Customs Pics of 58 Chevies

Hello,

That stock Chevy Impala Bronze color always reminds me of our drag racing era from 1957 to 1960 in the A/Stock Class. It was mostly 58 Impalas with 280hp motors and everything else being the same factory stock specifications. The only difference were the rear gears. Most had 4:11 Positraction , while it was fine by the rules to run the 4:56 Positraction gears, as it was listed in the factory parts book at all Chevy dealers.

Then, it came down to the reaction times and quick starts to get the trophy at the end of the eliminations. No one car was going to catch up with the others as all things were relatively equal. The 4:56 Positraction gears just gave a little more edge off of the starting line, and kept the car out in front for the quarter mile.

Jnaki

The Bronze color 1958 Impala was our nemesis. He was a seasoned racer and had more runs under his belt than we did. His reaction times were very good and his Impala usually won the A/Stock trophy. When we were able to get off of the line just a little bit better, we got several trophies. But, he probably had his whole shelving system at his house full of trophies from the A/Stock class.

There were too many times the Bronze Impala was the opponent in the opposite lane and in the early days, the Bronze Impala had the advantage over us.

The ability to make a time trial run and then get right back in the class lanes for the A/Stock cars was helpful in getting the starting quickness/reaction times better and better. As I was filming an SBC powered FED in the staging lane for dragsters and modified roadsters/sedans, my brother was coming back into the A/Stock class lanes to get another run at improving his E.T. timeslips. That bronze Impala just had more timed runs and experience than either one of us. And that was his only advantage.

58 Impala tower side race

 

One of my favorite car models. I’ll have to go back and read all 39 pages.

 

I ran across a couple of pictures on the What is it about field cars thread by a newby @Still Willin that i thought I should share here

 

A wagon we are working on at blue collar customs.

 

old Friday Art
Hello,

A while ago, I drew what I thought would have been a top seller for Chevrolet in 1958. The style of the 57 Chevy Nomad was great and it took the communities by storm with their fins and performance options. But, in 1958, the whole new design was brought in for the two door sedan called the Impala.
1957-60 Lion's Dragstrip
It was a big hit for all those that like to race and cruise. A different design from the 57 the previous year. The styling cues were there, the new look won many hearts and sales were good for the high performance racers to be included at the local drag strips. More powerful and more different accessories from the previous year.

The one thing the designers did not follow through with was the two door Nomad Station Wagon idea for 1958. There was a 4 door wagon, but that was two doors too many for most, other than large families.

So with that in mind, the artwork of a 1958 Nomad/Impala two door station wagon was presented with some stylish custom ideas. The GM factory already had the best design in chrome wire wheels (Buick Skylark) and the addition to the custom 1958 Nomad/Impala Two Door Station Wagon would just make it stand out a little better than most designs.

After the original 1958 Red Nomad Wagon was drawn, I kept playing around with different concepts and came up with this smoother, more stylish version. The best looking Buick Skylark Wire Wheels are still in the idea of a cool custom 58 Nomad/Impala Station Wagon.

Jnaki


A rake always looks good, as this custom Nomad/Impala station wagon has built in adjustable, air shocks.
It is a design waiting for some avid hot rod custom car guy(s) to actually create one for the history books.


While you are at it, here is a Purple Nomad/Impala Station Wagon pulling a custom small trailer for those cold winter cruises in the latest “trailer life” adventures. This combination is becoming a big deal for couples and small families, again. (along with the custom van life living, too.)

https://rvlife.com/smallest-airstream-ever-made/#:~:text=the Cruisette, which measured just under 15 feet. The Cruisette was manufactured in 1951 and 1952

The Cruisette, which measured just under 15 feet. The Cruisette was manufactured in 1951 and 1952
New in 2022
For the back of the 1950s-60s station wagons… the new with the old, rolling down the street. My choice, the old Cruisette version sightings on the major coastal roads along the ocean front on the Westcoast.

 

^ '57 hood rockets!