1959 CHEVROLET IMPALA CONVERTIBLE

Chevrolet’s “wing” styling appeared in 1959. It was quite unlike the styling offered by the other manufacturers in the “Big Three”, even compared to the distinctive tail styling introduced by Chrysler that year. 1959 Chevrolets were the final, most fabulous designs of Harley J. Earl, the legendary General Motors designer, before his retirement. The 1959 Chevrolet had the longest wheelbase in post-war Chevy history at 119 inches. The outstanding feature of the design is that it had the biggest trunk yet, at 32 cu.ft. though it was difficult to reach the rear section. The canted teardrop-style taillights typify 1959.

Our convertible is powered by a 283 Turbo Fire, the standard engine for 1959. It delivered 185 bhp at 4600 rpm, fed by a two-barrel Rochester carburetor. Used as the standard V8 in 1958, this engine was used in Chevrolets until the mid-1960s, remaining the standard until 1962 with a small power reduction, to 170 bhp at 4200 rpm. In 1959, 283 and 348 cu.in. and 230, 250, 280, 320 and 335 bhp engines were available options. They could be had with the two-speed Powerglide, Turboglide, Overdrive and the 3-speed Close-Ratio, Corvette-type Powerglide 3 or 4-speed transmissions.

Launched in October of 1958, the 1959 Chevrolet’s Fisher-built, welded uni-body is carried by the box-girder X-shaped chassis without frame support first used in 1958. Suspension is provided by four coil springs and four double-action shock absorbers.