1959 Chevrolet STYLING EXPLAINED, Impala in Crown Sapphire

[bulldogbarks55]

Does it have a 283 or a 348 in it? And I'm sure it has Powerglide. It is a nice car but I never cared for the "bat wing" rear fender treatment. They toned those wings down in '60 and they were gone by '61. We are a Ford family. In '59 my Dad bought a Galaxie 500 Fordor H/T in Lt. Green & White. It had a 352 with Cruise-O-Matic. It had very squared-off lines when compared to the Chevy but won the design award for best car of 1959 at the Brussels World's Fair.

[jims59DOTcom]

@bulldogbarks55 Actually it is a six cylinder with a 3-speed manual on the column, Very rare on an Impala. Thank you for watching.

[bulldogbarks55]

@jims59DOTcom Interesting. It sounds like a car the old maid schoolteacher would drive. Stylish but practical.

[RalphReagan]

@jims59DOTcom I didn't know my car when I was 18 was rare! It was a four door so it wasn't "sporty" Loved it got a 64 Galaxy after that but I was a mopar man until Iocaca he ruined mopar.

[supremes1964]

AMAZING CAR! My uncle had a '59 model it was candy apple red! I called it the "BATMAN" car because of it tail fins Lol

[FURY1958]

I live in Spain and I only can say that you've got an amazing road jewel. Those bat wings make my heart beat. Sadly, in Europe we ain't got the same car culture that USA have.

[jims59DOTcom]

Took her out of the winter sleep for the first time on Thursday the 1st of April. It has been five years since the restoration was completed and I have driven her less than 3,000 miles. Filled the fuel tank, aired the tires, she is ready for another summer of car shows and parades.

[DougCameraMan]

Great video. And interesting facts about the stainless steel, aluminum parts, etc. It lasts better than chrome plate. The 1959 and 1960 Chevys were very similar in design. The previous years were radical design changes from year to year. But the 59 and 60 are similar.

[jims59DOTcom]

Having the most popular 1959 Chevy website on the net, and also being a restorer of vintage autos, I am familiar with the rising costs of chrome plating services and the advantage old GM cars have over some of the competitor brands. Simply because of their extensive use of stainless steel, it is often unnecessary and definitely less expensive to restore the "bright-work" on a GM auto. Thank you for watching.

[DougCameraMan]

@jims59DOTcom Yeah, GM cars always had a level of quality slightly above Ford, and way above Dodge and Plymouth cars....at least during the 60s and 70s. Ford was pretty good as far as quality I just never cared for their styling, generally speaking.

[njot3]

This is the car the Insurance Institute of America wrecked (I think it was a Biscayne though). They are TOTAL IDIOTS!! And then said, "oh, look how far we've come in 50 years".  Can we say, NO appreciation for the historical value of the vehicle?!?

[Insert46]

@njot3

I feel so sad looking at this car. I know we can get back to the good days. Times when we all would drive the car that rocks.

God please make it come true again...

[1987ian]

@njot3  i totally agree with you njot3! but it was a bel-air.

[glyn001]

Hi Jim, what a beautiful car you have. I live in England (United Kingdom) so I have only ever seen two of these 59 Chevrolet's over here, and both times I was fascinated by the rear wings (of course), and also by the way the windscreen (windshield) wraps right round the side. What a fabulous design. Your car is an absolute credit to you - thank you for posting this video and for preserving a true piece of American automobile history.

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the kind compliments and for watching my video. I'm chomping at the bit to get her out for a springtime drive. She's been sleeping in the climate control since October. Had a pretty hard winter this year. Maybe three or four more weeks and I can get her out again.

[BillyRockfish]

Great car! And everyone always falls over themselves for the V-8's, but the good old "Blue Flame" Six makes this one a nice, calm cruiser.

[coaster225]

im getting woozy this is so nice.

[olderendirt]

My dad had one of these in a 4 door when I was a very small little girl and those fins made great slides when he was washing it. It was blue with a white top, but I think the trunk was blue, too. Great car. Yours looks wonderful.

[lNHUMANE]

Coolest car ever... i love those evil looking fins in the back and those to grill things on the hood.

[02pelotas]

very nice car

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the kind compliment and for watching my video.

[biscaynenick]

Looks great Jim !!! I'm a 4-dr sedan guy myself, I must mention you have forgotten to give props to Magic Mirror Acrylic Laquer !!!

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the kind compliment, the white is the original paint and of course is magic mirror lacquer. The blue is a repaint in RM Diamont base coat/clear coat acrylic urethane.

[ChevyBM]

You got a very nice looking chevy! the 59 is one of the best looking models!

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for watching and the kind compliment.

[DougCameraMan]

Its funny how the big fins went from vertical to horizontal from 1957 to 1959. The 57s are so iconic, and probably the most desirable but in some ways I like the 59 and 60 models just as well if not better.. They were wider, sleeker looking.

[poitrenaud]

YES!! Awsome! Don't tell me that USA didn't make great Cars! Americans made Great Cars in the 50's, 60's-

WOW!! This is a great vehicle-

In fact, when I was a kid, it was a status symbol to own a US Car in France-

I love this Chevy-

Where was it built? At the Ohio Plant?

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the kind compliments and for watching. It was built at the St. Louis plant.

[tractor560d]

Thats an Indiana car?

[jims59DOTcom]

No, actually it is a Missouri car that sat in a heated garage for 36 years. When I found it, it still had 1966 license plates mounted on it. Sitting on four flat tires and covered in dust.

[RennyGd]

Great restoration on such a low mileage car. She's beautiful. Be careful though. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently did a crash test of a 59 Chevy against a 2009 Malibu. The 59 and the dummy behind the wheel didn't fair too well. It really showed how far auto safety has come. Anyway enjoy your car. It's a car you can hand down to your son(or daughter) and can stay on the road forever.

[aceduck1981]

My 8th grade teacher had a black 59 Impala that we all called the batmobile.

[benytuxoax]

beutiful car¡¡¡ so  weir and surreal¡¡ I like it so much............congratulation­s¡¡

[loreelolev]

That is not an impala, that is a Chevy Biscayne!

[jims59DOTcom]

You have never been so wrong as you are today! When you watch the movie, you can clearly see that the side of the car says Impala..... Being that I have the most popular '59 Impala web site on the net, I am qualified to point out your error...

[watchitnz]

SHe is one of the sexiest cars out there.

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the kind compliment and for watching my video.

[2Wensleydale]

Nice car and clever video. 64 Impala SS convertible is my favorite Chevy.

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for watching.

[lee5537]

The difference with old cars like this, if a new car was to hit it, the new car would be totalled. But an old car like this would only have scratches in the paint.

[jims59DOTcom]

Interesting observation, I hope this never happens to my baby. Thank you for watching.

[injunscout]

We had 2 of these when I was a kid. The twin to this car and a black wagon!

[jims59DOTcom]

Very cool. I fell in love with '59 Chevys when I was a small boy. Thank you for watching.

[Kaileo1]

Very cool car!

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the compliment and for watching.

[Lanceisabeach]

Great Car!!!!!!!!!

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the compliment and for watching.

[eldorado62]

These were the days when real American cars were built. Today, the American car has become a myth. If we want to drive REAL "American " cars today, then we need to begin combing the junkyards, and begin dragging those classics out of there and away from the jaws of the crusher! Also, you'd be astounded how many classics that are sold & exported every year to other counteries all across the globe. We've junked our best cars we ever built for the sorry-ass excuses that we drive today!

[vivalv64]

Great car! If you like GM 59's, you can thank Virgil Exner. His 57 Chrysler's were so far advanced, that for 1959 Harley Earl's team went behind his back and scrapped their planned warmed over 58's for an all new look. Harley was near retirement and finally agreed his team 'may be on to something' and begrudgingly approved the styling for 59. It's a good thing, because GMs 59's were all unforgettable! thanks for posting.

[vespava]

un lujo,exitos

[JeffN727]

I love the 59's. My parents had a '59 station wagon when I was very young. It was a light brown or tan color. Unfortunately some lady pulled out in front of them, and it was totaled. They replaced it with a '63 Impala wagon, then a '67. They also had a '58 wagon at the same time as the '59 for the 2nd car.

[mtfune]

What a true gem!! Absolutely beautiful.

[Plagu3Marine7]

1959 Impala is the Best Car design ever made. If they still made cars like this it would be great. I had a 4 door one in highschool as my everyday driver. Had to get rid of it, worst day of my life. Very nice ride.

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for watching! I had a 1959 ElCamino in high school and I have loved '59 Chevys since I was a little boy...

[tbear4pa]

The '59 and '60 Chevy's were the most creative examples of Jet Age and Space Age design of that era, they were both similar in design with those gull wing tail fins. The '59 had the cat eye taillights while the '60 returned to the six cone lights of the '58.

[9305612345]

You can look at any car from the 50's and 60's and tell what it is. The cars produced today are ugly and they all look exactly alike.

I think the '58 Impala was the best looking of the 50's Impala's but the most beautiful Chevy's of the 50's in my opinion were the 50's Corvettes.

[Lumotaku]

would you agree that me that the 95 crown vic tried to copy this batwing styling with its tailights. This an awesome car.

[brandonbuckman]

the front bumper doesn't look right something looks amiss like may b a 58 bumper or ???? sweet car i 'm lucky enough to wrench on a biscayne and impala, owner looking for a fixer upper elcamino or kings/brooks/parkwood wagon if not too far gone

[jims59DOTcom]

I can assure you that the bumper is correct. It has the genuine accessory front bumper guard as well. Thank you for watching.

[brandonbuckman]

sweet...just never seen one w/ those black bullet looking things on one till this vid, the '59 has to be the best looking chevy ever produced, well in my opinion. thanks for a good and informative vid on these beauties

[lasuvidaboy]

A neighbor of mine has his family's 1959 Chevrolet station wagon in his garage. Steel blue w/matching interior one-owner family car fully restored-it is a beast!

[64098]

The '59 Chevrolet is the most beautiful to me of the '50s Chevys. A fond childhood memory is of a neighbor's midnight blue four door hardtop, with the flat roof. Last year, one was offered near here in copper and beige, I would love any four door. To me they are certainly affordable, and no less desirable. I'll take mine with everything!

[jims59DOTcom]

Thanks for watching and for submitting your interesting historical comments! Jim

[brandonbuckman]

well said, well said

[chatrkat]

Just beautiful! This was the first car I ever rode in. 2 speed automatic ...what a concept!

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the kind compliment, and thank you for watching. Jim

[84400]

Nice impala there jim. good tune to Uriah Heep!

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the compliment. The song is "Rainbow Demon" from the Uriah Heep album "Demons and Wizards. Coincidentally a 1959 El Camino was my first car and this was the first LP album I bought as a teenager. The Roger Dean album art is also fantastic.

[84400]

yeah I like demons and wizards the best but the magicians birthday is not a bad LP eather.

[jims59DOTcom]

Yupp, I've got both albums. Those two releases were the high point of Uriah Heep's creativity for sure.

[Jim4575]

Thats a beautiful car you have. Love the cooler and light nice touch. They just don't make them like that any more. Fins were everything in the 50's. But why a 4dr?

[jims59DOTcom]

Hi Jim,

Thank you for the kind compliments. To answer your question.

"But why a 4 door?"

Comparing cars in similar condition to mine, two door hardtops are selling for minimum $30,000.00 U.S. and some are pushing the $50k mark, The convertibles in the condition of my car are over $100,000.00. I do not have the money for one of those cars and if I did I would be afraid to drive it.....

[Twostory]

I had a 59 back in 67. One of my best cars.

[jims59DOTcom]

This YouTube web page is for the enjoyment of automobile enthusiasts. It is not a message board for verbal abuse, obnoxious opinion, derogatory comments or vulgarity. Users wishing to do so are invited to go elsewhere. Inappropriate posts will be deleted and blocked. Thank you to all who use this website for the purposes intended.

Best regards to fellow hobbyists, Jim

[nostalgiabufff]

Sweet ride Jimbo!! Thanks!!

[BarbaraandHarold]

Excellent post! Educational too. Thanks.

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the kind compliments

[cantley47]

What styling! This one and the '57 are absolutely the high points of american car design. What a joy to look at from any angle! Thanks for posting this!

[poots2988]

This car is awesome I have wanted one since i was 11 years old!!! I am bidding on one just like this, but not as good a shape as yours! I LOVE YOUR CAR!!!