The year was 1958, and Chevrolet decided to go all-in on the full-size strategy. The model picked to spearhead this strategy was the Impala, which first saw daylight in 1956 as a project car.
Named after the famous African antelope, the Impala was an instant hit. It helped expand Chevrolet’s full-size lineup, which now included the famous Bel Air, the Del Ray, the Biscayne, and the Impala.

The impact on Chevrolet’s yearly sales was obvious. The GM brand shipped over 1.25 million cars in 1968, and this figure propelled it to the number one spot in the United States. Ford dropped to the runner-up place with a little over 1 million cars.

The Impala accounted for approximately 15% of Chevrolet’s output despite not being an affordable car. The coupe carried a price tag of $2,586, and 125,480 customers ordered it. The more expensive convertible convinced 55,989 customers to pay at least $2,724 for a specimen.

The Impala posted on eBay by RB Collection is one of the examples born in 1958. Photo: RB Collection

It makes little sense to discuss its condition because it’s obvious this Impala is in tip-top shape. The restoration turned it into an award-winning specimen, but it’s worth knowing that the vehicle has only been driven to Concours and special events. It didn’t spend more minutes on the road, specifically to retain its fabulous condition.

The last owner was a ” prominent collector,” the garage explains, but we’re not getting more specifics. However, it’s obvious that only someone with a strong passion for classic cars can own this Impala, as it requires proper maintenance and perfect storage conditions to avoid the typical issues you find on a vehicle this old.

The Rio Red paint is said to be flawless, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn this is true. Everything has been meticulously refreshed, and you’ll find no areas that require attention—maybe under the car, where I could observe a few spots that you should inspect closer, though I wouldn’t be particularly concerned about them. Photo: RB Collection

The engine under the hood is the 348 Tri-Power.

Customers who walked into a Chevrolet dealership 66 years ago could pick from a wide range of engines, beginning with the base 235ci six-cylinder configuration. It was rated at 145 horsepower, and despite not flexing an insane amount of power, it was a popular choice thanks to its economical behavior.

The base V8 was the popular 283ci V8, which continued to be available in the Impala lineup many years after the model received series status in 1959. It developed 185 horsepower in the standard configuration, while the addition of a four-barrel carburetor for $27 extra increased the output to 230 horsepower.

The top 348 configurations were the icing on the Impala cake. If you ordered the Turbo-Thrust package, which would have set you back $59, you received 250 horsepower. The Super Turbo-Thrust versions fitted with three two-barrel carburetors were the real deal for people who wanted the Impala for more adrenaline behind the wheel, generating 280 and 315 horsepower, respectively.

The least popular choice in 1958 was the Rochester mechanical fuel-injected 283, which was a potent choice at 290 horsepower but carried a ridiculous $484 price tag. It was eventually removed from the lineup when the Impala became a stand-alone series. Photo: RB Collection

This 1958 example is fitted with the Tri-Power drivetrain paired with a Powerglide transmission. It starts, runs, drives, and stops perfectly, though I doubt it’ll spend much time on the road. As the seller explains, this Impala rarely goes out, so maybe you can enjoy a casual drive on a sunny Sunday, but that’s pretty much it.

This car’s place is in a heated garage away from anything that can damage its condition, especially as the restoration job appears to be top-notch.

It’s time to talk about money, and as anyone would expect, we’re not talking about cheap cars here. Photo: RB Collection

The Impala landed on eBay with a reserve, but the good part is that it receives incredible attention, with over 30 bids received in a few days online. The top offer surpassed $50,000 a few minutes ago.

However, the reserve is still in place, and it’ll be interesting to see how high the bidding must go to unlock it. I doubt you could get this car cheaper than $65K (maybe even $70K), but you could contact the garage and ask for the Buy It Now price. They did not configure one on eBay, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the auction failing this time, so maybe they could let it go to someone willing to get their hands on the car without a fight.

The Impala is parked in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and considering we’re two days away from the auction’s end, it’s running out of time in its attempt to find a new owner. You’ll obviously need to take this car on a trailer and drive it straight to your garage.