Some really Cool Cars of days gone by....!

[TripleR]

Triple R....Isn't that the truth....? I go back to the days when I helped a friend of mine change out his tranny...I was the jack...I was under his car and had the tranny on my chest and bowed my back and held it so he could fit it and bolt it back in...Those engine compartments were big enough where we would get up on the car and half way get into the engine under the hood to work on 'em...plenty of room...no electronics or computers...everything made sense...Sigh !

I had a 54 Ford that due to my heavy foot and a little bigger engine plus being young and dumb had to replace three transmissions, so I know all about the human transmission jack, I changed one in a cow pasture, one on our dirt floor tractor shed and one on an actual concrete floor. Twice was in the winter and one in a snow storm of sorts.

You could actually climb on the fenders or hood without having them crumple, had room to stick your feet down in there to brace yourself.

You could swap the rear ends out with a hack and chain to pull your axles, drop the third member and slip a chunk in or just roll the whole assembly in and bolt it up.

I could actually fix stuff back then and I wasn't even a good mechanic.

 

[jinman]

Well, I didn't see anything I'd actually call a restoration (maybe the firetruck) but those were some spotless hot rods.:thumbsup:

 

[brin]

Well, I didn't see anything I'd actually call a restoration (maybe the firetruck) but those were some spotless hot rods.:thumbsup:

I agree Jim, but also the Farmall tractor looked like a restoration...did you see that one ?

 

[jinman]

I agree Jim, but also the Farmall tractor looked like a restoration...did you see that one ?

Yes I did, and you're right. I also liked the '57 Chevrolets and the '58, but the engine in the '58 didn't look like a 348 cu in V8. I believe that was introduced in '58. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most all of them had later engines. I think the '58 and '59 Chevrolets come high on the list of the ugliest cars ever made by GM. The '60 wasn't too bad because they broke up that huge lazy "V" shaped rear end that the '59 had.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Yes I did, and you're right. I also liked the '57 Chevrolets and the '58, but the engine in the '58 didn't look like a 348 cu in V8. I believe that was introduced in '58. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most all of them had later engines. I think the '58 and '59 Chevrolets come high on the list of the ugliest cars ever made by GM. The '60 wasn't too bad because they broke up that huge lazy "V" shaped rear end that the '59 had.

I have both a '59 and a '60 Impala; and 50 years ago I thought they were ugly also...but I have come to love the '59 especially. The Impala Spt. Coupe is beautifully designed; all of the components seem to fit together well and sorta flow, giving a feeling of motion. There's not much that you can do to improve the looks of the '59; almost every mod I think detracts. They look best with the grille guard, a bit oversize WWW tires, and a slight lift in the rear. I love them. "Have wings, will travel".

 

[toppop52]

The 348 was introduced in '58, which was originally designed as a truck engine and continued in trucks long after the use in cars was over, as did the 409.
For many years I thought the '58 was the ugliest Chevy ever, but in the last 20 years I've come to appreciate the single year styling, especially of the Impala 2 door hardtop. It was a giant leap forward in styling from the Tri-5's. Not saying better, but much more modern in it's time.
The real forward thinking leader at GM in those days was Pontiac, unhappy with the X-frame they only used it in '58 and went to Wide Track styling in '59 with a perimeter frame that allowed a wider stance and much better handling and safer in a side impact. They introduced Aluminum wheels to the mainstream in '59, the GTO, first to use collapsible steering columns, etc...

 

[jonyyuma]

I Liked the new paint scheme on the 58 chevy, they were ugly when first produced?? That 348 looks correct to me, even a generator,of course there were no Fancy valve covers on them.. He put the dual master cylinder in there so neat it looks stock. At least that Mass of steel will now stop good...No pedal slipping to the floor..If you ever remember that happening with old single cylinders..

 

[LBrown59]

I have both a '59 and a '60 Impala; and 50 years ago I thought they were ugly also...but I have come to love the '59 especially. The Impala Spt. Coupe is beautifully designed; all of the components seem to fit together well and sorta flow, giving a feeling of motion. There's not much that you can do to improve the looks of the '59; almost every mod I think detracts. They look best with the grille guard, a bit oversize WWW tires, and a slight lift in the rear. I love them. "Have wings, will travel".

Back in 1962 I bought a like new black 60 impala rag top .Wish I'd kept it .Most beautiful sharpest car i ever owned .I later had a 59 sedan in the 70s that turned out to be one of the worst cars i ever owned .Would love to see pictures of your 59 and 60.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I happen to think that the 60 Impala convertible is one of the most beautiful cars ever produced in America (if not, THE most beautiful).

 

[brin]

I think the '58 and '59 Chevrolets come high on the list of the ugliest cars ever made by GM.

Jim,


I was driving my Mother's '57 chevy....when I behaved just as the '58 Chevys came out...They were butt ugly was my reaction...I mean after the '57 back then I wondered how dumb GM could be to screw up such a good car....Now though due to nostalgia , when compared to any of the new cars...the old ones win in my book hands down...now I love the '58 Chevy....Later I bought a brand new 1967 Chevy Impala conv. white with a black top...that car's windshield fogged up anytime it rained...it actually cried...I did not keep it long...other than the windshield it was a great car...but that drove me crazy...always wiping with a rag as I drove...LOL