Vehicle Description
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!
Exterior
Originally 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!
Interior
Inside 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.
Drivetrain
In 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...
Undercarriage
Plenty 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-Ability
I 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 DECODE
F59B228008
F-1800 Series Impala V8
59-1959
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
228008-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.
