1958 GM - Tuerca.cl

[kikddabottle]

the age of showmanship!! the age of an optomistic future! what did we get? the late 60's and 70's.

[sexysagi]

Bring back Pontiac, too!

[prckay]

@sexysagi Pontiac is on Hiatus.. GM plans to bring Pontiac back sometime in the future..

[TRUFFLEHOUNDEXPRESS]

The 1950's American cars ads such as this one seem to me to have a magical, ethereal qualty about them. I've always liked the 1958 Buick Ltd precisely because it's "over the top".

[aboonski]

The cars of this era had class and you got something for your money other than plastic and composite materials. These cars were easy to work on and comfortable to ride in with plenty of space to stretch out in the back seat. Compared to the price of a new car today, these cars were really a bargain! If you maintained a 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible from the time you bought it new until today, it would be worth almost $100,000 right now.

[LJFLA]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TUBISTOTLE]

whomever said that is stupid, I have a 58 buick and it's one of nicest they ever made.. I would say the worst styling years fall in the 70's to today.

[Whitedevo]

Good call my dad has a 58 limted conv..

[1947Desoto]

I couldn't agree more. However I noticed some of the new models for this year and the upcoming years look a hell of a lot better after 35 years of ugliness. Like the new Fords for example. Bigger, more chrome and better milage. (I would rather have a pre 1958 Ford though.)

[Cruiseomatic]

Crazy. Most knowledgable people consider 1958 to be the single worst year ever for automotive styling.

[sydneysmooth21]

As a car designer myself, seeing your comment saying 58' was the worst year in automotive styling, I hate to tell you, but it's actually the most regarded and appreciated year. Due to the fact that styling went to a peak, especially for Buick, Pontiac, and Chevrolet. The first year, in that all cars featured quad headlights, back and front curvature (wrap around) windscreens, and the highest level of design, and detail. So please Mr. Knowledgable, don't speak too soon before knowing the facts.

[Cruiseomatic]

Syd baby, I'm glad you like facts, so here are some for you. Chevrolet production figures, 1957: 1,505,910. 1958: 1,142,460. 1959: 1,462,140. Pontiac production figures, 1957: 334,041. 1958: 217,303. 1959: 383,320. Oldsmobile production figures, 1957: 384,390. 1958: 294,374. 1959: 382,865. Buick production figures, 1957: 405,086. 1958: 241,892. 1959: 285,089. Cadillac production figures, 1957: 146,841. 1958: 121,778. 1959: 142,272.

[Cruiseomatic]

So to continue, the consumers of the day didn't agree with your opinion of these cars. Also, your statement that 1958 was the 1st year for wrapapround windshields is absurd, they were appearing in 1953 and by 1955 about the only car that didn't have it was Lincoln. Also, the 1958's were one year only cars. That's very expensive for an automaker to do and there has to be a very good reason for it.

[sydneysmooth21]

Actually if you read correctly, u would have realised i said " back and front curvature (wrap around) windscreens, " I was stating, that it was the year in which they were featured on the front and back of the car. Im very well aware that they have been around even as far back as the concept 51' Buick Lesabre. But only as a front shield, not at the back at the same time. Read correctly.

[Cruiseomatic]

The reason is that GM styling chief Harley Earl was planning on a continuation of the '58 styling themes into '59. The junior stylists under him were so repelled by that idea that they led a house coup against him while he was out of the country. He was deposed bot long after. Quite an endorsement of the '58 styling, wouldn't you say? The '59's were all new styles. How's them for facts, Syd?

[sydneysmooth21]

My comment wasnt about what people thought back then, realistically last i checked its 2007. I was talking about views today, for eg. In the 20-40s Art deco wasnt well appreciated, but today we appreciate it as one of the finest styles and designs. You took my comment out of context into a different era of view.

[Cruiseomatic]

They looked ugly in 1958 and they look ugly now. If you believe the styling themes of 1958 have come full circle and they have somehow regained credibility in 2007, it would be a simple matter for designers to incorporate some of those themes into the current cars. I'm talking about garbage such as chrome ladled on with a trowel, tailfins, bombsights on the front fenders, etc. etc. etc. But they aren't doing that, are they? Exactly.

[kilo54]

well boys' I owned a 68 olds 98 and it was beauty as well as the 58 Impala, both great cars with styling you'll never see again ! interior and exterior these cars are a thing of beauty really miss those days being able to tell what car mfg.'s is whose, they all blend into a very similar shape and look as well as appointments.

[kilo54]

sorry it was a 58 olds......not 68

[1947Desoto]

I'm glad to learn all these important facts. However I'm not too crazy on the 1959 designs. I like the Chryslers and Imperials from the period of 1957-1961. They kept their big finned designs over squaring them off. The best example was 1961 Imeperial, the last car to have big vertical fins. (I know the '59 Caddy had the biggest ever but by 1961 the fins were tonned down.)

[Whitedevo]

Cruise omatic Just wishes he owned 1

[GnosisMan50]

consumerism at full throttle...

[crifoter69]

Really great automotive architecture....too bad they went change happy in 1959. Shame on whoever allowed the '59 Chevy, Buick, Pontiac and Olds to replace those beautiful machines.

[cengawer]

I agree with you... And also, i wish to learn that what was the reaction of people when they saw first time these '59 Chevy, Buick, Pontiac and Olds. I think it was a big dissapointing... Isnt it?

[1947Desoto]

I agree with you guys too. 1959 for the automotive industry made a drastic change. People shifted their intrest from round, chromed, finned styled cars to square, less chromed compact cars. I'd say 1958 was the last year of the real "classic" car.

[Ferris1Edward1970]

those days were innosent:) i wish i lived em' the 2000's are vulgar and evil

[OLDS98]

I like that GM commercial. That was back before Saturn, Hummer and SAAB were added. I like all the GM brands, but this was great to see. I added it to my favorites.