Oh, dear sweet mother, yes. I may not have as much of a desire for a pre-1960 car as I do for a mid-1970s sled, but when you see something that instills a sense of lust like this 1958 Impala does for me…yeah, I can make an accommodation for something out of the ordinary. The ’58 Impala was a one-year only body and unlike the 1959-1960 cars (or for that matter, any other year Impala after it), it didn’t share jack squat with any other years. The Impala was Chevy’s top-tier unit, the ultimate in fins, chrome and power…and prior to seeing this car, the closest I’d ever came to wanting one was the white one that Terry the Toad got to drive in American Graffiti.

But this…words are failing me, but I’ll try to explain. One, I’m a complete sucker for gloss black and tons of chrome, both of which this Chevy has by the ton. It sits perfectly. The Cortez Silver roof is a nice contrast to the black. The interior has been restored to original specifications, while underhood things have been worked over. There is no reason to not put tens of thousands of miles on this car except for rock chips and the risk of idiots.

This Impala is the final result of a no-expense-spared, two year restification process. The major modifications are exactly what we’d consider doing: the 283ci V8 was ditched in favor of a 1967 327ci small-block V8 that was dressed up to resemble the older mill. It’s hooked to a 700R4 overdrive automatic, which runs power out to a 10-bolt with 3.55 gears. SSBC four-wheel disc brakes stop the Impala, while Air Lift Performance air suspension at all four corners takes care of ride quality and ride height.

I did not grow up as a teenager in the 1960s. I don’t remember drive-ins or burger joints quite like those a generation or two before me do, and I have no intention of ever trying to duplicate that scene for any reason whatsoever. But like any time period, there are the timeless pieces that people look towards to remember what it was like, and this Impala, complete with the unbelievable amount of chrome, V8 rumble, and it’s open, flaunted sense of importance and outright cockiness, perfectly defines what this car was about then and now.

This Impala is a midnight cruiser. That paint demands the glow of lights reflecting off of it’s flanks as it’s headlights cut a beam in the night and it’s taillights leave a streak, like a rocket, as the car rolls on by.

eBay Link: 1958 Chevrolet Impala