Viewing a thread - 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

You are logged in as a guest. ( logon | register )

58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page]	View previous thread :: View next thread
Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion	Message format

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-04-12 12:14 AM (#537925)
Subject: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

Competing videos..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1mM9zWc3tw

Cadillac guy seems like a douchbag and just goes OMG we are quality!!! no really believe me were quality! no we have quality!

they claim the rear view mirror... says the imperial dash is confusing... I didnt expect GM to skip the fake toilet seat on the trunk :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCEmhR_QTgs

Edited by mikes2nd 2017-04-12 12:15 AM

miquelonbrad

Posted 2017-04-12 1:22 AM (#537927 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 1737
1000

Location: Hay Lakes, Alberta, Canada

Well...I own a '58 Cadillac, and comparing the Chrysler cars with it, there are good and bad to both. Cadillac's claim of having a superior suspension over the torsion bars is bunk. As is their claim that the X frame is more rigid...it definitely isn't. And the windshield glass isn't any more distortion free than Chryslers is. And Cadillac ladled on too much brightwork, compared to the Imperial.

However, where quality of materials is concerned, Cadillac is definitely superior. And the fit and finish of the trim, upholstery, and body panels is better than Chrysler used. Rear view mirror is absolutely better in the Cadillac!

imopar380

Posted 2017-04-12 9:34 PM (#538007 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 7206
5000

Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada

The Imperial certainly was a better engineered car than the Cadillac, despite what the narrator says. As far as styling, I also prefer the Imperial - definitely ahead of Cadillac with curved side glass, more modern styling, but it can be a matter of personal preference. Most of the nit-picking in the Caddy video can be a personal preference either way, other than somewhat shoddy fitting body panels. The narrator also wrongly refers to the car as a Chrysler Imperial. As to the Imperial instrument panel being the most confusing cluster of instruments and controls..... crazy!! It's a gorgeous and easy to read design. I would however agree with him that the transmission buttons are a bad arrangement of N-D-R-2-1 - and should be R-N-D-2-1 - which were changed for 1959 to D-N-R-2-1 which was still bad.

imopar380

Posted 2017-04-12 9:39 PM (#538008 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 7206
5000

Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada

Also what is the narrator talking about when he says the Imperial is lacking safety plate glass on the windshield??? Nonsense!! Chrysler Products had laminated safety glass on the windshield, and tempered glass on all other windows which shattered into small bits. GM Products also used laminated safety glass on the windshield as far as I know, and on the side windows, instead of tempered glass. No manufacturer uses laminated glass on side windows any more.

Edited by imopar380 2017-04-12 9:41 PM

FINS!

Posted 2017-04-12 9:42 PM (#538010 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: RE: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Elite Veteran

Posts: 943
500

I have both, or very close to it-- 57 Imperial convertible, 57 Sedan, 57 coupe, 2 58 Fleetwoods and a '58 Series 62 Sedan. You can pick and choose better things on each car, a lot of that is personal preference. Cadillacs were definitely quality but that's not to say the Imperials were not either. I could never choose between the 2 as I love both, hence the multiples of each

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-04-12 11:07 PM (#538013 - in reply to #538010)
Subject: RE: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Location: Parts Unknown

This is a fun subject for me ... late 50's luxury class cars. With Packard
gone, the game was down to three players .... Cadillac, Imperial, and
Lincoln. I find the 56 Imperial to be the best looking Imperial of the Forward
Look period, but the 57-59's are quite striking in many ways. The side
profile on a 2HT is so dramatic ! But there is something about the overall
bulk and front/rear end treatment that has kept me from really liking them
well enough to chase them. The giant instrument cluster turns me off. It
seems Mother Mopar thought huge meant luxury and went all out. I think
it is too much. But Imperials really were well built, nice cars through those
years.

Cadillac ? I liked Caddies up through 57, but after that, they were just
fancy Chevys for looks. I have never understood the attraction. GM's coil
spring suspension was mushy as pudding. The Imperial handles like a
sports car, by comparison.

This will sound heretical to some, but I like the Lincolns best through these
years for looks. The 56 is a very well balanced design that is quite elegant.
The 57 is radical, but still works And then there are the 58-60's ! The extreme
low beltline and styling cues are leagues beyond Cadillac or Imperial for "futuristic"
whimsies. I know nothing about them from a performance or reliability standpoint,
but what a land yacht they are going down the road. And you better have a
stadium sized garage for one. They cover some serious square footage !

In the end, I prefer the slightly scaled back cars in the Chrysler/DeSoto, Buick,
Mercury range over the full-blown luxury offerings. A little less formal, perhaps
a little more "sporty" in an elegant way ?

They are all cool, and I am glad others like the cars I would not own. I enjoy
seeing them all. Especially the ones you seldom see.

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-04-12 11:51 PM (#538016 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

the 58 Imperial is way better looking than the 58 Caddy. Cmon all gm products looked the same pretty much with minor tweaking.

58 gm vehicles were hideous with jewelry and bangles strewn about them with gaping maws in a desperate bid to catch up to Chrysler styling. Even gm admitted they sucked.

Viper Guy

Posted 2017-04-13 11:08 PM (#538083 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 2002
2000

Location: Branson, MO

Of all the '58 GM cars, Pontiac is the best!

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-04-14 12:56 AM (#538091 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

GM cars were not anywhere near "Sleek" ... they had huge gaping maws... and high awkward cars. GM killed them quickly.

(70969_Side_Profile_Web.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

70969_Side_Profile_Web.jpg (88KB - 195 downloads)

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-04-14 1:02 AM (#538092 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

and im sorry the olds is some kind of big block of car... I mean it looks like a brick with jewelry on it...

(138962_Front_3-4_Web.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

138962_Front_3-4_Web.jpg (110KB - 198 downloads)

drosera88

Posted 2017-04-14 1:20 AM (#538093 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: RE: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 1267
1000

Location: San Antonio TX

Meanwhile, at Ford......... this thing happens.....

Chrycoman

Posted 2017-04-14 1:30 AM (#538094 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 1819
1000

Location: Vancouver, BC

Safety Plate Glass was actually a term used by Libbey-Owens-Ford who supplied glass to GM. E-Z-Eye Safety Plate Glass was tinted glass. GM used the term Safety Plate Glass for their windows, as a result. Laminated glass, two sheets of glass (starting in the late 1930's two sheets of tempered glass) with a vinyl layer between, was the norm for windshields as well as side windows before WW II. There is a Canadian-built 1935 DeSoto Airflow here in Vancouver with laminated side window glass - the glass is separating.

L-O-F and GM used the term Safety Plate Glass for both Laminated and Solid Tempered glass.

Chrysler used PPG as their main source for auto glass and started making their own glass in the former DeSoto small parts plant on McGraw Avenue in 1960. PPG made Solid Tempered Glass and Duplate or Securshield Laminated glass.

So, the announcer was correct - Cadillac used Safety Plate Glass and Imperial did not. Both, however, used laminated glass in the windshields. And Imperial side and black glass was tempered.

Chrycoman

Posted 2017-04-14 2:54 AM (#538096 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 1819
1000

Location: Vancouver, BC

When the 1958 Oldsmobile was introduced someone (I believe a stylist at Chrysler) took a side view of the Oldsmobile and put a treble clef on the rear bars of chrome (four above the side character bulge and one on the bulge) and proceeded to place a few notes of a tune he knew on the photo.

By the way, Harley Earl was away in Europe when Chrysler started production of the 1957 models in the fall of 1956. Some GM stylists stopped by one of the assembly plants and had a look. And then went back to review their 1958 models. The first thing they did was start removing chrome. So, if you think the 1958 GM cars were chrome-laden barges, apparently they were supposed to have been worse.

The high bulky 1958 GM cars were the result of their B and C body cars being based on 1948 (C) and 1951 (OB) bodies, which were redone in 1950 (B/C), 1954 (B & C) and 1957 (B & C). If Harley Earl had had his way 1959 would have been round 4. Chrysler's 1953 and 1955 restyles were based on their 1949 bodies as were Ford's 1952 and 1955 restyles. And in Chrysler's case. the 1955 models were originally to have been modified 1954 models. Bodies were not cheap to tool so the manufacturers used the large, expensive inner stampings over long periods of time. Modified as needed. Thus the high belt lines on the restyles.

GM's 1959 models were the direct result of that day in 1956. The 1961 models were restyled 1959 bodies with slimmer doors - that was how the width was decreased 2"-3". And they were reskinned in 1963.

Chrome58

Posted 2017-04-14 5:12 AM (#538098 - in reply to #538083)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 1316
1000

Location: Belgium, 40 miles south of Brussels

Viper Guy - 2017-04-14 5:08 AM

Of all the '58 GM cars, Pontiac is the best!

I always admired that rocket on the side ...
Not suggested, not hinted, just a big, bold, in-ya-face ROCKET !

imopar380

Posted 2017-04-14 11:08 PM (#538141 - in reply to #538094)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 7206
5000

Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada

Chrycoman - 2017-04-13 10:30 PM

Safety Plate Glass was actually a term used by Libbey-Owens-Ford who supplied glass to GM. E-Z-Eye Safety Plate Glass was tinted glass. GM used the term Safety Plate Glass for their windows, as a result. Laminated glass, two sheets of glass (starting in the late 1930's two sheets of tempered glass) with a vinyl layer between, was the norm for windshields as well as side windows before WW II. There is a Canadian-built 1935 DeSoto Airflow here in Vancouver with laminated side window glass - the glass is separating.

L-O-F and GM used the term Safety Plate Glass for both Laminated and Solid Tempered glass.

Chrysler used PPG as their main source for auto glass and started making their own glass in the former DeSoto small parts plant on McGraw Avenue in 1960. PPG made Solid Tempered Glass and Duplate or Securshield Laminated glass.

So, the announcer was correct - Cadillac used Safety Plate Glass and Imperial did not. Both, however, used laminated glass in the windshields. And Imperial side and black glass was tempered.

The way the Cadillac narrator states it makes you think that the Imperial's glass is inferior, which it isn't, which is actually a somewhat deceitful statement on his part.

imopar380

Posted 2017-04-14 11:09 PM (#538142 - in reply to #538083)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 7206
5000

Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada

Viper Guy - 2017-04-13 8:08 PM

Of all the '58 GM cars, Pontiac is the best!

I agree completely. :-)

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-04-14 11:53 PM (#538145 - in reply to #538142)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Location: Parts Unknown

Love the 58 Pontiac side rocket, for sure. HATE the blunt and sickly
looking headlights. Tail lights are just bizarre Overall a cool car, though.

I like the Limited best of GM's 58 offerings ... The headlights have
well proportioned eyebrow hoods, the tail lights are stunningly well
integrated. A real barge of a car with GM's overdone slathering of
sparkly, but to my eye, the best overall combo of design elements
they tossed together in 58.

(58 Limited.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

58 Limited.jpg (97KB - 200 downloads)

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-04-15 1:49 AM (#538146 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

I have to say the Caddy has the best looks of 58 GM. bug eyed 57 Ford and bug eyed 58 Pontiac... The buick looks like a dinosaur...

I just wonder if GM just said lets make fins and chrome trim look as bad as possible and we can destroy this fad asap...

Edited by mikes2nd 2017-04-15 1:52 AM

(BuickGrille1a.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

BuickGrille1a.jpg (153KB - 190 downloads)

60 dart

Posted 2017-04-15 4:49 AM (#538148 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 8947
5000

Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA

the black pontiac conv. above looks like gm tossed together is because it is , limited , to one ----------------------------------------------------later

Rolle

Posted 2017-04-15 4:50 AM (#538149 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Member

Posts: 29

Location: Sweden Österlen Skåne

During 57-58 when Chrysler where low and wide, GM still looked like Hippos ??

Sorry, could´t help my self...

miquelonbrad

Posted 2017-04-15 3:33 PM (#538160 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: RE: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 1737
1000

Location: Hay Lakes, Alberta, Canada

C'mon...'58 Cadillac is definitely the best...look at my sleek, chrome laden beast!

(IMG_0163 (2).JPG)

(IMG_0165 (1).JPG)

Attachments
----------------

IMG_0163 (2).JPG (121KB - 181 downloads)
Attachments

IMG_0165 (1).JPG (88KB - 182 downloads)

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-04-15 5:22 PM (#538166 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

it has the red and white eyed screaming storm trooper bumper

but yes the Cadillac is the best 58, much cleaner, its funny everything is 57 chevyish though...

Viper Guy

Posted 2017-04-15 5:41 PM (#538168 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 2002
2000

Location: Branson, MO

That black "pontiac" convertible pictured above is a Buick Limited - not a Pontiac.

ttotired

Posted 2017-04-15 6:03 PM (#538169 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 8443
5000

Location: Perth Australia

Pretty partial to all the cars from the fin era, but I have to say more so to the GM ones

These are mine, and in the "herd" picture, that's the rebuild order (didn't think of that until just now)

Only reason its that order is if I built the buick before the Plymouth, the Plymouth wont get done.

Not being a rich man, I can only have one "toy" car at a time on the road, so once it all washes out, I will have a restored 58 buick

(the herd9.JPG)

(buick589JPG.JPG)

Attachments
----------------

the herd9.JPG (18KB - 183 downloads)
Attachments

buick589JPG.JPG (77KB - 183 downloads)

1955Coronado

Posted 2017-04-16 2:29 AM (#538188 - in reply to #538145)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 1918
1000

Location: Hell's Outhouse - a.k.a. Buckeye, Arizona

Doctor DeSoto - 2017-04-14 9:53 PM

Love the 58 Pontiac side rocket, for sure. HATE the blunt and sickly
looking headlights. Tail lights are just bizarre Overall a cool car, though.

I like the Limited best of GM's 58 offerings ... The headlights have
well proportioned eyebrow hoods, the tail lights are stunningly well
integrated. A real barge of a car with GM's overdone slathering of
sparkly, but to my eye, the best overall combo of design elements
they tossed together in 58.

Completely agreed.

Though the '58 Buick Limited isn't exactly my favorite '58 GM (it's my 2nd

), they got an undeservedly bad rap. The grille is a masterpiece and the lines are so darn clean - and those Limited-only tail lights are absolutely killer in the theme & symmetry blend. Given the chance, I'd snag a 1958 Buick Limited of any body style - sharp as a tack in every respect.

That said, between the '58 Cadillac and '58 Imperial, I'll take the Cadillac every time. A 1958 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special is on my bucket list of 4 cars (in no particular order) :

1955 DeSoto Fireflite Coronado
1957 Lincoln Premiere 2 door hardtop
1959 Plymouth Fury or Sport Fury 2 door hardtop
1958 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special 4 door hardtop

Edited by 1955Coronado 2017-04-16 2:31 AM

(1958 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

1958 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special.jpg (438KB - 181 downloads)

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-04-16 6:53 PM (#538207 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

wait this grill is a masterpiece? Its like someone couldn't stop blinging it.. I mean its like 50's ricers Just keep PUTTING SHINY THINGS on the front end!

You lose me when you hit over 30 pieces of bling on a cars front end. And I don't know if they meant to go with the "its going to EAT YOU" look also on purpose?

I think GM in 59 said "wtf were we thinking" and quickly scrapped the 58's... Take a 58 Desoto... its a tasteful 14 pieces?

Cmon I mean don't make me "scream"

Edited by mikes2nd 2017-04-16 7:06 PM

(1958-buick-limited-american-cars-for-sale.jpg)

(screaming.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

1958-buick-limited-american-cars-for-sale.jpg (168KB - 183 downloads)
Attachments

screaming.jpg (90KB - 171 downloads)

Viper Guy

Posted 2017-04-16 7:09 PM (#538208 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 2002
2000

Location: Branson, MO

The above is the epitome of fugly!

hemidenis

Posted 2017-04-16 9:48 PM (#538209 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 3887
2000

Location: Northen Virginia

depend of your favorite style of cars, if you like "side fat rolls" cars Gm designs first introduced in 1953 or even before, the 58 Cadillac is your car since his tendency is to be a 59. compare 58 with 59 and the difference is abysmal... Proof that GM copied the Virgil design of 1957.

mikes2nd

Posted 2017-04-16 10:38 PM (#538215 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 5006
5000

lets not get into the angriest car in the world... Buick got mean in 58 and downright insanely angry in 59

Made the 59 dodge look downright peaceful. What I like about GM is even when they went crazy, their cars were still not "awkward" and clunky like ford(57 to 60... the 56 ford was great looking) always was...

So you got to give them some credit. GM lines at least flowed... Ford.. wow...

Edited by mikes2nd 2017-04-16 10:44 PM

(1959-Buick-Electra-Front-940x569.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

1959-Buick-Electra-Front-940x569.jpg (154KB - 179 downloads)

Chrycoman

Posted 2017-04-17 1:35 AM (#538223 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: RE: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 1819
1000

Location: Vancouver, BC

So, you think the 1959 Buick was angry? Should see what they rejected.

Attached is a photo of a styling proposal for the 1959 Buick Limited (C body) 4 door hardtop. The roof is almost there as is the side sculpturing. Just needs a little work on the rear. Photo was taken May 20, 1957.

Amazing how much pent up styling flair erupted when Harley Earl was not around to run things.

(1959 Buick Limited Proposal - 1957-05-20 c.JPG)

Attachments
----------------

1959 Buick Limited Proposal - 1957-05-20 c.JPG (293KB - 178 downloads)

Centurion

Posted 2017-04-17 1:50 PM (#538250 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Regular

Posts: 88

Location: Puyallup, Washington

I can't resist chiming in on this fun topic. I agree with the guy who loves all the fin-era American cars; each is fascinating in its own way. For the three other guys who have posted who live in Washington state or British Columbia, we will be cruising with about ten cars from the Seattle area to the Davenport / Harrington area (west of Spokane) on the weekend of May 19 - 21. We call ourselves "Pacific Northwest Cars of the Jet Age". One of our guys grew up on a wheat farm near Harrington, and he'll be driving his all-original 1961 Chrysler New Yorker. I'll be driving my all-original 1959 Buick Electra. We'll have a 1958 Edsel Pacer with us, a 1960 Chevrolet Impala, a 1962 Thunderbird, etc. Our focus is always on the driving, but we'll participate in the downtown Harrington car show on May 20. Ian and Bill, any interest in joining us with your Forward Looks, meeting up with us east of Seattle on the morning of May 19? DoctorDeSoto, I share your view regarding the usual local car show scene, but perhaps you'd like to come out to Harrington and meet our Jet Age group. Our interest corresponds closely to the Forward Look era, but we concentrate on the 1957 - 1962 model years. Our cars are stock, original or mostly authentic restorations. We love the amazing cars from this era.

Edited by Centurion 2017-04-17 1:55 PM

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-04-17 3:03 PM (#538259 - in reply to #538250)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Location: Parts Unknown

Harrington is a great little "dustbowl" town. Be sure to check out the
guy with the Studebaker garage on the main street. I so not have an
operational "jet age" car these days, but do have my old truck.

I could offer beer and a tire kicking tour of my shop, if you nuts care
to push on over to Spokane ?

imopar380

Posted 2017-04-17 4:18 PM (#538264 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 7206
5000

Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada

Brian, much as I'd like to join you on May 20th, can't make it. We will be in Tacoma though, August 15-20 for the WPC National Meet. There will be LOTS of Forward Look cars in attendance there!

Centurion

Posted 2017-04-17 4:19 PM (#538265 - in reply to #538259)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Regular

Posts: 88

Location: Puyallup, Washington

Yes, it's the Studebaker Garage that sponsors the Harrington show. My wife and I have driven through a couple of years ago, and it's a great area. I don't think we'll make it over to Spokane, but I will certainly throw your invitation into the mix. Thank you! We'll be meeting in a couple of weeks to finalize our plans.

Centurion

Posted 2017-04-17 4:21 PM (#538266 - in reply to #538264)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Regular

Posts: 88

Location: Puyallup, Washington

Ian, yes, looking forward to the WPC Meet! Do you know yet what the precise location will be? Edit: I just found that the show location will be at LeMay -- America's Car Museum. I'll be there, since I work in Tacoma and live in Puyallup.

Edited by Centurion 2017-04-17 4:23 PM

57burb

Posted 2017-04-17 4:25 PM (#538267 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 3967
2000

Location: DFW, TX

I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of '58 GM cars, but they're not bad looking cars in any way.

In fact, the '58 Impala is a masterpiece.

Viper Guy

Posted 2017-04-17 9:28 PM (#538276 - in reply to #538267)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 2002
2000

Location: Branson, MO

57burb - 2017-04-17 3:25 PM

I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of '58 GM cars, but they're not bad looking cars in any way.

In fact, the '58 Impala is a masterpiece.

Not so sure I would call the '58 Chevy a masterpiece but the Impala would be the only one close. I still like the Pontiac better and when you look close they are almost identical bodies. The only thing that floats my boat about the '58 GM cars is that they are a one year model only which makes them unique in that manner. Not too sure about the Caddy though as it seems to have more than the one year flavor???? Regardless, the Caddy is not on my list of likable '58 GM cars.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-04-18 1:19 AM (#538289 - in reply to #538276)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Location: Parts Unknown

I rank the 58 Chevy as the ugliest car to ever wear than badge. Painful
to look at. Yikes !

60 dart

Posted 2017-04-18 4:32 AM (#538293 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert 5K+

Posts: 8947
5000

Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA

there were 2 guys in highschool that had a 57 white on white belair conv. and another had a 58 impala white on white conv. , both with continentals . preference is as always subjective
but they were absolute knockout beauties . the 58 is still owned by the same family . not often one would see such cars in a small western pa. town ---------------------------------------later

Edited by 60 dart 2017-04-18 4:33 AM

57burb

Posted 2017-04-18 11:01 PM (#538339 - in reply to #538289)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 3967
2000

Location: DFW, TX

Doctor DeSoto - 2017-04-18 12:19 AM

I rank the 58 Chevy as the ugliest car to ever wear than badge. Painful
to look at. Yikes !

I think you've lost any semblance of objectivity, and instead have a pavlonian response according to how you've programmed yourself to love or hate a specific car.

Kind of like your hatred for '59 Mopars...

Edited by 57burb 2017-04-18 11:03 PM

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-04-19 1:24 AM (#538351 - in reply to #538339)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Location: Parts Unknown

I like crisp lines and integrated design. The 58 Chevy is bloated, their idea of a
finned rear end looks like someone holding a marshmallow with their butt cheeks,
and WTF ? ... that side trim looks like it was gathered from 3-4 different cars
and glued on the sides by a drunk blind man ! The fact that it followed the 55-56-
57 Chevys only makes it worse.

But other than that, it's a pretty good looking car !

The 59 Mopars suffer from the same issue, ... thick, bloated lines, overly
exagerated trims, bumpers, grilles that often are totally disconnected and
irrelevant to each other. After the 56-57-58 designs, the 59 cars were like
caricatures of the previous offerings. But just like people LOVE the 59 Caddy
(another absurd, over-the-top design), they love the 59 Mopars for being so
extreme.

I will admit that had the 58 Chevy worn fins like the 57 Chevy or 58 Buick,
I would not be so repulsed by them. But that ass end is an utter abortion in
pure ugly ! And people actually paid full retail for them !!! Amazing !

moparsteve

Posted 2017-04-19 8:27 AM (#538364 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: RE: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Elite Veteran

Posts: 1155
1000

Location: somerville mass

all 1958 cars had chrome and fins and finesse of some sort... even rambler tried!

where do i begin... the space age is here... imagine a chrome button on the dash

that said "fly"!

300d - win at daytona imperial lebaron - you have cadilllac fleetwood sixty

special AND eldorado brougham - only owners of corporations and celebrities

owned these... over 10000 bucks new! you could buy a house for that in 1958!

desoto adventurer and fireflite coupe and conv. could be had... we were in a

recession then. salesmen with customers wanting basic models you try to kick

them up to say a belvedere.... hungry college students as salesmen..

b-58 buick.. try to polish all that chrome! not counting the limited! and that

"59" limited proposal...wow! oldsmobile looked just as good and the new

impala... pontiac bonneville..

back to fwd look... 58 fury and the regal lancer...

furd not so cool exc for skyliner merc was cool w turnpike cruiser w keyboard

control and those cool vents on the roof george jetson stuff....

firedome

Posted 2017-04-19 10:00 AM (#538373 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: Re: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 3155
2000

Location: NY & VT

One reads with wry amusement the pontifications of all the self-appointed styling experts here... personally
I love any and every US car from 1955 to 1961, just in varying degrees. IMO every one of them was a cultural expression of a totally unique era in history that will never be repeated and is cool in it's own way... even a '57 Nash Ambassador!

We will never again have such cheap energy available to almost everyone, and these cars perfectly personify the optimism, and yes, privilege, of the US in the Post-War era. What is yet to come will be something else entirely, and these '50s totems of chrome and symbols of power will serve to evoke wistful memories of the way we were.

Edited by firedome 2017-04-19 10:08 AM

(1957-ambassador-1.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

1957-ambassador-1.jpg (10KB - 171 downloads)

firedome

Posted 2017-04-19 10:25 AM (#538376 - in reply to #537925)
Subject: RE: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Expert

Posts: 3155
2000

Location: NY & VT

While reviled by some, I personally LOVE the '58 Super 88 in my garage precisely BECAUSE it is the epitome of excess, a perfect expression of US culture at the time. Liberace as the most popular musician of 1958 was the musical equivalent. The only car of greater, thus more perfect, excess is the '59 Caddy. The proper '50s over-the-top color is also essential to completing the image.

The Olds front end perfectly exemplifies the Insolent Chariot that it is, well deserved transport of the Gods that we Citizens of the USA fancied ourselves to be after winning the War and conquering the world with consumerism.

By the way it was Alex Tremulis who while working for Ford at the time waggishly adorned the chrome bars of the '58 Olds' flanks with musical notes, ignoring the fact that a musical staff actually has 5 bars, not 4.

Edited by firedome 2017-04-19 10:35 AM

(1958 Oldsmobile-88-Heather-500px.jpg)

Attachments
----------------

1958 Oldsmobile-88-Heather-500px.jpg (21KB - 165 downloads)

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2017-04-19 10:58 AM (#538381 - in reply to #538376)
Subject: RE: 58 Imperial vs 58 Cadillac

Location: Parts Unknown

I saw about a 1/2 dozen 58 Olds over the years where owners had
painted musical notes on the sides.

Had the chance to buy a nice Fiesta wagon in the 80's. Wish I had
a warehouse just to tuck cars away like that. Hope it was loved and
survived.

There is a 58 Nomad along a street not far from here. As much as
I might disdain the design, it is still a thrill to see it when I drive by.

Just down the street is a 57 Ford wagon. It looks bone stock, but
one day I came up behind it at a stop sign and when it was his turn
to go, he was gone like a slingshot. Something very NOT stock under
the hood !

Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page]

Jump to forum :

Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

* * * This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated * * *

(Delete all cookies set by this site)