Nineteen-fifty-eight was a year of many firsts for the Chevrolet Impala, as well as many lasts. This was the inaugural year for the legendary Impala nameplate, and the sole year that Chevrolet positioned it at the very pinnacle of the Bel Air lineup, rather than letting it stand as its own model. It was the first year for “big block” power in the Chevrolet passenger lineup, with the available 348-cubic-inch W-series Turbo Thrust V-8 eventually producing as much as 315 horsepower, depending on the configuration.

It was also the first, and only, year for the stunning first-generation styling with quad headlights, triple taillights, a full-width grille, and seemingly endless chrome bodyside moldings. Offered only as a hardtop Sport Coupe and a convertible, the 1958 Impala was actually quite different from the regular Bel Air models, with a more compact greenhouse, longer rear decklid, and a longer wheelbase. Joseph R. Schemansky is credited with the design, finalized while Harley Earl was still at General Motors—notably making the 1958 Impala the sole iteration of the model be created under one of Detroit’s great styling visionaries.

This 1958 Sport Coupe left the factory appearing just as it does today: Finished in Turquoise over an eye-catching tri-tone Gray, Black, and Turquoise interior. Big-block V-8 power was backed by an automatic transmission for effortless cruising; a two-spoke steering wheel fronts a dashboard with dramatic wraparound aluminum trim. The horizonal speedometer brings the Impala’s long, low, and wide look into the cabin—seemingly every part of the car benefits from the stylist’s touch.

An attractive survivor, this Impala has apparently seen only modest use from new. At time of cataloguing, the odometer displayed under 22,573 miles; while it is unknown if this is actual mileage, this figure is consistent with its overall condition. In 2007, following its acquisition by a private family collection in the Pacific Northwest, its transmission was removed and serviced, as documented by an invoice on file. Today, its Turquoise paintwork shows very well, and the interior shows limited signs of wear. Even the underhood area and trunk are tidy and well-kept. Wide whitewalls complete the period-correct look.

The Impala has always been popular: First with consumers, who made it a sales success for Chevrolet for decades, and then with collectors, who still prize its blend of bold style and ample power. This big-block 1958 Bel Air Impala Sport Coupe is a wonderful example of where the legend began.