Classic DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945 www.classicdreamcars.com

           

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Considered A Certified Milestone Car

1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE

PURCHASED FROM AN A VA. GENTLEMAN ,WHO OWNED IT 18 YEARS AND HAD PLACED IT IN A THREE YEAR LONG PROFESSIONAL RESTORATION BY DONALD ALLEN....SHE'S STILL FRESH AND IT CARRIES THE  MATCHING NUMBER MOTOR* / FUEL INJ. / FRAME & TRANSMISSION, AS WELL AS, ALL THE IMPORTANT PARTS. A GORGEOUS STRAIGHT AXLE, FUEL INJECTED, ROADSTER WITH THE CORRECT 739 "POWER PACK X58 " HEADS IN OUR MOST POPULAR COLOR COMBINATION: SIGNET RED      ( WITH MATCHING ORIG. COLOR CHIPS FROM G.M.) MATCHING BUCKETS AND OPTIONAL SNOWCREST WHITE COVE AND SOFT TOP. FULLY OPTIONED, IT CARRIES A FOUR-SPEED GEARBOX, POSITRACTION, OPTIONAL HARDTOP, 8,000 R.P.M. TACH, WONDERBAR RADIO, CLOCK, WIDE WHITEWALL TIRES, COVE COLOR, AND THE COVETED AND RARE SOLID LIFTER 290 H.P./ 283 CUBIC INCH V8 (ONE OF 1007 EVER MADE). WE PURCHASED IT 5 YEARS AGO FOR MUSEUM DISPLAY, JUST AS THE COMPREHENSIVE DETAIL ORIENTED RESTORATION WAS COMPLETED,AND AS YOU CAN SEE; THIS CAR IS A KNOCK-OUT. THE RESTO. WAS DONE TO THE LATEST 'BLOOMINGTON AND N.C.R.S. STANDARDS' INCLUDING PROPER 'GAPS', BODYWORK, CORRECT ENGINE OVERSPRAY AND DELIBERATE 'RESTORATION' IN THE MOTOR CAVITY***. JUST COMPLETELY SERVICED WITH NEW BATTERY ( PLUS TARTOP FOR 'SHOW'), REGULAR BATTERY FOR 'GO'.  WITH THIS MOTOR COMBINATION, THIS IS A "GO FIND ONE" CAR. YOU'VE SEEN THEM SELL ON TV IN '08,'09 AND THIS YEAR FOR $220,000- $168,000 (INCL. 'BUYERS' 10% COMMISH) . THIS IS A 'NO STORY' CAR AND ONE OF THE FINEST ANYWHERE. INTERNET SPECIAL: FOR $135,000 .

** BLOCK "3737739" - PAD: "F424CS" (FLINT BUILT MOTOR APRIL 24, 1958 283/290 HP MANUAL ,FUEL INJ. HI-LIFT CAM)) - DATE CODED BLOCK "D228"( APR. 22,1958) - FRAME '4-1-58", DISTRIBUTOR "#1110914", GENERATOR "# 1102959" DATE CODE "8D11", REAREND "#WB1482", 8,000 RPM TACH. CORRECT SILVER WHEELS, CORRECT EHX. MANIFOLDS, AND FUEL INJ. #'S.

*** SEE THE N.C.R.S. ARCHIVES:

FOR GREAT INFORMATION AND AN EDUCATION: PICKUP CORVETTE RESTORATION "STATE OF THE ART" BY MICHAEL ANTONICK. YOU'LL FIND THIS BOOK FASCINATING READING......... QUOTE: "THE WAY IT WAS...NOT THE WAY  YOU WISH IT WAS"! (NOTE: CORRECT OVERSPRAY ).

THE STORY

The Year was 1958. It was a Goofy year for American Culture as "Hula Mania" took the Nation by storm. The $1.98 plastic ring called "Hula Hoop" made WHAM-O a fortune with sales reaching $25 million in just 4 months. In the real entertainment field: Pianist Van Cliburn wowed audiences with his talents as a guest on The Steve Allen Show. Anita Baker, Michael Jackson and Madonna were all born IN 1958, while Tyrone Power (actor),Charles Kettering (inventor) and Sam Hopkins Adams (writer) would all pass on. Girl's swooned at Ricky Nelson's antics on "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" , then danced to "At The Hop" by Danny & The Juniors or Elvis' "Don't". The first video game was invented called "Pong" while "Sweet n' Low" hit the diners. The first Stereophonic LP's were released and, "Plastic Money", with the first VISA credit card (actually BankAmericard). It was time for a change. If you could afford new clothes ( remember, there was a recession in effect ) Floral prints and knee length skirts were popular, as well as, Empire length 3/4 coats, false eyelashes, and Turbans. While America's children sat in the back of their Mom's station wagon operating their "Etch-A-Sketch" or playing with their Sea Monkies, some of of were old enough to be playing with our "pocket monkeys".

Tail fin's were more of a status symbol than an engineering necessity...despite the claims of auto manufacturers. The 1958-59 Buicks, Cadillacs, Chevrolets and Chrysler products displayed the ultimate in automotive appendages. Unique was the Chevrolet Corvette. It's designers decided not to participate in the madness and released a sleek new body for 1958. It is considered a one-year-only-body style because of it's washboard hood and chrome straps on the trunk. It is the flashier of the 'cove' series Vette's (1958-60) and sought out by collectors because of it's extroverted, aggressive look, as well as, the coveted Fuel Injection.

America's Only True Sportscar had come a long way in just five models. Starting with the lowly "Blue Flame Six coupled to the 2-speed 'slushbox' Powerglide, the original Vette did little to conjure up the idea of flaming tires and roaring engines. By 1958, the 265 cubic inch V8 had jumped up the ladder another rung to the 283 V8. Suddenly, the Corvette was truly awe inspiring...a whole new brand of driving pleasure. The 1958 Vette offered exciting new acrylic-lacquer finishes and bumpers that actually attached to the frame, rather than the body. The new dashboard carried all the instruments mounted directly in front of the driver and the "central control tower" housed the radio, heater, all the knobs, and the clock. The locking glove box, between the seats, gave the driver somewhere to hide his traffic tickets.... which were guaranteed to follow ownership. The option list reflected the new found seriousness of the Corvette buyer about performance, as you could choose from 230 h.p. to 245 to 270 (with 2-4 barrel carbs).... all the way up to 290 h.p.in the Ram Jet Fuel Injected motor. Then, you had three transmission choices ranging from the 'tried-and-true' 3-speed, to the Powerglide to the heavenly Four Speed gearbox ...offered for the first time May 1, 1957.

Just think, for a mere $900 more than an Impala (base sticker) you could step up to a fire-breathing Corvette at $3,591. Of course, by the time you added the Wonderbar Radio @ $144, The Hardtop for $215, Power Windows for $59, or the Heavy Duty Suspension (for an incredible $780.10), then the 4-speed for $188 ...you had to be 'upper management ' (@$1.50 per hour) to afford it. But, only the true High Roller could pony up for the Fuel Injection option @ $484.20 as, by now, your sales order totaled well over $5,000... Only 1,007 'Crazy Mother's' ordered a Ram Jet Fuel Injection Corvette in 1958 , and we'll bet there's very few "REAL ONE'S" left on the road today. The real notoriety came later for the Little Red Corvette's when Martin Milner ( remembered best on TV's "Highway Patrol" in the 70's) cruised onto our TV screen's in his beautiful Red Corvette. Remember the hit TV series, "Route 66" ?

The showroom sales catalog puffed up the new Corvette as the car that "captures your heart and laurels for sheer good looks and pure performance...elegant on any boulevard". but, for most us: We never forget that first ride in a straight axle-cove Corvette- the sound, the smell, and that exhilarating performance. Which is more desire-able? The original 6-cylinder 1953 Corvette which sold 300 copies...or the 1958 which Chevrolet sold 9,168. We'll leave You to decide !