...I've always liked Roadmaster's split rear window treatment ending in decklid handles. KH wires don't hurt either. Really nice '57...
1957 was the last year of Harley Earl contributing to and giving final approval of all GM car designs. It shows.
...Harley retired in '58, and with car designs being several years out, he could have been responsible for designs into the '60s according to "internet sources." I hope you're right, hate to think he was responsible for the '58s after all those beautiful designs he was credited with...
To Dynaflow - I can't believe that he had anything to do with the '58s. To Smartin - But not any sheet metal. If I had a '58, I'd be looking for a decent '57 body. Just kiddin.
...actually, 58s were a much better car mechanically, especially finned aluminum ft brakes. First year '57s overheated, had u-joint problems with new "bent" torque tube, and door skins cracked at ft window channel...
LOL yep...the 57 Roadmaster 75's were the first ones to see aluminum front drums. And the "small series" 57's had the door skin cracking issues at the vent windows. The large series didn't have that problem since the skin was set up differently.
I don't question that. The '57 was a "first year of production" model. I just think the '57 was overall a better looking car then a '58. The black '58 ragtop above is a car that I wouldn't kick out of my garage, however.
...probably wouldn't fit in garage, that sucker was huge. I have rooms that don't have square footage that car fills...
The '57's almost look like a custom from the factory at certain angles. FAR better lookin' than ANY '57 Chevy IMO. Tom T.
I know that it wouldn't. Here in sunny SW Florida the garages tend to be small. The Buchev doesn't fit either. You would think that it would kill the builder to give you another two feet.
'58 was the first year for four headlights which I believe was a government mandate (could be wrong on that). They also still have the wrap around windshields, a Harley Earl trademark. It would be interesting to see how '58s would have looked if that mandate never existed. My understanding of the flamboyant styling of the GM '58 models was there was a lot of heavy influence from the custom sleds coming out of southern California and GM wanted a piece of it.
