Driving an American Sports Car Icon: the 1958 Corvette

Icon: an image or representation. American sports car icon: a first generation Corvette, red with white coves, thank you very much!

55 years after the concept was first unveiled at Motorama in January, 1953, the Corvette is still America’s most beloved sports car. Through six generations, more than a million Corvettes have been delivered to lucky owners. While there have been faster, better handling cars, the first generation Corvette has retained a place in hearts and minds as the favorite.

It’s actually the second design of the first generation that is best remembered. Corvette production vehicles debuted with rocket taillights, mesh-covered headlights, side-curtains and a “Blue-Flame” six-cylinder engine. Instead of axing the dismally selling vehicle, Chevrolet opted for a sleek restyle in 1956, featuring the historic option of color-contrasting exterior coves, which helped increase sales five-fold. Continue reading…

In 1958 the Corvette grew ten inches longer and received European-inspired luxury appearance modifications with quad headlights, hood louvers and chrome trunk strips. When new, critics called the extra design touches tacky, so the hood and trunk adornments were ditched for ’59. 1961 cars got a new ducktail, and the contrasting cove option was deleted for 1962, the last year before next-generation Stingrays hit the market in 1963.

9,168 Vettes were produced in 1958 and given the one-year-only trim, and now all are extremely valuable classics. One of 1,399 original Signet Red cars, the example I’m about to pilot for today’s Sound Classics profile is also one of the roughly one-third of all 1958s receiving the $16.15 contrasting exterior cove paint option, in this case the desirable white. Powering this vehicle is the optional $150.65 245 horsepower dual-quad carburetor setup mated to the $188.30 Powerglide automatic transmission. It is also a dual top car, with folding soft-top and a removable auxiliary hardtop, which stays stashed in the owner’s garage.

Most people have only seen the American performance icon in pictures. In person, a ’58 Corvette is muscular, sexy, gorgeous, sleek, luxurious, mean, and breathtaking all in a single gaze.

In the world of sports cars, however, looks only go so far. Performance gets you the rest of the way.  1958 was the first successful racing season for Corvette owners, where notable achievements included a GT Class win and 12th overall at Sebring, SCCA National B-Production championship and a class win at the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. 

Typical of the Northwest, it’s raining cats, dogs, geese, and whales. Do you think I’m going to let that stop me from driving a car with this pedigree?  Heck no!

The red interior, redesigned for 1958, is extremely well-appointed for a sports car. The flat seats seem built right into the rear of the cockpit, offering little room for taller drivers. Headroom is also as skimpy as the seafood portion of a $3.99 Crab Louis. I’m staring through the thin, large diameter red steering wheel and see a small circular tachometer with a half-moon-shaped speedometer located directly above and recessed slightly. Flanking the tachometer are circular auxiliary gauges.

With a quick turn of the ignition, the 283-cubic-inch small-block V8 falls into a smooth idle. I take the floor-mounted shift lever with its counterintuitive reversed pattern and slide it up out of park and into low gear. Pressing the fun-pedal down, the two four-barrel carbs chug air and fuel with reckless abandon. Acceleration is brisk, but I can actually feel the Powerglide pilfering power. Adrenalin-junkie collectors can always opt for the pricier, more finicky 290-hp fuel injected engine mated to a four-speed.

Driving quickly reveals how much more substantial the car is than most its contemporaries. The car is 750- pounds heavier, while also significantly wider and longer than Porsches, Triumphs or MGs. Even though it is fiberglass, the Vette seems ironclad as it hugs the elevation changes of the back-country road.

Referred to as “solid axle” Corvettes for their lack of independent rear suspension, collectors usually note their harsh ride. Compared to contemporary sports cars, though, it is actually extremely compliant. Steering is rather responsive, but requires strong arms.  Even in the rain, this well-restored example is extremely predictable. I punch the accelerator out of a slow right-hander and find the tail steps out no easier or harder than it comes back in (courtesy of judicious cranking of the wheel to gain some opposite lock).

Similarly, unassisted brakes mean using serious pedal pressure, but bite is excellent. Drum brakes are notorious for fading quicker than a one-hit wonder pop star, but that’s mostly in racing. I’m not pushing it that hard today. 

It is an easy car to drive, but after ten or so minutes of spirited apex-carving, one gets a deep level of respect for the conditioning of the guys who flogged these suckers in anger during endurance events like Sebring.

At the end of the day, at 50 years old, this automatic transmission Corvette is best suited for sunny weekend touring. It gives a great combination of sense of speed, solid feedback and ease of use. And even if the weather gets really bad, it is still enjoyable just to stand and drool at the looks of this legendary icon.