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In 1959, Chevrolet was attempting to deliver to the public what its market
research and styling departments said the public wanted. We were at the end
of the '50's and tastes were changing. Chevrolet introduced their 1959 models
with radical styling. Long and wide, spinners, chrome and fins. The fantastic
"Bat Wing" Chevy, that was either loved or hated, was the creation of famous
G.M. Chief Designer Harley Earl who favored a longer, lower look. The 1959
line represented his last hurrah, after a legendary career of 32 years at G.M.
After his retirement, the styling of G.M. cars became more rounded and less
sculptured than the classic '59 Impala. Though actually heavier than previous
models, the '59 Impala had the appearance of a lighter and leaner car. This
Impala was actually two inches longer and wider for a more comfortable ride. The
Impala was introduced in a national television ad campaign featuring Pat Boone
and Dinah Shore singing the joys of seeing the U.S.A. in a Chevrolet. Distinctive
styling was not its only noticeable feature, the '59 Impala had the performance
to match. It could be equipped with a 348 cubic-inch Super Turbo-Thrust V-8
that had 3 2-barrel-carbs and pumped out 335 horsepower at 5800 R.P.M. This engine
was designed to be NASCAR legal and showed up at the new Daytona,
Florida race track to defend Chevrolet's leadership in performance.
Also available was the 283c.i. engine with optional fuel
injection. Approximately 52 of these optional cars were produced
making them extremely rare and very collectable.
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