• Corvette styling was jazzed up for 1958.
• There were now four chrome rimmed headlights with fender length chrome strips running between each pair of lights
• As if that weren't enough glitter, fake louvers were placed on the hood.
• The grille was similar to the previous year, but had four fewer vertical bars.
• Three horizontal chrome strips were added to the new cove.
• A couple of vertical chrome bars decorated the trunk.
• They detracted from an otherise graceful rear-end treatment.
• The wraparound front and rear bumpers were larger.
• The interior changed dramatically.
• The gauges were clustered together in fron of the driver, rather than spread across the dash as before.
• A center console and passenger assist (sissy) bar were added.
• Seat belts were made standard equipment.
• They had been a dealer-installed option in 1956 and 1957.
• There were six exterior body colors offered:
  • Charcoal (Black or White soft top)
  • Silver Blue (White or Beige top)
  • Regal Turquoise (Black or White top)
  • Signet Red (Black or White top)
  • Panama Yellow (Black or White top)
  • Snowcrest White (Black, White, or Beige top)

• The serial number (Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN) was located on a plate on the left front door hinge pillar
• Serial numbers ranged from J58S100001 to J58S109168

  Position	Character	Description
  1	J	Corvette
  2 & 3	58	1958
  4	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
  5 to 10	100001 to 109168	production sequence

• Engine serial number

  1 to 7	0001001	sequential production number
  8	F or T	Flint, MI or Tonawanda, NY
  9 to 10	Carburetion & transmission	CQ = three-speed manual transmission CR = three-speed manual transmission with fuel injection CS = three-speed manual transmission, high lift camshaft, and fuel injection CT = three-speed manual transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors CU = three-speed manual transmission, high-lift camshaft and dual four-barrel carburetors DG = Powerglide automatic transmission DH = Powerglide automatic transmission and fuel injection DJ = Powerglide automatic transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors

• Cars with optional four-speed manual transmissions used the same engine code suffixes as cars with three-speed manual transmissions.
• The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
• The Fisher Body Style Number 58-867 identifies a Corvette.
• The body number is the production serial number of the body.
• The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
• The pebble-grain vinyl upholstery was available in Red, Dark Gray, or Turquoise.
• The paint number indicates the color combination.
• The six 1958 Corvette acrylic lacquer exterior colors were:
  • 500A = Charcoal
  • 502A = Silver Blue
  • 504A = Regal Turquise
  • 506A = Signet Red
  • 508A = Panama Yellow
  • 510A = Snowcrest White
• The body side cove could be painted Silver or White

Series No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
J800	867	2-dr. Roadster - 2 passenger	$3591	2781 lb	9168

TRANSMISSION

• Standard Manual Transmission: Close-ratio three-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
• Optional Manual Transmission: Close-ratio four-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter
• Automatic Transmission: Two-speed Powerglide transmission (optional)

CHASSIS

Wheelbase	102 inches	2.591 m
Overall length	177.2 inches	4.501 m
Overall width	72.8 inches	1.849 m
Overall height	51.6 inches	1.318 m
Front tread	57 inches	1.448 m
Rear tread	59 inches	1.499 m
Frame	Welded steel box-section X-braced type
Ground Clearance	6 inches	15 cm
Wheels	15" steel bolt-on wheels
Tires	6.70x15
Front suspension	Independent; unequal-length A-arms; unequal-length wishbones; coil springs; anti-roll bar;tubular shocks
Rear suspension	Live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs, anti-roll bar, tubular shock absorbers
Rear suspension	Live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs, tubular shock absorbers
Steering	Saginaw worm-and-ball, 17:1 ratio, 3.7 turns to lock; 38.5 foot turning circle
Rear axle type	Hypoid semi-floating
Brakes	Four-wheel hydraulic, internal-expanding, 11-inch diameter drums, 157 square inches effective lining area (121 square inches with optional sintered metallic linings)
Standard 3-speed axle ratio	3.70:1
Powerglide 2-speed axle ratio	3.55:1
Optional axle ratios	4:11:1, 4.56:1

OPTIONS

• RPO 101 Heater ($96.85)
• RPO 102 Signal-seeking AM radio ($144.45)
• RPO 107 Parking brake alarm ($5.40)
• RPO 108 Courtesy lights ($6.50)
• RPO 109 Windshield washer ($16.15)
• RPO 276 Five 15 x 5.5-inch wheels (N/C)
• RPO 290 6.70 x 15 White sidewall tires ($31.55)
• RPO 313 Powerglide automatic transmission ($188.30)
• RPO 419 Auxiliary hardtop ($215.20)
• RPO 426 Electric power windows ($59.20)
• RPO 440 Optional cove color ($16.15)
• RPO 469A 283-cid 245-hp dual four-barrel carburetor V-8 engine ($150.65)
• RPO 469C 283-cid 270-hp dual four-barrel carburetor V-8 engine ($182.95)
• RPO 579 V-8 283-cid 250-hp fuel-injection engine ($484.20)
• RPO 579D V-8 283-cid 290-hp fuel-injection engine ($484.20)
• RPO 473 Power-operated folding top mechanism ($139.90)
• RPO 677 Positraction axle with 3.70:1 ratio ($48.45)
• RPO 678 Positraction axle with 4.11:1 ratio ($48.45)
• RPO 679 Positraction axle with 4.56:1 ratio ($45)
• RPO 684 Heavy-duty racing suspension ($780.10)
• RPO 685 Four-speed manual transmission ($215.20)

• Production of the 1958 Corvette began October 31, 1957.
• Almost 11% of the 1958 Corvettes were powered by the 283-cid 290-hp fuel-injected V-8
• A 1958 Corvette with the standard 230-hp V-8 and 4.11:1 rear axle could go from 0-to-60 in 9.2 seconds.
• It did the quarter mile in 17.4 seconds at 83 mph and had a top speed of 103 mph.
• A 1958 Corvette with the optional 250-hp fuel-injected V-8 and 3.70:1 rear axle could go from 0-to-60 mph in 7.6 seconds and from 0-to-100 mph in 21.4 seconds.
• It did the quarter mile in 15.7 seconds at 90 mph and had a top speed of 120 mph.
• A 1958 Corvette with the optional 290-hp fuel-injected V-8 could go from 0-to-60 mph in 6.9 seconds

1958 CORVETTE

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