Definatley GM, definately '59 but not an FC...

[Fast_Eddie]

I purchased this last week and drove it, or should I say floated it a short distance to my shed yesterday.



It is a '59 Chevrolet Impala Sports Sedan in amazingly original condition. Apparently 12,000miles from new.

I've never driven a full sized US car before, let alone LHD. Brakes are unboosted drums, suspension is the closest thing to a waterbed on wheels, and the manual column shift is on the right hand side of the column.

Makes an FC feel sporty!

It just needs a good detail and a few electrical gremlins sorted for rego. Can't wait!

[Glenn 'Stinky' Stankevicius]

Nice looking car there Eddie, I described the ride in my '66 Galaxie like driving a lounge suite down the road. I had the advantage of 4 wheel boosted drums, though. If you had a sensitive foot, good, if not the brakes were either off or locked  :o

[FATBOY]

nice ride eddie harko can you adjust the ride height for me im scared off heights lol

cheers fat

[SRVLIVES]

Love them verandah roof Chebbies!  8)

[customFC]

1 of my favourite cars.
What I would give to play in your toy box.  :D
Regards
Alex

[collecta]

Ditto to all the above,
 wish it was in my shed.

cheers
Scott

[Johns]

Wonderful stuff Ed.

It was a good move to avoid the 59 convertible, this one is much more modest.... 8)

I suuppose you need CASA clearance to land it :P

Cheers
John

[craiga]

wish it was in my shed.

I wish it was in your shed too....... ::)

You need to call the Maritime Services Board for a permit every time you take this barge on to the road. Its only got 12000 miles on it because the original owner couldn't afford the weight tax!!

Or maybe he was just scared he'd have to try and stop it at some stage  :P

Cheers,

Craig.

[Ed]

Hey Ed,

what a HUGE car!  hope you enjoy it.

looks cool.

Cheers

Ed

[Fast_Eddie]

Thanks guys. I'll take some photos tomorrow night and post them up.

[SRVLIVES]

What motor's in it?

[Phantom]

 G'day all
Isn't it amazing the difference in technology between an American 1959 car and an Australian 1959 car,
                       Cheers Rusty

[craiga]

What motor's in it?

Geez SRLIVES, take it easy.

He just liked the way it looked.

It may not even have an engine, you can easily roll a car from Shannons to the land of Fast Eddie. He would have sat there for 20 minutes looking for the steering wheel until he realised it was on the left. And you expect him to find the ignition switch as well?

You're a hard task master Mr SRLIVES, VERY tough question.:o

Cheers,

Craig.

[fccool59]

I think my power window switches for my FC are identical to the ones in that, does it have power windows and seats? A/C? is it a 348 BB, hope your taking it to the nostalgia drags.
Why didnt you just buy a local one, I hear the factory the local ones came from were turning out some of the best cars ever made at the time.

[Fast_Eddie]

Craig, thank you for your kind words of encouragement.

Fortunately the steering wheel was easy to find, but the column shift on the wrong side of the column (ie right handed) was interesting. I'll keep working on the fine motor skills.

SRILIVES, it has a 283 with a three speed manual with overdrive. I haven't progressed passed 2nd gear yet, so I can't tell what the overdrive actually does or whether it works - it is an underdash pull out arrangement - sort of like a bonnet release...

Leon, I'm not sure what you mean by a "local" one. If you mean an FC, I have my fair share of those already.

If you mean a 59 Chevrolet, I believe they only had a base model four door sedan out here with a six cylinder. This is a four door pillarless Impala, albeit without too many options. It does not have power seats or power windows.

Rusty, I agree, it is very different from a FC, more like EJ/EH in a number of areas. The window winders are the same as a FC - but that's about it!

I've got my camera back, so tomorrow night I'll definately take some detail photographs.

Regards

Edward

[HARKO]

ery cool Looks awesome ED and brand new ,Something that size stays new for atleast 80 000 klms due to the full chassis boat suspension and wheelbase ,good score.

Did I hear you right leon ? He bought an American coupe thats brand new dude.  ;)

Id like to warn you of a carpark in Sydney I once entered but I have no idea except its on the water and spirals downward as it narrows. You'll know it when you find it .
Its no fun asking 7 vehicles to reverse out so I can back up an old Pontiac.

[SRVLIVES]

Didn't that Shannons auction have a 348 manual convertible?

[Fast_Eddie]

Yes it did, although it was passed in.

http://www.shannons.com.au/pages/auctions/lot.jsp?id=Z35J3B92A0AQNP2N

[SRVLIVES]

Oh good, I've still got a chance then..... :o

[Johns]

Harko, your post bought back memories. The car park you refer to is the Kent Street Car Park.

In the late 60s my Dad had a Dodge Phoenix 4 door Hard Top. We had exactly the same problem on the spiral ramp, I remember having to run from the front to the back of the car as we inched our way down, lol :P

Cheers
John