1958 Chevrolet Impala 348 Emerges After 47 Years, Can Be Yours in Three Different Ways

Its first public appearance happened in 1956 when the Impala was presented as a coupe at GM's motor show.

The early feedback was impressive, and considering GM's struggle to push Chevrolet to the leading spot in the United States, a full overhaul of the full-size lineup was the next logical step.

The strategy came into effect in 1958 when the Bel Air lineup was expanded with the Impala. Chevrolet also unveiled other full-size cars, but the Impala was the model spearheading the lineup by receiving all GM's love. It had all the bells and whistles in the Chevy's full-size offering, dethroning the Bel Air and turning it into a second-class citizen.

The Impala was available in convertible and hardtop shapes for the 1958 model year, borrowing the engine lineup and the styling from the Bel Air.

However, Chevrolet didn't want the Impala to be underpowered, so the 1958 iteration also witnessed the debut of the 348 V8. It was a fantastic engine for a fantastic car, so the Impala propelled Chevrolet to the leading spot in the United States. The amazing performance convinced GM's big honchos to promote the Impala to a stand-alone series in 1959, slowly but surely becoming the model spearheading Chevy's sales.

All these tidbits make the 1958 Impala a highly desirable collectible, though an all-original model in tip-top shape costs more than you can imagine. A 1958 Impala in flawless condition costs approximately $150K.

People who don't want to spend that much on a 1958 Impala but still hope to park one in their garage can go the easy way and get a project car. The restoration process can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, though it can also cost a small fortune, depending on the quality you aim for.

The 1958 Impala hardtop posted on eBay by seller AUTO CITY CLASSIC is one such project.

I won't comment much on what the eyes can see because you don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that this Impala has been sitting for a while, but it's important to know how long the car has been off the road.

The owner says this Impala was last on the road in 1977, so it's been sitting for nearly five decades. However, the owner moved it to a garage in 1992, and you can tell this helped preserve its condition.

The Texas sunburn is obvious, but the good news is that you won't find much rust on this Impala. It's not a spotless Impala, and some metal repairs will be required, but the car is far from becoming a rust bucket. The vehicle still wears the original paint, albeit it's clear a complete restoration should also include a full respray.

The 1958 Impala could be had with three engine options. The laziest option (but which was the right choice for people who wanted a fancy driving companion without having any interest in the performance under the hood) was the six-cylinder unit. The 283 V8 offered a good balance between fuel economy and performance, but the all-new 348 was the go-to choice for anyone who wanted the best with the best. A 1958 Impala with a 348 engine is the most desirable configuration.

The owner explains that this Impala comes with a rebuilt 348, so the engine should start and run like new. It doesn't mean the vehicle is ready for the road, as its condition requires urgent repairs, but the rebuilt 348 is a good place to start when planning the full overhaul of this Impala.

You can imagine that such a solid project can't sell for pocket money, but the eBay seller offers three options to buy the Impala.

The first and preferred choice for anyone planning to restore this Impala is to pay $29,000 and get the full package, which includes the car, the engine, and the factory air conditioning system. If you don't want to pay that much for this Impala or already have a 348 but need the rest of the car, you can get it for $26,000 without the engine.

The third and last option is to buy the Impala without the engine and air conditioning system, so you'll have to pay $21,000.

The owner is also letting interested buyers to "mix and match any parts pictured," but the pricing information is only shared privately.

The car is parked in Isanti, Minnesota, and you'll need a trailer to take it home. It comes with a clean title, and you can also buy several extras, with the owners explaining that they have everything to restore the car and bring it back to the tip-top shape it deserves.