dealer in Long Beach, it was love at first sight. In reading about the options for the car, it had heavy duty everything from springs, shocks, radiator, clutch, and a million other things that the dealer sales guy said was “optioned to the hilt.” My brother was concerned that it had the 280 HP and 3 speed stick, plus the Positraction.

The dealer sales guy said that a 315 HP model was available on special order and that it would take several months, if not longer. My brother had sold his 1951 Olds sedan to a close friend, so he needed a car, right now. He could not wait that long for a 315 HP model, plus, the cost was higher than he could afford at the time.

So, we rolled out of the lot with a pristine black with red interior 1958 Impala. He was a very happy teenager. Now, it was getting it prepped for the drags at Lions Dragstrip.

Jnaki

1958 black Impala at Lions…

In a lot of the first encounters with other So Cal guys that bought the same optioned Impala, it all boiled down to getting the best start and not miss a shift. If one or the other came into play, the opponent was long gone. My brother had to learn to get off of the line quicker to be competitive. So, there were plenty of trial runs in our neighborhood, local empty roads and the lonely Terminal Island Freeway near our house.
My brother’s black 1958 Impala waiting its turn prior to the Ed Losinski/Jack Chrisman FED coming in from a push start.

Ed Losinski/Jack Chrisman…Impala at the queue

Eventually, (after me under the Impala, installing the new 4:56 rear Positraction gears), he started to win the A/Stock car class races and won some trophies. But, for a long time, that bronze 58 Impala from the early beginnings was just a tad bit quicker off of the line and did not miss a shift. That guy won a lot of races and trophies.

Practice, Practice, Practice…

 

That is the best looked '58 I've ever seen. The '54 grill did it. Nice build.

 

From the Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green. There will be a lot more pictures posted on the thread that is linked in my signature over the next few days.

 

Saved.

 

So, you've got a new project?

 

She followed me home. This one is a major undertaking.

 

Yes it will be, but they are sure nice when done! What are your plans for it, stock or custom?

 

Mostly stock with a few upgrades. Mainly overdrive and some added stopping power, and a ride height adjustment . Its a factory 348, ps, pb car but it is rough.

 

That should keep you busy for awhile!

 

From the mild customs thread

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1959
Hello,
Mild custom coupes and sedans had to have some power behind the looks from strictly cruising the street to the drags. It showed the power behind those custom touches that had some “go and not just show”. My brother’s Impala had some mild custom touches as the build went into the final stages prior to building our 1940 Willys Gas Coupe in 1959-60.

In researching some information on Junior Thompson’s Studebaker Sedan that raced in the B/Gas class, I came across this impromptu photo in a Gas Coupe file. (The black 1958 Impala vs Junior Thompson in the Studebaker.) That was a race for the century… if it happened. The “could have” situation was easily done as the tech inspectors went through each car as it came into the pits.

If an infraction or two popped up, a pure stock class car was delegated to the appropriate Gas Coupe and Sedan Class, to race against the likes of K.S. Pittman, Junior Thompson and Doug Cook. What a challenge. Cut outs left open? (The wrong tube mufflers, scavenger pipes, real racing slicks, individual custom headers?) Those were all simple infractions that led a stock car class sedan to a Gas Coupe and Sedan classification. That was a fine line, but it kept the cheaters at bay with a simple inspection at the beginning of the day.

Jnaki

The race never happened, but they lined up side by side one time. Even years later, the Impala would not have come close to beating that powerful Studebaker Sedan, even with the modifications that took place over the years.

 

Some from Pigeon Forge this weekend. I will be posting more pics on the thread that is linked in my signature on Sunday evening.

 

Anyone have any 58 level air parts


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Anyone have level air parts


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Nice Bel Air

 

Hello,

We mentioned that a Brown/Bronze 1958 Impala was our nemesis in the A/Stock class for eliminations and trophies at Lions Dragstrip. He was always a tad bit faster off of the line and with the same 348 horsepower. We stayed even all the way through the ¼ mile. So, that initial start was the key to getting to the finish line faster, all other things being equal.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/pics-of-58-chevies.951592/page-22#post-13093789

So, in going through my films to edit some stuff on the Sidewinder for a friend, recently, I came across the background whirling by with the brown/bronze 1958 Chevy Impala coming back from a time trial run. He was in the return road just about to get his timing slip from the tower employees.

brown/bronze 58 Impala at :51

Jnaki
Finally, we just kept plugging along trying to improve our timing and starts at Lions. We did eventually beat this Brown/Bronze Impala and had a string of victories and trophies.


"Pics or it did not happen, is heard quite often. In reality, there were plenty of 348 1958 Impalas racing in the class that year. The top guy was one in a brown 348 Impala. Our black 58 Impala was up there in the running many times. The white one and the light blue one were fast Impalas, but were "runner ups" many times, too. Quick starts were the edge with equally prepared cars. But, we got trophies for the wins in the class when everything was right on the money.”

But, “There was one big Buick that made a mess of the herd of Impalas on many Saturdays.”