Wagon of the Day - 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne Brookwood Wagon

[wagonmaster]

Submitted by: wagonmaster

[Taranau]

Wasn't this from just before they started "classifying" their cars with the taillights?..One one each side, a standard Chevy.Two on each ide a better Chevy.Three on each side,as good as Chevys got.That kind of thing...That's how it was explained to me when I was kid...With Corvette off to the side with it's own taillight set-ups.

[CapriceEstate]

They did this in 58. The way it worked was Wagons had one tail-light, with an optional back-up light which would be to either side of the license plate. The Delrays, Biscaynes, and Bel-Airs all had 2 tail lites on each side, and could get the same back-up light option. And then the Impalas (which in 58 was the Bel-Air Impala) had 3 on each side, 2 tail and a back-up light. They continued this practice for years. It's very noticable on 60-65 and then 68 as well.

[Stormin' Norman]

Originally Posted by CapriceEstate

They did this in 58. The way it worked was Wagons had one tail-light, with an optional back-up light which would be to either side of the license plate. The Delrays, Biscaynes, and Bel-Airs all had 2 tail lites on each side, and could get the same back-up light option. And then the Impalas (which in 58 was the Bel-Air Impala) had 3 on each side, 2 tail and a back-up light. They continued this practice for years. It's very noticable on 60-65 and then 68 as well.

I never saw a 3 taillight Belair Impala in Canada. That would stand out up here. Big time! I can imagine tha sheetmetal work on the tailgate. Awesome. Thanks for the info.

[CapriceEstate]

Originally Posted by Stormin' Norman

I never saw a 3 taillight Belair Impala in Canada. That would stand out up here. Big time! I can imagine tha sheetmetal work on the tailgate. Awesome. Thanks for the info.

Sorry, let me clear up the confusion for you there Norman. It's my fault on my wording. The wagons only came with the single tail-lite assembly. I was speaking of the Sedans, but I have seen a 58 Chevy Concept Wagon in my travels that had the 3 tail-lites in the back.

[Stormin' Norman]

Originally Posted by CapriceEstate

Sorry, let me clear up the confusion for you there Norman. It's my fault on my wording. The wagons only came with the single tail-lite assembly. I was speaking of the Sedans, but I have seen a 58 Chevy Concept Wagon in my travels that had the 3 tail-lites in the back.

Still, that must have been nice to see it in the flesh.

[Taranau]

Looking at the back of this wagon,it does look like it would've been a bit more difficult to add the extra lights,than it was on those 62 thru 64 models.It still looks good anyway.I wouldn't mind having one.

[CapriceEstate]

Yup, nothing comes close to the 58 GM's. All the sheetmetal, etc was only for one year, since it was the 50 year anniversary that year. Could you imagine how popular these rides would have been had 1958 Not been a recession year?

[Krash Kadillak]

Here's the '58 (BelAir) Impala - only available as a convertible or 2-door hardtop.



The '59's (new body style) had the horizontal fins with the teardrop taillights, so no 2-light / 3-light combo that year. The 60's picked it up again with the 2-light / 3-light set-up in a concave panel below the fins.

[CapriceEstate]

Boy, take off the continental kit, put on some rims, and you'd have a look-alike for Ron Howard's car on American Graffiti. Beautiful example!

I never knew what to think of 59's. I liked the hood vents, but always was kinda himming and hawing about the dang cat-eye tail lights. Didn't know what to make of them.

And of course, I had the 60 Bel-Air, which had the 2 tail lites on each side. But boy, you just can't beat the tri-lite set up of them Impalas!!