Hot Rods 1958 non impala hot rods...bel-air ,del-ray ect

anybody have one, and pics... I've always liked 58's.... just not an Impala guy... and would rather the bel air hardtop, or the del ray post.... also like the 2 tail lights on the rear vs 3 each side... anyone else???

 

I had this Belair a while back.

Picture 155 2 by guthriesmith posted May 3, 2011 at 6:54 AM

 

too cool...I think they look more hotrod, where as the impalas look like sleds

 

My phone is spying on me. I noticed this thread, then went to fakebook for a minute and this picture popped up.

 

so it is what it is...del ray... biscayne. bel air... then impala....? thats all in the sedans as they never made a coupe....but a whole bunch of wagons...

 

I'm flashing back to 1960-64 when I was 8 to 12 years old and a 20-ish young man who lived 3 doors down had a shiny black Delray 2 door sedan with a 3x2 348 and three speed converted to floor shift, all stock on the outside including the hub caps. Picture the one below in black, with a pair of capped exhaust dumps peeking out just behind the front tires, and you're right there with me.

 

well, I'm on my way there...

 

Excellent! Apparently you're not wasting any time, either.

 

Hello,

In the Fall of 1956, we had a nice 1951 lowered rake Oldsmobile sedan for my brother’s first teenage car. It was a cool cruiser with some power. (at age 15.5 no less…)

Thanks for the great artwork @themoose

Then he had the idea of building a Model A coupe with a Paxton supercharged motor. So, we found a nice stock Model A with a 4 cylinder motor that we got running at almost free. We just needed to get it out of a neighbor’s back yard.
similar Model A
The last look for the 51 Oldsmobile sedan

Then, as things go, by the end of the 1957, both were gone. He had sold the Oldsmobile to his friend, and sold the running Model A coupe to another friend. So, what were “we” supposed to do?

Then, one week, a nice shiny black paint/red interior 1958 Impala was parked on the driveway. It was the latest model for sale for the fall season car displays. Now, he had a powerful three carb 280 hp motor and 3 speed stick shift transmission. So, he was set for his days at Lion’s Dragstrip activities. For 1958, Chevrolet made this 348 motor in a 280 hp version and the top of the line 315 hp model.

Those rare 315 hp 348 motors in Bel Airs, Biscaynes, and Impalas that were 6 months or more for most Chevy dealers at the introduction days… No, one could not get fuel injection on a 348 motor at any cost… but… now available, so it seems:

Where was Joe Pisano when my brother was looking for his next fast sedan for his daily driver and hot rod at Lion’s Dragstrip..?

Advertising at any cost to get drag racers to come in and buy a new 1958 Impala or Biscayne with a once “rare” motor. No, one could not get a factory fuel injection system on a 348 motor for the A/Stock class or the S/S class... unless you owned Chevrolet. ha!

Note 2:

That was fine for the factory, but the racers that wanted one (315 hp model) could now get one off of the showroom floor. The time limit was fast approaching the new introduction that was rumored for the 1959 model.

As fast stock motor class racing goes, the 315 hp Impalas and Biscaynes ruled the classes and drag races. Between the vast class racing, Lion’s Dragstrip always had a lunch break. In those times, the management decided to have a form of entertainment, to keep the spirits up for the hour or so break.

It was worth filming because of the entertainment value and knowing the two top racers that were doing their thing. Besides, it gave us time to go get some famous Lions Hot Dogs and Cokes. The activity at Lions was always hectic and dragstrip food was a pleasant break as well as being a necessity.

The LeMans style cars came from the stock car classes. The 58 Biscayne was one of the fastest at Lions for several years. The black 59 Impala was one of the first 4 speed, 335 hp motor combinations and it started the run on the big 348s for the stock class domination. These bigger 320-335 hp motors were the downfall of our under powered 280 hp motor in the 58 Impala. That became a closed door for us. Now it was on to the big build in the Gas Coupe and Sedan classes.

LeMans style racing during intermission at Lions Dragstrip.

The LeMans race was filmed in 1959, but went on during 1960, too. Earlier versions we have all seen, were the drag racers actually running down the strip back to their cars and racing. That was strange, but fun.

Jnaki
As the stock car classes go, the 59 348s were fast until the bigger 409s started showing up and that closed the door for them. Then the progression kept up until the factory had more so called, "stock" cars than the general public racing. For my brother and me, it made us glad that old time hot rodding was still available in the build-it-yourself Gas Coupe and Sedan classes.

In the later years, with our addition of a Racer Brown Cam/Lifters/Kit+ Port/Polish and the C&O Stick Hydro, now it would have at least 315 h.p + and would have given that Bel Air Post Sedan a good run for the money. But, his was “stock” and our 58 Impala would have been in the Gas Coupe/Sedan Classes. YRMV

 

kinda came to a halt..... at the cross roads of no return, as it is now I wanna weld up all the holes and have no stainless trim... but thats a one way road with no U turn... so waiting it out right now...

slapped out a million dings,, but nothing real bad so far.... I'm old and retired ,so I work light to dark every day on old cars....keeps me from gambling at the bar...

 

My first idea was keep just the delray spear, and get rid of the rest,... so I'll weld those last if i do it...

 

This is my original paint Biscayne. My parents bought it in 1979 for $1,100.

1000009468 by rgraboske posted Jan 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM

 

wonder what it would look like with out the spear????

 

thats the look I like... nothing better than a 55 with no trim

 

pretty sure we don't like the same type cars.... I like the suttle sleepers and not so much do dads...