1958 Chevrolet Hearse
- Thread starter Joe Melanson
- Start date
This has to be one of the strangest cars that I have ever seen. When decoding the factory data plate, 58-1847 is a 1958 Bel Air Impala sport coupe. 1958 being the first year for the Impala, it was a sub model of the Bel Air, so the only thing unusual is the choice of the model that they chose to build this car. Certainly, a 2 door sedan or a 4 door sedan would have been an easier platform to start with, if you are familiar with the roofline of the 1958 Chevrolets. Where it really gets weird, is the vehicle identification number. I have never seen one stamped like this before. All that I can think of is that this was a KD (knocked down) car for export. The KD cars were not completed units, and were shipped crated. The body builder was well versed in their craft to have completed this car.
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58's VIN tags were stamped. Thought I remembered that they were and just verified this with a call to a friend who has one. Sometime in the 60's they went to raised letters/numbers. I recall that back to 53 Chevrolet used raised lettering for the Chevrolet name and the VIN was stamped.
Keith Snyder
PCS Member
Puctures of this car have been floating all over the internet for a few years. General Motors Continental had an assembly plant in Antwerp, Belgium for a good many years. Over the years, they assembled many different GM brands there ...everything from Buicks to Vauxhalls....for various European markets. This may well have been a GM Continental assembled base vehicle. I didn't find or missed where (in what country) the car was found but, would be interested to know. The coachwork is obviously European and I would be surprised if it was not crafted in Holland or Belgium. Interesting car nonetheless.
John ED Renstrom
PCS Member
looks like a Aussy conversion to me. they were big on the two doors and that one piece flat rear door
The car was located in Uruguay.