Friday, January 1, 2010

1959 Classic Chevrolet "Wings, Glass, And Chrome"

Never before has an automobile manufacturer made such sweeping changes two years in a row. The 1958 Chevrolet was a pleasing design with rounded corners.

While the 1959 Chevrolet was shaped lean, with crisp new contours and beautifully restrained accents. Designed for greater roominess and comfort, engineered for greater safety, economy, ease of handling and smoothness of ride.

The 1959 Chevrolet was the last design by the famous designer Harley Earl, who helped pioneer General Motor's styling and design studio.

1959 Chevrolet Belair Impala 4 Door Hard Top Sport Sedan
1959 Chevrolet Impala
4 Door Hard Top Sport Sedan

All New All Over Again indicated one 1959 Chevy ad. Nothing's New Like Chevy's New said another. However, what was new? Chevrolet's new Slimline Design was fresh, fine and fashionable. The Roomier Body by Fisher was sound, solid and stylish. Sweeping new overhead curved windshield and bigger windows made of safety plate glass. Full coil suspension further refined for a smoother and steadier ride. Easy ratio steering reduced wheel turning efforts. Magic Mirror finish kept its shine for up to three years. Safer stopping with bigger brakes and deeper drums. And then there were the engines!

Here is how Chevrolet changed the styling of the 1959 Chevy. The dual headlights, which in 1958 were mounted above the front grille and bumper, have been lowered quite a few inches and were placed at either end of the grille. Above the grille are narrow slits that look like air intakes, but are directional lights that have been tucked into the outside corners of these slits. One outstanding feature is the enormous area of glass, front and rear. The windshield curves way up and into the roof and provides tremendous visibility.

Out back the 1959 Chevy has a spread wing treatment and cat's eye taillights. The rear license plate swivels down to reveal the gas tank filler cap.

1959 Chevrolet Impala
1959 Chevrolet Impala

The new '59 Chevrolet, is nearly two inches longer and wider than the '58, has picked up almost 200 more pounds of weight in the body alone. With one of the big engines and transmissions and all the accessories including air conditioning it would be no trick at all to come up with a 1959 Chevy weighing well over 4,000 lbs.

1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible
1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible

The 1959 Chevy line up was in Chevrolet dealer showrooms in October 1958. Customers rushed in to see the 1959 Chevrolet Convertible. Production figures for 1959 included 525,461 four door sedans, 281,924 two door sedans, 188,623 four door station wagons, 20,760 two door station wagons, 182,520 sport sedans, 164,901 sport coupe and 72,765 convertibles. The Del Ray and Yeoman name was dropped in 1959. See many pictures of a 1959 Chevrolet on this website.

1959 Chevrolet Models
The Impala Series
Impala Convertible
Impala Sport Coupe 2 Door Hard Top
Impala Sport Sedan 4 Door Hard Top
Impala 4 Door Sedan

The 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air Series
Bel Air Sport Sedan 4 Door Hard Top
Bel Air 2 Door Sedan
Bel Air 4 Door Sedan

The 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne Series
Biscayne 2 Door Sedan
Biscayne 4 Door Sedan
Biscayne 2 Door Utility Sedan

1959 Chevrolet Station Wagons
Nomad 4 Door 6 Passenger
Kingswood 4 Door 9 Passenger
Parkwood 4 Door 6 Passenger
Brookwood 2 Door 6 Passenger
Brookwood 4 Door 6 Passenger

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