1958 Chevrolet Biscayne

1958 Chevrolet Biscayne 2 Door Sedan

For consignment, one of the survivors that\'s been restored. In 1958 the Chevrolet became elongated and more streamlined, less of a bread box and more like a cereal box. This car sports the period trend of two tone paint jobs, now an iconic nod to a time gone by. It also hints of the jet age that would only grow in popularity in the coming years. The correct 6 cylinder engine graces this car and that\'s only the tip of its notable attributes.

Exterior
Tropic Turquoise over Artic White was chosen for the respray of this car which presents as quintessential 50\'s coloring. The wide front end appears less bulbous than the generation of cars it follows and the twin headlights seem to have taken their cue from the 1957 Eldorado, or any number of cars in 1957 that featured this configuration. The twin marker lights below accentuate the drama and look like little jet afterburners. The grille is low and long and consists of countless splines. The chrome here is in presentable condition but not flawless. Though not as striking as the 1957 Bel Air body trim, a broad metal strip travels the length of most of the car and is a bold design element which artfully tapers down to the continuation of a smaller strip to the back of the car. This body trim intersects the two colors delineating the change. The drip molding on the roof defines the next color change as it slopes down. Both the windscreen and back window curve around the car like domed bookends and it\'s a spectacular period feature. The fins are like wings and begin just behind the door and sweep back to the rear where it sends its silver border trim down and around the taillights. And those taillights are unique indeed, housed in a bezel that cradles the red light and reverse light separately with an extended centerpiece. The rear bumper is low and straight and has a gaping cutout for the license plate. 15-inch Cragar mag wheels give the pedestrian family car a bit of a racy edge. Imperfections include pitting on the door handle chrome, some paint bubbles, scratches and tiny rust spots, and some chrome that might need to be polished or replated.

Interior
Shades of blue and panels of white give the interior a clean airy feel and would be right at home bayside, by the water where blue water forms whitecaps in the wind. Anyway, it\'s very nicely done inside beginning with the door panels with white ribbed vinyl meeting a band of blue. The split bench seats are patterned in blue vinyl, white vinyl, and light blue cloth. The rear bench picks up the design and it\'s all in excellent condition. A new shade of blue is introduced in the steering wheel, column, and dashboard. The speedometer is horizontal and housed deep in a recess with a curved roof. Fuel and temp gauges are the only other monitors. Remember, this was considered a no frills choice for fleet cars and the general public. An AM radio is present in the center along with fan controls retained in an exaggerated protrusion of the dash, a design feature that continues to the passenger side. Three on the tree for this car and a silver center horn ring preside. The dash overall shows some patina but for a car from 1958, it\'s pretty darn nice. The blue loop style carpet and ivory headliner present in fine condition while the trunk is lined with a gray cloth cover and holds the spare tire.

Drivetrain
The 235.5ci inline 6 is in the big engine bay with lots of air around it! It is painted blue and is topped with a single 1-barrel carburetor. The 3-speed manual transmission is matched with 3.55 gears in the back while drum brakes are found front and rear.

Undercarriage
Copious amounts of surface rust color the X-frame but nothing appears to structurally compromise the car. The gas tank looks new and some undercoating, POR 15 maybe, appears on the floorboards and other flat panels. Coil springs handle the front independent suspension while four-link and coils are out back.

Drive-Ability
We love the greenhouse effect of the walls of windows and wrap-around windshield. The six cylinders with the 1-barrel motors out of the garage and clearly is not intended to win races, but runs smoothly and provides for a floating ride that absorbs road imperfections with ease. The long hood is like the bow of a boat on the bay and the steering is somewhat vague, but the big car turned the loop in fine fashion. A few inoperable items were noted including the horn, the radio, the heater blower and the fan speed slide control is stuck on high.

Here\'s a vehicle we rarely see at the mall, a 1958 Biscayne with all the ingredients to make a great car show and weekend cruiser; iconic 50\'s colors, the beginning of the jet age, and an interior that is as fun to look at as it is to occupy. If you\'re looking for something that is just a little bit different from the Chevy norm, this one is worth con

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