I've always loved '58 Chevys, even when you couldn't give them away. Over 18 years ago, I slightly modified this 1958 Impala and it's probably the first 1/18 in which I "thinned downed" the whitewalls. I hastily"fixed" the trunk & spare (it's obviously in need of a re-do! 🙄).
L O N G before HW61, Sunstar Platinums, ACME, or Precision Miniatures, etc., ....this was it! Although dated, Ertl's Impala still hangs in there.
It looks excellent and is a great-looking Ertl 1/18 diecast (and real car) in my view. The additions here are really good and that golden color is wonderful !
My Dad had a real 1:1 1958 Bel Air in yellow and I still remember it. I also had a 1/25 promo when I was a kid.
Now, I have Ertl's "American Graffiti" 1/18 version in white top over pale yellow body and it is a favorite.
@mikedetorrice Nice. I never knew anyone who owned one but can recall seeing many for sale, as "recently" as 25-30 years ago, for not much money. I've always thought it was a great design.
Just great in that color. The '58 Impala is one of those cars that looks much more expensive than it was!
It's a rarely seen (scale & 1:1 ) authentic color, but it really pops when you see one today. And yes, there's alot of "Cadillac" in this design, but then again, one could argue that point about all of GM's '58 "faces." 🤔
Nice. I never knew anyone who owned one but can recall seeing many for sale, as "recently" as 25-30 years ago, for not much money. I've always thought it was a great design.
I always liked it, too ! Lol, here is me when I was a kid and Dad took me to work where he was a VP at an exhibit company. I am at his desk signing "important papers" and there is my 1/25 promo model of a 1958 Chevrolet. This is a coupe and we had a 4-door, but it is always a good-looking car and model.
Just great in that color. The '58 Impala is one of those cars that looks much more expensive than it was!
It's a rarely seen (scale & 1:1 ) authentic color, but it really pops when you see one today. And yes, there's alot of "Cadillac" in this design, but then again, one could argue that point about all of GM's '58 "faces." 🤔
There may be a lot of Cadillac in the looks of the '58 Chevy, but in my opinion, the Chevy is a thousand times better looking than the '58 Cadillac. I've always loved General Motors '58 line-up of cars, but NOT the Cadillac. The Chevy is gorgeous!
@georgeschire I'll admit the '58 Chevy is "cleaner" (...well, maybe not the Impala 🙄) than a 1958 Cadillac but as I noted on another post, the first car I ever rode in was a 1958 Cadillac, therefore, I'm too sentimental to ever speak negatively about them. 😏 😏
Come on now George, what's wrong with 1,437lbs of extra chrome? 😬 🤪 😬 😜 😬
...oh, BTW: a few have asked about "thinned whitewalls." Here's Ertl's 1/18 1958 Impala with its original whitewall width. I did not swap tires, I simply thinned down the OD (outer diameter) of Ertl's whitewalls. Obviously, they're too wide to be historically accurate for '58 Chevrolets. I think I lowered the overall ride height a bit too.
@georgeschire I'll admit the '58 Chevy is "cleaner" (...well, maybe not the Impala 🙄) than a 1958 Cadillac but as I noted on another post, the first car I ever rode in was a 1958 Cadillac, therefore, I'm too sentimental to ever speak negatively about them. 😏 😏
Come on now George, what's wrong with 1,437lbs of extra chrome? 😬 🤪 😬 😜 😬
Hey Chris, I will always understand and except personal sentiment for a car in anyone's life. So I get it for the '58 Cadillac for you. But that won't make me like it any better. Of the GM's '58 ladder of cars, only the Cadillac was too out there for me to like it. Being honest, here is the reason for that...I positively loved Cadillac's incredible 1956, and to see it become (to my eyes) so chromed and finned up for '58, I just have never been able to get in to it. Hope you understand that my not caring for it, is not taking a shot at you personally, as I understand the memory you share with it.
...oh, BTW: a few have asked about "thinned whitewalls." Here's Ertl's 1/18 1958 Impala with its original whitewall width. I did not swap tires, I simply thinned down the OD (outer diameter) of Ertl's whitewalls. Obviously, they're too wide to be historically accurate for '58 Chevrolets. I think I lowered the overall ride height a bit too.
Love your craftsmanship! As I've stated previously, you have an incredible talent, and one I envy not having.
Just great in that color. The '58 Impala is one of those cars that looks much more expensive than it was!
It's a rarely seen (scale & 1:1 ) authentic color, but it really pops when you see one today. And yes, there's alot of "Cadillac" in this design, but then again, one could argue that point about all of GM's '58 "faces." 🤔
There may be a lot of Cadillac in the looks of the '58 Chevy, but in my opinion, the Chevy is a thousand times better looking than the '58 Cadillac. I've always loved General Motors '58 line-up of cars, but NOT the Cadillac. The Chevy is gorgeous!
