To mark the fourth birthday of the Corvette, its proud parents, the Chevrolet Motor Division, have announced the 1958 model which has undergone some extensive but not too important changes on the surface and a few rather interesting ones underneath.
Starting right at the plastic body, the use of aluminum reinforcements in the cowl structure, inaugurated in mid-’57, has been extended to include the so-called “rocker panels” under the door openings. Bumpers are now bracketed to the frame in conventional American style, relieving the front and rear body panels of loads that are not rightfully theirs. These two items raise the weight “less than 100 pounds”, but for racing, most of it can be unbolted and left in the pits without the SCCA batting an eye.
Uncowled dual headlights show how attractive most American front ends would be if we’d get off this “I’m longer than you are” kick. Just below them are really large holes for blasting fresh air onto the brakes, but on our test car, alas, the “holes” were painted black!
Further production experience with the F.I. nozzles and metering controls permits closer control over the air-fuel ratio this year. The warm-up diaphragm is now more sensitive and the air filter is also changed. On all Corvettes, the generator is now on the right-hand side so that the fan-belt engages the water pump pulley over a far greater arc, reducing slippage at high revs. Common to all ’58 Chevy’s with the 283 cubic incher are a new distributor rotor and a cap with longer sides to help keep out moisture.
Like most manufacturers, Chevrolet is none too happy about some of the attempts made to bring “boulevard” engines up to all-out F.I. specs. More is required than just a Duntov high-lift cam and a handful of solid lifters, although the factory is not too specific as to what is. What they have done is clarify the picture of available options.
