1959 was the year when Chevrolet decided to let the famous Bel Air and the brand-new Impala part ways, especially as the latter showed early signs of becoming a money-making machine.
Customer interest in the new Impala was skyrocketing, so after debuting as a top Bel Air version, the nameplate graduated to a stand-alone series in 1959. The new generation remained in production for two years, but it was enough for Impala to become a superstar, eventually turning the Bel Air into a second-class citizen for Chevrolet.
A 1959 Impala in mind-blowing condition is looking for a new home on eBay, but this time, the car has a great pedigree and ticks all the boxes that’ll convince a collector to pay big bucks.
The first owner by Richard “Dick” Foley, a NASCAR driver who debuted in the series in 1957 and competed in seven Sprint Cup Series. Foley isn’t necessarily a NASCAR legend, as his best result was a 19th-place finish at Daytona in 1958, but his Impala is still an incredible time capsule with everything original.
eBay seller 321impala says they purchased the car from Foley after the NASCAR racer ordered the Impala but never drove it. The new owner went through all the mechanicals and got the Impala up and running, eventually taking it to the road and maintaining the mesmerizing condition you can see in the pictures.
The vehicle has a 348 (5.7-liter) V8 that starts, runs, and drives perfectly. The 348 was the top engine of this model year, serving as the icing on the cake in a V8 lineup that also included the famous 283 (4.3-liter) Turbo-Fire.
The Tri-Power magic on this Impala is paired with a 4-speed transmission.
The Impala still flexes the original metal, as the seller says they never conducted rust repairs. The car looks impressive considering its age, and while it’s not a perfect 10, it still deserves a place in someone’s collection. It suffers from zero rust issues, so the floors and the trunk are clean (the trunk still shows a few occasional tiny spots that might require particular attention, but you should inspect them in person).
In addition to all the bells and whistles of a 1959 Impala, this time capsule comes with Foley’s autograph in the glove box, so it becomes a museum piece at some level.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the car has already attracted many bids on eBay, with the top offer already exceeding $55,000. Given its condition, the selling price is expected to increase in the coming days, as the auction will expire in four days. The seller has also enabled a reserve, and the highest bid doesn’t yet unlock it.
Interested buyers who want to see the Impala in person must travel to Melbourne, Florida, where the car is beautifully cared for until it finds a new home
