1959 Chevrolet Impala

1959 Chevrolet Impala

When design and style giant Harley Earl retired from General Motors in 1958, he left a parting gift for generations to admire: the 1959 models. Longer, lower, and wider than previous efforts, the 1959 models from all of GM's divisions proved a high-water mark for several years. From "flat-top" four-door hardtops with expansive wraparound back lites across all of the lines to the massive, era-defining fins on the Cadillacs, the final designs created under Earl's aegis resound to this day.

Aptly named the Jolly Green Giant, for consignment, a 1959 bat winged beauty Chevrolet Impala. This car was totally redone and used as a show car and the work was performed in the early 1970s. It has a tan button and triangular tufted interior which could be best described as over the top. Even the trunk is fully finished in gold carpeting and more buttoned vinyl for the side panels. Don your Elvis oversized sunglasses, wrap a scarf around your neck, press your bell bottoms, we are going for a ride!

ExteriorOriginally white but in the early 1970s it was decided to make this a show car so it is now bathed in 50 year old green of the avocado 70s craze that was on virtually every appliance except if it was orange! During this time period Chevrolet was using the eyebrow in the hood signal lights and spear shaped openings. Just below is a shaver like grille, and dual flanking headlights on either side. A shiny bumper below frames all this styling. On the slab sides which mind their gaps nicely, a stainless trim spear runs from blow to stern. Bubble glass is in front and back, and nicely curved trimmings surround the glass. As the rear glass eases to the trunk, fins sprout out from just past the doors on tops of the rear quarters and form beautiful batwing fins as they move to the rear. The trunk lid is also an Earl highlight which takes the shapes from the wings and finishes them off in the center with a V. "Squinting" shaped eyes have big bezels and fit nicely on the back under the flying fins. Another shiny bumper is just below. This skate rolls on 15-inch Cragar 5 spokes wrapped in E-60-15 rubber. Fins were big this year and this shower does not disappoint and rivals the Caddy but on a horizontal scale!

InteriorInside all surfaces, door panels, chairs, and liners all show in tan triangle tufted and buttoned vinyl, and you just cannot take your eyes off this. Gold carpeting finishes it off, and in front a snazzy original gold painted dash. The instruments are deeply set into the driver's dash front, and out undulates in and out on top for the radio housing and glovebox. Below is a horizontal panel, for all the pulls and knobs as well as the ignition. A gold steering wheel with a central chromed Chevron and a half horn rich are seen and looking smart. 2 aftermarket gauges hang below the dash and while you are looking for those stop and gaze at the Hurst shifter with the epic white ball topper. No console, just the hump and triangular tufting with buttons, lots of buttons. Far out man.

DrivetrainIn a beautifully restored bay is a gold painted block with cast ribbed aluminum valve covers. This specs out as a 283ci V8 and has a single 4-barrel Holley carb on top. The consignor states the cylinder heads were redone and there is a new cam and lifters inside. A Muncie 4-speed manual transmission is on back, and this transmission has new bearings. Nice chromed bolt ons throughout as well as supple black no crack hoses and wires. Come fly with me...

UndercarriagePlenty of patina and road dirt and some surface rust on the frame and rear axle. The remainder of the undercarriage has a heavy coating of rustproofing. A bit of oiling is seen around the front of the pumpkin and it's being thrown up on the floor pans. Independent coil springs are upfront, and on the back is a 4 link with coil spring suspension. Drum brakes for all 4's, and a cherry bomb muffler system has this car growling in lieu of its normal gurgling.

Drive-AbilityI entered the Jolly Green Giant and whisked off to the test track where I thought I was experiencing near liftoff with those wings on back. Smooth acceleration, smooth shifting, and a nice cushy ride. All functions were working nicely.

This 1959 piece of beautifully designed Detroit iron has been cosmetically altered and gone is its beehive hairdo and now it looks more like the disco and long hair square sunglass set. Mod, Groovy, Snappy all best describe this former show car. And it drives like a 70's dream (or maybe it was just the ludes kicking in). Woah man!

VIN DECODEF59B228008F-1800 Series BelAir V859-1959B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant228008-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.