1959 was the year when the Impala waved goodbye to the Bel Air lineup and embraced its own fate. It gained series status, paving the way for a performance nobody expected. The Impala became the best-selling car in the United States a few years later, eventually shipping over 1 million units in 1965.
Two-door Chevrolet Impalas have become highly desirable in the collector space. The 1959 release is a sought-after version, especially in a two-door hardtop configuration, so if you see such a project online, you should check it out. With the right restoration process, these cars can be worth a small fortune.
That’s the only hope for this 1959 Impala that landed on Craigslist a few days ago.
Unfortunately, the seller hasn’t provided many specifics, so we’ll have to rely on the pics to determine if the car deserves a second chance.
It looks like it’s been abandoned for a long time, and the photos show the car parked outside. It suffers from obvious rust issues, and I expect the rust damage to be even more substantial under the vehicle. If possible, you should inspect the undersides, maybe by putting it on a lift.
However, you should assume you need new floors, as dealing with rust damage should be at the top of your agenda when planning the restoration project.
This Impala has also lost many parts, likely because a previous owner used it as a donor for another project. The biggest problem is that it has already lost its engine and transmission, so if you were hoping for a matching numbers powertrain, that’s not going to happen this time. Restoring this Impala will be a challenge, given all these problems, so it all comes down to the selling price.
While I normally recommend an in-person inspection before making an offer, I’m not sure this Impala has big chances to get a second chance considering the owner’s high selling expectations. The car isn’t cheap, despite its current shape, the missing parts, and the number of doors. They believe $5,000 is a fair price, so if you live close, you should go see it in person and get more information.
The owner posted it online with zero details, only revealing that the engine and the transmission were missing. The interior also seems to be missing, so check everything thoroughly to determine this Impala’s chances of returning to the road.
The Impala has always been a highly desirable car, and the 1959 model year has a special place in the hearts (and wallets) of many collectors. For example, a 1959 Impala in tip-top shape can be worth over $60,000, but the incorrect number of doors could drop the value of a specimen in Concours condition to nearly half of this price.
