Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe 1958

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Model number:  AMM1164

Review of the model:

Chevrolet Bel Air from the period 1955-1957 is some of the most iconic and well known Chevy’s of its time and in 1959 came the Impala with its huge fins and cat-eye rear lights. But the Impala era started in 1958 with the new huge Chevrolet from General Motors.

The 1958 Chevrolet Impala is not a model car, that many makers had jumped upon to in scale 1:18, but Motormax made one in cabriolet and in my judgment fall in the category of entry level – with all the issues attached there. ERTL American Classic had made some fine models over the years of the Impala, but is now hard to find due to discounted product line. Luckily Autoworld had taken the lead and started a series of 1958 Chevrolet Sport Coupe Impala’s – maybe on ERTL old moulds!

As a keen collector sometimes a photo of a new model can start an instant reaction in ones mind, which demands a new purchase in this very moment. I must say, that was exactly my feeling when I saw the model in Sierra Gold metallic with Arctic White roof.

When the model car landed on my desk it was unboxed in seconds and my expectations were high. This model has potential to be a “best buy” in months. I can clearly speak out that it is a fantastic model and the first word that comes in my mind is heavy; I always get surprised of how heavy some die-cast model cars is in scale 1:18 and Autoworld models lay in the top of the list, and it give the model a feeling of good quality when it lays in your hands.

As mentioned before the paintwork is marvelous and so is the prep work too! – No flaws and imperfections here. The model stand on good rubber tires with well made wheels that’s include hubcap with spinners. Only one small issue is the missing Chevrolet emblems in the center of the red circle. Today’s pictures of 1958 Impala’s often show lowered cars and therefore it can sometimes be a little hard to tell if the car stand in right height. I will say the model is a bit high when we compare the rear wheels centerline to the rear fender skirt. By the way; fender skirts is not one of my favorite items but on this car I think they look good!

Us cars of 1958 had a lot of chrome trim and this top of the line Impala is no exception. When some look at the cars of the late fifties it easy to presume the chrome weight is half of the total tonnage of the car. Autoworld had not been cheesy and gave the model the “Full Monty” regarding the real chrome trims overall the car. And it shines like the real thing. Only the small gills on the rear and front fenders Is tampon painted instead of chrome parts. And it also goes for the rear chevron on the Continental kit! – Real chrome would have been nice here.

Up front the massive grill and bumper give the 1958 Impala a great smile that looks like a way more expensive car; like the 1958 Cadillac. Autoworld had made the model very good too, just look at the black wash on the grill and the fine details on the emblems etc. Only one little thing is the black spots in the center of the headlights the “pupil effect” is present although not so obvious as on cheaper models.

When we open the hood to reveal the big orange, 315Hp, 348 cu in (5.7L) W-series Turbo Thrust V8, beast of a motor. It shows a very well miniature motor with details made with hoses and air filter. The hood hinges itself are dogleg type as well as the doors and not the “real hinges” as on other Autoworld models; as the 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS. On the rear end the deck lid opens to show a huge trunk. The trunk floor itself is made of black plastic. That is a good choice, as the real car has only a black rubber mat and not a finer carpet seen on more expensive cars, like the Cadillac. Inside the trunk lay also the spare wheel. Rather funny as the car has the Continental kit installed, were the spare wheel should be inside.

Let’s take a closer look at the interior of the Impala: And what a Interior, the seats are well made with the known fabric color scheme and the correct light brown and beige looks fantastic inside this model car. The model comes with real carpet expected in this price range. Therefore it also came as a surprise to me - the instrument gauges, is missing! – So I had to find a picture on the internet to download and print –shame on you Autoworld.

This model car has so many fine details and all made in good quality. If we compare this Autoworld product against; let say Sun Star models, it comes close, but a Platinum Sun Star model have etched-metal emblems, suspension springs, all chrome details etc.
No doubt this is the best model in scale 1:18 of the 1958 Chevrolet Impala out there. It a good model with many fine features but…..Autoworld could have used the ERTL-mould and then gave the model an upgrade, both in detailing and parts that it needed for a small amount of time and money.

This 1958 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe “comes close, but no cigar”
 

I will give this model 5 out of 6 stars  ******

Below here are pictures of the model, historical description, old brochures, technical data and some movie clips for the real car. So please enjoy!

History:

The Impala name was first used for the full-sized 1956 General Motors Motorama show car that bore Corvette-like design cues, especially the grille. Painted emerald green metallic, with a white interior, the Impala concept car featured hardtop styling. Clare MacKichan's design team, along with designers from Pontiac, started to establish basic packaging and dimensions for their shared 1958 General Motors "A" body in June. The first styling sketch that would directly influence the finished Chevrolet automobile was seen by General Motors Styling vice president Harley Earl in October. Seven months later, the basic design was developed.

For 1958, GM was promoting their fiftieth year of production, and introduced anniversary models for each brand; Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Chevrolet. The 1958 models shared a common appearance on the top models for each brand; Cadillac Eldorado Seville, Buick Roadmaster Riviera, Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday, Pontiac Bonneville Catalina, and the Chevrolet Bel-Air Impala.

The Impala was introduced for the 1958 model year as top of the line Bel Air hardtops and convertibles. From the windshield pillar rearward, the 1958 Bel Air Impala differed structurally from the lower-priced Chevrolet models. Hardtops had a slightly shorter greenhouse and longer rear deck. The wheelbase of the Impala was longer than the lower priced models, although the overall length was identical. Interiors held a two-spoke steering wheel and color-keyed door panels with brushed aluminum trim. No other series included a convertible.

The 1958 Chevrolet models were longer, lower, and wider than its predecessors. The 1958 model year was the first with dual headlamps. The tailfins of the 1957 were replaced by deeply sculptured rear fenders. Impalas had three taillights each side, while lesser models had two and wagons just one. The Impalas included crossed-flag insignias above the side moldings, as well as bright rocker moldings and dummy rear-fender scoops.

The standard perimeter-type frame was abandoned, replaced by a unit with rails laid out in the form of an elongated "X." Chevrolet claimed that the new frame offered increased torsional rigidity and allowed for a lower placement of the passenger compartment. This was a transitional step between traditional construction and the later fully unitized body/chassis, the body structure was strengthened in the rocker panels and firewall. However, this frame was not as effective in protecting the interior structure in a side impact crash, as a traditional perimeter frame.

A coil spring suspension replaced the previous year's rear leaf springs, and an air ride system was optional. A 283 cu in (4,640 cc) engine was the standard V8, with ratings that ranged from 185 to 290 horsepower. A "W" block (not to be confused with the big-block) 348 cu in (5,700 cc) Turbo-Thrust V8 was optional, producing 250 hp (190 kW), 280 hp (210 kW), or 315 hp (235 kW). The Ramjet fuel injection was available as an option for the Turbo-Fire 283 V8, not popular in 1958.
 

Although Chevrolet was General Motor's entry-level brand, with the stylish 1955 Bel Air and the small-block V8, Chevys were no longer just basic, economical transportation. And as its customers became more prosperous, Chevrolet wanted to keep them. So for the 1958 model year, Chevrolet launched what chief engineer Ed Cole called "a prestige car within the reach of the average American citizen:" the Impala.

If there was any doubt that Chevrolet was aiming to sell a Cadillac of their own, just compare an Impala to a 1958 Cadillac:

• Swap out the Chevrolet Bowtie for the Cadillac crest on the hood, and could you really tell them apart?

• Only the tell-tale shark fins set the '58 Cadillac apart from the Impala.

• And inside, the Impala was the most lavish Chevrolet ever - Inside at least, you could tell a difference between an Impala and a Coupe de Ville.

Still, with the 1958 Impala, Chevrolet had a car with the look and feel of luxury, priced within reach for a typical middle-class family. Base price for a 1958 Impala Sport Coupe was $2,586, the equivalent of $20,302.25 in 2011 (quite a bargain, no?). The lowest-priced Cadillac for 1958 was the Series 62 hardtop coupe at $4,784, the equivalent of $37,558.37 in 2011 (also a pretty good deal). Clearly, Chevrolet was giving people a lot of car for their money.

And it worked. Chevrolet sold 125,480 Impala Sport Coupes and 55,989 convertibles, 15 percent of 1958 Chevrolet production. Although 1958 was a recession year, the Impala helped Chevrolet retake the sales crown from Ford.

Chevrolet has built a lot of memorable Impalas. But the 1958 Impala set the template — with a look that said "Cadillac" — for a luxurious car that almost anybody could afford.

Technical specification:

Powertrain:
Engine 235 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6
283 cu in (4.6 L) Turbo Fire V8
348 cu in (5.7 L) W-series Turbo Thrust V8

Transmission:
3-speed manual
3-speed with overdrive manual
Turboglide automatic
2-speed Powerglide automatic

Dimensions:
Wheelbase 2985 mm (117.5 in)
Length 5310 mm (209.1 in)
Width 1975 mm (77.7 in)
Height 1450 mm (57 in)
 

Old brochures of the car

Promo pictures

Video of the real car from YouTube

If you have any question or comment your are free to contact me at: aeronautic@stofanet.dk

Dealers are welcome to get their models reviewed too.

Aeronautic Oct. 2019

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