1959 Chevrolet Impala

edited by David Barth, 22 February 2009.
Courtesy The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Photos were taken in January 2009.

Sponsor: Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealer's Association

The Impala nameplate has been associated with full-size Chevrolets since 1958 when it superseded the "Bel Air" designation as the division's top model. Borrowing the crossed flags of Corvette, Chevrolet billed the full-sized Impala as a "sports coupe." The Impala's combination of style and sportiness in a family car made it the best-selling automobile in America during the 1960s. Inside, drivers were treated to bucket seats, racecar-inspired dash, and a faux racing steering wheel. Chevy's venerable "Blue Flame Six" was the base Impala engine, but most buyers wanted more power to amtch the car's image and opted for the optional 283 cubic inch displacement, 230 horsepower V-8 engine.

This Impala emerged from GM's St. Louis, Missouri assembly plant loaded with over twenty options, including the "Tri-Power" engine. One feature that may not be apparent is under-dash air-conditioning, still an uncommon accessory in 1959. As if the car were not long enough already at 17 feet, 7 inches, the original owner added a continental tire kit. Rear fender skirts make this low-slung car look even longer. The impressive number of features on this Impala made it the full-size basis for the plastic model kit that was produced Revell-Monogram beginning in 1992.

Kenneth King, Jr. donated this beautiful Impala to the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in 2001. Along with his father, Mr. King established and operated the once-popular Kenny King's drive-in restaurants in the Cleveland area. Painted Snowcrest White with a contrasting tri-tone red interior, this car is identical to an Impala in which Mr. King and his wife courted.

Model: Impala
Body Style: 2-door hardtop
Original Factory Price: $2,717
Brake Horsepower: 280
Displacement: 348 cubic inches
Bore: 4 1/8 inches
Stroke: 3 1/4 inches
Cylinders: V-8
Wheelbase: 119 inches
Manufacturer: General Motors Corporation, Chevrolet Division

Donor: Kenneth King, Jr.