The Impala debuted as a sub-series of the Bel Air in 1958. One year later Chevrolet let the popular car live on as a model of its own. The move was part of a larger shift within General Motors that saw platforms consolidated and shared across the various sub-brands. At the core of the revamp was a new “tubular center X-frame chassis” that debuted on 1957 Cadillacs. Also known as a “backbone chassis,” it allowed the bodies to sit a full three inches lower than before, creating the long, low-slung profiles that GM cars of this era are famous for.

With the Impala, Chevrolet doubled down on Space Age styling trends, the already jaunty tail fins of the 1958 model swelling to the size of a whale’s tale, flattened and protruding outward rather than upward. The characteristic trio of round taillamps that debuted on the ’58 Impala—which would return for 1960 and eventually become a hallmark of the model—gave way to elongated tear-drop-shaped lenses in 1959. Perhaps unaware at the time, Chevrolet had created one of the most instantly recognizable American automotive designs of all time.

A four-door hardtop and four-door sedan joined the previous Impala’s coupe and convertible body styles for 1959. An inline six-cylinder came standard, while three V-8 engines provided power options for every budget. Interiors grew more stylish and comfortable, as features like a six-way power seat made their debut. With every body style handily outselling the previous, it was clear Chevrolet found a recipe for success. Among the rarest of the 1959 models, the convertible sold nearly 73,000 units, versus around 56,000 the year prior.

This magnificent Impala Convertible was restored under previous ownership and is equipped with the impressive 348-cubic-inch Super Turbo-Thrust V-8 engine. Also known as the Tri-Power V-8, it features triple two-barrel carburetors good for a factory-rated 280 horsepower. After adding it to their collection in 2019, Ron and Sarah Jury set about perfecting the car almost immediately, investing more than $15,000 in 2020 to sort out various mechanical and cosmetic details, and another $2,200 in finishing work completed in 2022.

Beautifully presented in factory-correct Roman Red over Red vinyl, this Impala duly won an Antique Automobile Club of America Senior National First Prize in 2022 and followed up with a Grand National award in 2023. Showing in wonderful condition, with its vibrant red exterior and well-detailed interior featuring white piping and tone-on-tone seat inserts, this ’59 Impala Convertible will continue to wow at weekend cruise spots, informal enthusiast gatherings, and AACA events.