Vehicle 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!