The roots of the 1958 Impala extend to the mid-1950s, when Chevrolet's chief engineer, Ed Cole, developed the company's first modern V-8 engine, an impressive 265 small-block. Before 1955, Ford had dominated the market—the best Chevy could offer prospective customers was a low-powered six-cylinder engine. But in 1955, Chevrolet introduced its high-performance V-8, which it installed in completely restyled models, available in a wide array of...Continue Reading