1958 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

1958 Corvettes have a special appeal for fans of the fiberglass. Perhaps it's the fact that the '50s were ending and taking with them a special time in our history. Perhaps it's the newly introduced quad headlights or the brightwork that were somehow exactly right for this model. Whatever the cause, this 1958 Corvette deserves a place in your collection simply because it's the ideal combination of charisma and performance in a ready-to-drive package that rejects trailers and wants to hit the road.

Roman Red with white side coves, is there anything more purely American than this 'Vette? Detailing on these cars is exquisite and you can see why they're so popular just by looking over all the little things that add up to such a great look. The toothy grille, the slender "gills" in the side coves, and the unique faux louvers on the hood, all of it makes this Corvette something for the ages. The fact that the restoration was rather well done certainly helps, and even though it was completed quite a few years ago, it still looks great when you're rushing down your favorite country road. The fiberglass is in good condition with no signs of major repairs, the doors fit well, and the only notable demerit is a small crack in the hood where someone got a little over-zealous when slamming it. Nothing to worry about, just a vintage 'Vette that's been driven as intended. The chrome is in very good shape, and even though this is just a 2-seater there's quite a bit of it, which gives the car that highly detailed 1950s look that everyone loves.

Functional interiors were a Corvette hallmark from the beginning, and this '58 sports comfortable black buckets that are neatly integrated into the overall design. The seat covers were replaced recently, the door panels are wonderfully ornate, and only the carpets are showing signs of age, which isn't surprising in an open-topped roadster. A centrally-mounted tachometer shows you that by 1958, the Corvette guys were serious about performance and the dash-mounted rear-view mirror is just plain cool. The center stack hosts the heater controls, a clock, and original Wonder-Bar AM radio, which has been upgraded with iPod connectivity so you can enjoy modern sounds with the retro look. The shifter is a later model unit that might look unusual, but it's linked to a TH350 3-speed automatic, so it's a lot more responsive than the original PowerGlide. And for a Corvette, the trunk is downright spacious, with plenty of room for luggage on that dream road trip. This car also includes a removable hardtop in white, which gives it the perfect finishing touch.

Power comes from a correct 283 cubic inch V8, which makes all the right sounds and delivers crisp performance. It certainly looks right in the older 'Vette, wearing finned cast aluminum valve covers with 'Corvette' script, a classic louvered air cleaner, and chrome ignition shield, not to mention some Chevy Orange paint. A modern alternator is a nice upgrade for reliability's sake, and the aftermarket A/C system was tucked away on the side to almost keep it out of sight. Ram's horn exhaust manifolds help control heat and noise, critical in a car made of plastic, and feed a great-sounding Flowmaster dual exhaust system. The underside is ideal for driving because it hasn't been over-restored, and the thought of putting this car on a trailer seems ridiculous. Fat 225/70/15 blackwall radials on Eagle Alloy wheels alter the look just enough to get noticed.

A great C1 Corvette at a reasonable price. Not an investment in anything but fun, you'll always find an excuse to take it out for a drive. Call today!