Projects Chances of finding a 58 Impala...???

Dat Dirty,

Yes, that is the plan. Mine has original paint on it, and it has a fair amount of "patina", but I don't think I can repaint it white. Besides, it's a driver.

I think chrome reverse will still look great with the black paint. I like to raise it and with a healty rake, just like the AG car.

I also collected all the pieces for a 4 speed conversion. You know, chicks like it when guys peel out!

You can see my "gentleman's restoration" here:
http://www.classicroad.com/58Impala/index.htm

Good luck, keep us posted on the car.

 

Wow, that doesn't look much worse than it did back in 1995. I think it was upside-down then and still had the taillights though.

 

I was driving northbound through Golden Gate Park in SF about a year ago and a stock, unrestored black/white top '58 Impala comes past me going the other way, southbound out of the park onto 19th Avenue. Old man and woman in the car looked like the original owners. CA black plates and dealer frames. I almost pissed myself. No dents visible but obviously an original, unrestored car. If it had ever been repainted it would have been 40+ years ago. Full wheelcovers and pinstripe WWs. Stunning.

 

Nice score!!! Congrats. This is a friends father-in-laws he just had restored. Black on black, 348 tri-power, leather. Car is spotless top to bottom likes it's never been driven. Sad thing is it pretty much sits in his climate controlled garage with his gold chain rods.

 

Rolf--That car is going to be sooo badass & sinister with the chrome reverse...I cant wait to see it!!

Cut55--Its just proof they are still out there...The last time i was in Cali with my best friend while driving through San Pedro and elderly couple pulled up next to us in a very clean unrestored original 63 Impala...I grabbed my video camera and just bugged out. I love seeing that stuff.

Lowburb--Thats the 'ultimate' right there...WOW...Thanks for the pic!!

 

I'm glad you found something to take the coupe's place.I had 2 58's one was a 348 Impala and the other a 2 door biscayne.Congrats

 

Cool! Can't wait to see some progress on it.

Documenting factory marks? Make sure you get the plating on the hardware correct too there resto-boy.

Really though, its been a really long time since you've had any passion for this stuff, I'm really glad to see the flame sparked and the fire smoldering again. Keep that fire buring.

 

1oldrat--Nothing will ever really take that coupes place....thats a special car too and i cant help but laugh that i wish i knew you had that white 58..I prob would have 'went all in' for that....But it wasnt meant to be. I seen you jumped right into the coupe and its looking good. I cant wait to see what you do with it & i will get them other parts out to you man. I'm just making sure theres nothing else.

Chief--Far from a resto-boy but you know that...i traded off some parts today and got a tri power set up for it...

 

Dat Dirty Rat-.I've decided to put a worked over 283 and a muncie 4 speed in the coupe.I'll run a edelbrock cross ram with 2-450 holleys.The engine is getting bored to .060 with a set of 12.5:1 forged pistons..540 lift solid cam.2.02 power pac heads,roller rockers,stud girdle.3.89 posi rear.It should run pretty good.Let me know about the parts.I'll need the brakes soon.

 

Its been be a screamer...I'll be watching for it...I did do a once over up in my rafters & etc today...I didnt find anything else so i will get them in the mail to you...
That avatar still hurts a little bit dawg!!..lol

 

"now Toad, Only 30w castrol R"
"it is, its better than Darrel Starbirds Superflex Moon Bird"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sPHctBjmHo

 

Awesome story.

 

Zimm--I love that clip...I had just found it recently while surfing the net at work one night. Alot of kool info...It sounded like a highly option car at one point esp to have 'Level Air'...Although i could have sworn this car was missing for several years and i thought it surfaced on e-bay quit a few years ago...But the way it sounds its the original. Very Kool to know all the cars still exist & were preserved!!
It doesnt get much better...

 

Here are a few pics of my just finished 58 Impala.It started as a rust free basket case.A guy took it apart and never finished it.It has only 53k on it and still has the original 348 in it.Let me know if you have any questions I'll be glad to help.

 

H.R.Charlie your Impala should be renamed to Pimpala as that is one badass looking car.

 

H. R.; is that the factory bronze color (Aztec bronze maybe?) If not, what is it please?

 

HR Charlie--I'm very familar with car and have several pics of it saved...Amazing job man!!...I chuckled at the 'rust free basket case' phrase...Living in Ny and dealing with nothing but rust you cant help but find humor in phrases like that esp rust free & basket case being used together...i dunno, maybe its just me....lmao

 

It really was a rust free car.It has the original floors,trunk,1/4 etc.No patches! I think being in storage so long is what saved it.As far as the color goes it is NOT Aztec bronze.It is close but has a more orange/ copper color to it instead of a brown tint.

 

Congrats!!!!!
i know you'll be giving it the treatment soon enough.....

 

Don't mean to hyjack the thread but.......
WoW Charlie!! That is one awesome Ride! Where did you get your wheels? Are they 17's or bigger? Nice!

 

I got some more work done tonight while i had my 6yr old son who was just soooo stoked to get his lil hands full of dirt & grease wich i hope will come off the newly painted white walls in the bathroom...lmao..Anyways, while he was sanding in the trunk and we removed the gasket that goes around the trunk we found a area of rust that was hiding so i will have to address that soon. Also we took the radiator/fan shround out to get the water pump off wich appeared to be 'locked up' for some reason so i will take that apart tomorrow night after work to see whats going on with that...The motor is just dirty as hell as well with all the fluid that drained out of the motor & all the hoses...Pretty yuckie looking & smelling but soo kool to play with my son said..So when he comes back Sun afternoon he wants to pull the gas tank & finishing pulling the carb so he can clean that up...He doesnt think it needs to be rebuild...lolol What do i know??...So i'm hoping once we get the carb sorted out we pull the valve cover and oil pan we will just have to 'freshing' things up without getting too crazy right off to get it running again but we'll see how that goes....Even tho there doesnt appear to be tooo many miles on the car itself Ya never know how things are esp after sitting for sooo many years so i'm hoping for the best right now. Eventually i wanna go through it the right way but for now i wanna get a little fun time with it

Also, Please nobody feel like they are hi jacking this post. Its intended for all 58' chevy nuts so please if you have more photos or tech do not hesitate to post them up so with that being said Charlie PLEASE feel free to post more pics up!!

 

Sounds like your having fun!! Good thing Tanner is there to help you out, eh? I'll be around this weekend to see how you and Tanner-man are making out on your new flame.

 

Kool...bring some extra lamps/lights....I've been forced back to doing sh!t 'ghetto' like my days on Rand St when i had to use my living room lamps with an extension cord from the kitchen out to the garage so i could see what the hell i was doing...I need to sell some rims so i can invest in some better lighting out there!!...lmao..

 

CONGRATULATIONS on your 58 "find"! More pictures please.

 

Heres one more from when i got it...I post some of the tear down later.

 

Love this shot. Clear evidence that by the late '50s the GM stylists were catching up with the customizers. If people want long and low then give them long and low!

 

Picked my lil guy up this morning who was going nuts from his booster seat cause i wasnt moving fast enough to get home to work on the car...Once home we got the water pump sorted out wich was 'gummed' up so that got cleaned up for the time being. That will get replaced when the motor comes out. Right know just want to get it running to see if there are any major issues or knocks. Ya just never know with something that has been sitting for soo long. While in the process my little guy wanted to do some sanding so we removed the side molding to let him have a go at it. This part of the quarter i knew had some work done to it cause the owner said it was creased/dented so he had a friend pull it out way back. He told me when i purchased the car how upset he got with the repair...My lil guy took it upon himself to 'pluck' that spot with a screwdriver that revealed a horrible job....Fixable just wasnt looking to do that kind of work now. But i want it done right so know its getting stripped. I will post the pics in the build up post.

 

Found this a craigslist....I'm postin cause it looks a little like the one Sylvester Stallone owned several years ago. Does anyone remember it or have pics saved of it?? Some of the touches looked Watson inspired with a buick grill, molded pitchforks & trim smooothed. It was all white with tuck and roll interior. I know the basic look and kustom touches i'm going to do already but just looking for more inspiration so please post pics!!

 

E-Bays http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Tr...0&_fspt=0&_flso=0&Make=Chevrolet&Model=Impala

 

So the transformation begins....