Equipment
348/335hp high compression Tri-Power, 3-speed, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, heater.
Condition
Represented as 'highly unrestored' with original paint and interior. You can see why they left those alone, because other than a few touch ups on the nose and trunk as well as a small dent in the left rear fender, the body and cockpit look fantastic and need nothing. Underneath, meanwhile, has been gone through. The chassis has undercoating, and the mechanicals have all been redone or replaced, including fresh paint on the block and brand new exhaust. The restorer's sensitivity should be a lesson for others on combining preservation with restoration.
Market commentary
With its highly original restoration and high performance 348 engine this '59 Impala is probably unique which makes observations on its transaction highly subjective. The car itself, restored to show quality condition without going to excess, could be worth six figures. The uniquely sensitive restoration should add to that. No car show judge in his or her right mind could possibly deduct for the blemished but shiny original paint or the somewhat aged interior. Taken together they make the transaction a very good value for the new owner, but one missing only one thing: any attribution or representation that the 335hp Tri-Power V-8 is the way this Impala came from the factory. That simple missing fact makes the bidders' reluctance to pay up realistic and reasonable.