Classic Metal Works 1958 Impala
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Hi all, The 1958 Chevrolet Impala was a completely new design from the ground up. The horsepower wars were just starting, automatic transmissions were more sophisticated, and the level of ride comfort were now critical to sales. Chevy answered all these market demands with the Turboglide transmission and an all-new big block V-8 engine option known as the "W" engine. It cranked out 315 horsepower. And the the ride comfort issue was addressed with the addition of an air-ride suspension which replaced the conventional leaf springs. The 58 was an attractive, well proportioned car free of of the outlandish shapes found on most of the cars of the time. The final touch was a reminder of the legendary designer Harley Earl. Each parking light carried two lenses that had a unique style like the jet engine pods from a B-52. |
| As much as I like the shoebox style Tri-Chevy's, (55,56,57), the 1958 Impala also holds a place in my heart as one of the most beautiful cars ever built. The lines are distinctly it's own, and while there are a few extra chrome pieces, as was the style of the day, it wasn't overdone. From the three pictures below, you can see that Classic Metal Works has done a great job of capturing those design features. The rich bronze color of the car is accented nicely by a white top. | ||
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Under the hood, there's a wonderful scale sized 348cid V-8. The block is painted orange, and there are chrome and black highlights everywhere. |
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The trunk details are pretty sharp, right down to the label on the spare tire. Now the spare has a wheel cover, which I'm sure wasn't really an option in 1958, but I think it's a nice touch. |
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The front of the 58 always reminded of a Checker Marathon, probably because of the dual headlights and large chrome bezels. But there's no mistaking that famous Chevy "V" and 3 color crest. And those dual lens parking lights are the perfect compliment to the expanse of chrome that rides up front. | |
| This is one of the best rear ends ever!! Well, on a car anyway. The fins aren't as flashy as the 59, which is cool car in it's own right. Two details I'd like to point out. First, the "Level Car" tampo on the gas filler door. A testament to the new air-ride suspension. Second, the vent on the roof. In this case, I would have liked to see more detail, instead of the block of silver paint. But pretty nice overall. |
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| The interior details are nothing short of awesome. Clear, easy to read numbers on the speedometer, and contrasting colors show off the knobs, switches, and dials. There is one small drawback here, though. When you turn the steering wheel, the control stalks move as well. Would have been a little better if molded in two pieces. | ||
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This closeup shows the familiar Chevy crossed flags, script "Impala" logo, and a very nicely done silver painted "vent" detail. The chrome painted trim is top notch throughout the car. | |
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This car comes with it's own hard plastic canted display case, which is molded in a nice cobblestone pattern. Kind of neat for a car that retails for around $20.00. And it comes complete with a bonus for the folks who like to open and display their vehicles. Very nicely done 1/24th scale car. And well worth the money in my book. This level of detail is usually left to the higher end cars, in larger scales. The car is one of the "Precision Cast" series, limited edition of 4999 pieces. It is sure to be a hit with the classic and just plain cool car collectors. |
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Thanks to the folks at www.milezone.com for furnishing me this sample.
Joe
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