1958 Chevrolet Corvette
A genuine Arizona Corvette, previous owner had the car for over 34 years and has been titled in the Mesa Arizona area since 1972
270HP RPO-469C 283 CID V-8 engine with dual four-barrel carburetors and high-lift cam (Built in May of 1958 #F523CU)
Finished in Charcoal Exterior (#500A) with a handsome complimenting Inca Silver Cove
Stunning red interior included with the optional factory charcoal hardtop and black folding soft top
Produced right here in St. Louis, May of 1958
Four-speed manual transmission with 3.70 gearing
Complete professional full disassembly nut and bolt restoration performed during the early 1990’s.
Collectible year, unique louvered hood and chrome trunk spears only appeared for 1958 and only 978 of the ’58 Corvettes came with the Hi-Po 270HP option
No other body style comes close to the uniqueness of the 1958 Chevrolet Corvettes with the “washboard hood” and the striking chrome spears running down the body line of the rear trunk. MotoeXotica Classic Cars is very pleased and proud to present this very special Charcoal on Red 1958 Chevrolet Corvette. One of only 978 Corvettes in 1958 to receive the performance desired Hi-Po 270HP 283 CID V-8 engine with dual four-barrel carburetors and high-lift cam. This Corvette was built just a few miles from us at the St. Louis plant but after it was completed in the month of May it quickly departed and found its way to the sunny and dry state of Arizona.
The previous owner had this Corvette for over 34 years and has been currently titled in the Mesa Arizona area since 1972. Mr. Cairns purchased the car in August of 1984 from another Mesa Arizona resident who had the Corvette since 1972. The car at the time was a very nice original condition Corvette while showing 18,225 miles at the time but exempt do to age. For the next decade Mr. Cairns and his wife occasionally enjoyed driving the Corvette roadster around Mesa Arizona. In the early 1990’s Mr. Cairns who was now retired, decided to plan for a full frame off nut and bolt restoration, something he was very excited to do to his personal favorite car!
Mr. Cairns carefully researched local restoration shops to assist him with the Corvette and he chose Reed Restoring of Mesa Arizona because they only specialized in C1 Corvettes and Ford Model A’s. This was a serious full nut and bolt restoration, Reed Restoring completely disassembled the Corvette and striped the body down to bare fiberglass. Some minor body work was performed and the body received a professional paint job. The engine and carburetors were also rebuilt along with suspension and all electrical components. The interior was fully restored along with a new folding soft top. Basically every detail was restored and finally completed in 1996. Tech notes and 35mm photographs from Reed Restoring are still preserved and included with the car.
After a few years of enjoying his fully restored 1958 Corvette, Mr. Cairns unfortunately passed in 2004 and the car was stored away in the garage by Mrs. Cairns sold the car at the beginning of this year. A few things had to be done as the Corvette has been mostly sitting in the past decade. A restoration team rebuilt and cleaned the carbs, fuel lines and fuel tank. The soft top was sun faded so it was replaced with a new black soft top. Very impressed how preserved this Corvette is today from its full restoration 15 years ago, the tidy undercarriage condition really tells the story!
The Charcoal exterior paint (#500A) with a handsome complimenting Inca Silver Cove is all in great overall shape. The car’s lights are still in good condition including the rear tail lenses. This ‘Vette rolls on 205/75R15 radials at all four corners, surrounding factory wheel covers. The car’s body panels present very well today, the engine bay is tidy and the bumpers look good.
One of the best parts of this Corvette is the red interior, it just has so much style with the contrasting charcoal and silver exterior! The red bucket seats are in very good condition, while the matching red carpet is in excellent order. The twin-cockpit instrument panel is in very good order, as is the big, original three-spoke steering wheel. The inner door panels, mirror glass and shift lever are in good order. This car is a radio-delete model but with this hi-po engine and 4-speed transmission combo, what other music do you need? This Corvette left the factory with the rare optional power top but was converted to manual in 1994 when the car was restored with a new top. The manual soft top was replaced again this year and the Corvette also comes with a exterior matched factory hard top.
Under that famous “washboard hood” is the highly desirable RPO-469C 270HP 283 CID V-8 engine with dual four-barrel carburetors and high-lift cam (Built in May of 1958 #F523CU). Only 978 of the 10,000 ’58 Corvettes produced came with the CU coded Hi-Po 270HP option and this one is matted with the desirable 4 speed as well! Also to mention, that the exhaust note emitting from the rear of this Corvette sounds absolutely delightful and its the perfect slice of Americana while cruising with the top down! The undercarriage of this Corvette is extremely tidy and is truly something to appreciate for a 1958 Corvette.
The 1958 Corvette underwent an extensive redesign that included new body panels, a new instrument panel and new upholstery. The ‘58s featured dual headlamps for the first time ever and many chrome trim pieces, including chrome headlight bezels and rear decklid “suspenders.” Additionally, the ’58 Corvette featured non-functioning louvers on the hood. The radiator grill of the 1958 Corvette had nine teeth, instead of 13 (as in all previous years.) The ‘58 Corvette heater has an “outside” fresh air type heater.
Competition to this Corvette in 1958 included Jaguar’s XK-150, Ford’s Thunderbird and Mercedes-Benz’s 300SL.
This car is currently located in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 20,626 miles.
VIN: J58S107933
Sunny outdoor view of this classic black 1958 Chevrolet Corvette
