Award Winning 28,910 Actual Mile Impala Convertible 348 V8 Powerglide Survivor

SUMMARY

In an age where the typical collector swaps classic metal faster than Mister Rogers changes sweaters, t's hard to imagine finding a low-mileage, -owner bombshell that's been documented all the way down to an autograph from the time it was borrowed by Richard Petty. But this exclusive, ational award-winning Chevy is just that, nd, hroughout 56 years of immaculate upkeep, eavy servicing has been its sole alteration. If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind, irtually unmolested collector car, ere's your chance to head the herd!

HISTORY/PRESERVATION

Introduced as Chevrolet's first foray upmarket, he Impala proved GM's volume car juggernaut had the strength to be all things to all people. It was the ride your upper class neighbors enjoyed and, ike the original Bel Air, t wholly embodied the time of its creation. With that in mind, his awesome, econd generation drop-top was immediately snatched up by its first owner in late 1958. That owner, oster Harris of Dayton, hio, urchased the car from Williamstown, entucky's Piles Chevrolet as a gift for his wife. Unfortunately Mr. Harris' wife was more interested in birds than antelopes and, fter 3K miles of use, he Impala was traded on a brand new Thunderbird. That's when the Chevy's second and long-term owner, rancis Mendenhall, ntered the picture.

Mr. Mendenhall and his wife fell in love with the car, ainly using it as a grand Sunday cruiser that provided their family years of great memories. As those years passed, he Mendenhall's daughter, oyce, ormed quite a bond with the low-mileage Chevy and would eventually use it to complete her driving test. When the time came for Joyce to head to college, he Impala returned to its plaster garage where her dad promised to store and maintain it until further notice. After college, oyce married a future GM manager who was a hardcore Chevy fan and long-term Bel Air owner. And, n 1984, oyce's father called to say: "it's time for you to pick up your Impala." Ecstatic, he relocated the car to her new home and started hitting the national show circuit where, s you might imagine, he all-original, 1K mile drop-top was a big hit.

In 2006, fter roughly half a century in the same family, oyce and her husband finally passed the car to its third and present owner: a retired neighbor who also purchased their beloved Bel Air. That owner, ooking to keep things fresh, ommissioned a heavy engine servicing that included new seals, ew freeze plugs and fresh block paint. And today, he car rolls as a fully documented national award winner that's seen only 28,910 miles of road time in the hands of three dedicated owners.

ENGINE

Lift this Chevy's long hood and you'll find an original, 48 cubic inch Turbo Thrust V8 that's branded with a correct 3755011 casting number, tated with a September (I) 19th (19), 958 (58) casting date and detailed with a correct "G" suffix stamp. A staple of working-class luxury, his sturdy 250 horsepower big block is one of the many reasons the Impala model enjoys fantastic name recognition. And absolutely every item, rom its thick coat of Chevy Orange paint to its unique, owtie-branded valve covers, s functional, eliable and ready to hit the cruise-in. At the top of the bright block, Satin Black, ingle-snorkel air cleaner funnels wind in to a big Rochester carburetor. At the sides of the block, lean exhaust manifolds allow oversquare cylinders ample breathing room by pushing spent gases through correct, rue-dual pipes. At the back of the block, traditional points distributor sparks familiar Packard TV R Suppression cables. Cooling is provided by a beefy Harrison radiator, hich circulates water through a series of pliable hoses. Charge comes courtesy of a Delco yellow cap battery, hich jolts a tagged Delco-Remy generator. All the right details, ncluding a stainless fuel line, orrect decals and a factory brake booster, re present and accounted for. And the car's Satin Black engine bay serves as an ideal backdrop for the engine's many different textures.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Park this topless full-size on a lift and you'll find a solid undercarriage that, espite the car's Midwest roots, ppears to have never seen seriously inclement weather. Straight, ndercoated floorpans perfectly complement a sturdy, atin Black X-frame. A rugged Powerglide transmission, hich hangs a correct 3742349 casting number above an October (J) 31st (31) 1958 (8) casting date, pins a beefy GM drop-out that literally sails the engine through its power band. Under that capable drivetrain, lucid suspension mixes factory power steering with big, ower-assisted drums. At the center of the floors, true-dual exhaust system utilizes correct turbo mufflers to weave an aggressive, ull-throttle rumble into a subdued and classy idle. And at the corners of the chassis, reat looking 8.00-14 BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls frame dent-free hubcaps.

INTERIOR

For GM products of the 1950s, nteriors are always a highlight. Naturally, his Impala continues that trend with an eye-popping tri-tone Green interior that presents very well. At ground level, isher sill plates anchor old school carpet under thick, olor-keyed floor mats. Adjustable bench seats wear retro plaid covers that remind us of family picnics. The padded and stainless-trimmed dash plays host to factory instrumentation, correct radio and chrome accessory pulls. In front of the driver, traditional Impala steering wheel spins speed-drilled spokes around a storied cross-flag emblem. At the sides of the car, xpressive door panels found simple exit handles between jet-age armrests and traditional window cranks. And behind the passengers, cavernous trunk hides a correct jack and full-size spare tire between pliable mats and a vintage decklid decal.

AWARDS/FEATURES

Over the years, his Chevy has acquired some pretty serious accolades. Here's a categorized, hronological listing of the car's significant milestones:

DOCUMENTATION/ACCESSORIES

Here's a categorized list of everything included with this drop-top's sale:

Coveted and cherished, his national award-winning Chevy is a mostly-original piece of jet age magic that's ready to be shown and celebrated. With top-notch preservation, ajor provenance and more style than pretty much anything on the road, he car literally defines the term "investment grade". If you're looking for a first-rate classic that's capable of leading the collector car herd, ick up the phone and take home this incredible Impala!