1958 Corvette Pictures & Notes
Popular Car magazines were mostly positive about the 1958 Corvette mechanical changes. There were rave revues on the 58 Vette's performance and handling characteristics. When the magazines in 1958 boasted about the 0 to 60 mph well under 8 seconds with top speeds around 125 mph, the anticipation grew and so did the pre-orders for this special car.
One of the more interesting side notes about the 1958 Corvette is the "Cerametallic" brakes that came with the heavy-duty package. The brakes tended to pull strongly to one side or the other until sufficiently warmed up. The 1958 Corvettes delivered with this package had a sticker on the windshield that warned, "This car is not for street use."
One of the more interesting side notes about the 1958 Corvette is the "Cerametallic" brakes that came with the heavy-duty package. The brakes tended to pull strongly to one side or the other until sufficiently warmed up. The 1958 Corvettes delivered with this package had a sticker on the windshield that warned, "This car is not for street use."
1958 Chrome trunk suspenders
Despite the somewhat extreme styling updates on the 1958 Corvette, which critics absolutely die for even today, the '58 Corvette turned a profit for the first time in its brief existence. Model-year production was well above 1957's record level, totaling 9168 units. As a result, the 'Vette was one of the few domestic models to score increased sales in that recession-wracked season, the others being limited to Rambler, Lincoln, and Ford's new-for-'58 four-seat Thunderbird that is now a classic itself today.
GM designers even questioned themselves on how much chrome was used stating, "...too willing to ladle on chrome with a trowel." Fortunately they were more sparing with the Corvette than any other car in the corporate fleet, and it's to Chevrolet's credit that the busied '58 styling was cleaned up considerably for the otherwise little-unchanged 1959 model.
GM designers even questioned themselves on how much chrome was used stating, "...too willing to ladle on chrome with a trowel." Fortunately they were more sparing with the Corvette than any other car in the corporate fleet, and it's to Chevrolet's credit that the busied '58 styling was cleaned up considerably for the otherwise little-unchanged 1959 model.
