Finding a `59 Chevy isn't as easy as finding a Camaro or a `57 Bel Air. It is common to come across the two latter cars as often as you try. `59 Chevys are a different story. Since so few survived the 1960s, the search for that finned wonder car takes more effort and patience.
But the search is worth it, because the result is a car in your driveway that is not often seen or considered by enthusiasts. You too can be a only one at a cruise-in or a car show with a `59, and park it next to the dozens of Camaros and `57 Chevys in attendance. The car generates questions from youngsters, and memories from oldsters, even when it's in less-than-pristin shape. When you drive a `59, you become accustomed to phrases like "my grandma drove one of these until she died," or "is that real?"
Once you've decided that a `59 is right for you, start your search on the Internet. Impalas - two & four door models - will be the most common types for sale since their general value made them attractive restoration projects. Other models - the Biscayne Utility, the Biscayne, the Bel Air, and all wagon models - still show up for sale from time to time, but not in the same numbers as Impalas. If you have the funds, I recommend that you buy a finished vehicle in need of little or no repair; it's a great way to start enjoying your Classic `59 right away. Project cars are still out there, and if that's your thing make sure you buy one with all the parts (especially trim); some stuff is just darn hard to find now.
Here's where to look:
- The single largest source of information that can be used is Collector Car Trader Online. This website has a international focus, and its searches can be broken down even to into specific area codes or price ranges. Various links within the pages can also provide automotive shipping services etc. With the entry of the proper criteria, one can have access to all the `59s listed with Trader Online throughout the world.
- Craigslist has emerged as an "up and comer" in finding `59 Chevys. The site interface is simple - sometime #1 seems to lack - and that makes for easy daily searches. Most times the cars that show up in ads here are projects, but there are usually pictures of the cars which helps to determine if they're even worth looking at.
- Hemmings Motor News online classifieds have also arisen as an excellent source for finding `59 Chevys. Hemmings has been trusted for decades by classic car nuts all over the world, for its ability to put buyers and sellers in touch with each other. How else can you know that someone in Montana is parting out the very car you need to scavenge? That kind of help becomes priceless as these cars get older and tougher to keep roadworthy.
- Not surprisingly, eBay Motors has at least a handful of `59s for sale each week. It would be worth the money to be in touch with a classic car appraiser and with a car transporter, as both of these individuals will come in handy when the final bid has been made. It's not impossible to get a `59 cross-country, but more complicated than picking it up down the street. Most important thing to know about bidding on a car? "Buyer Beware." Educate yourself, and only bid on cars that are within your reasonable expectations. It's pretty hard to return two tons of Chevy if you don't like it.
- Swap Meets will sometimes have complete `59 Chevys or even some project cars. It's almost guaranteed that you will find parts for `59s at the swaps, little stuff like handles, chrome bits, some trim etc.
- If you're headed to a car show, bring a pen and small pad to write down phone numbers; you never if you'll find a `59 Chevy for sale down the aisle from six Mustangs, four `55 Chevys, seven Camaros, and a `72 Chevelle SS clone.
- Chevy59.com also has links to several auto dealers in the US that are focused on classic cars These companies often have information on available cars that the Internet doesn't have, and can be contacted to do more than sell you a car. They can often point you towards unbiased classic car appraisals as well for a fee, which really comes in handy when you live in Buffalo NY and your dream car is in Tigard OR. Believe me, it's worth paying someone to check it out, especially if the car is selling somewhere in the five-digit value range and is close to fifty years old.
- One source that often doesn't pan out in a search for a `59 is the local newspaper classifieds; for some reason, these cars don't get advertised there too much. This is not to say that you won't find your dream car in the local paper, just less likely. Try anyway! What the heck? You may end up with something that the seller just thinks is "another old car."
The key element to your search is patience. Don't always jump on the first car you see, just because you're afraid that another one won't come your way. Relax...it will. Don't "settle for one" if you don't like it. Be patient and keep looking. Your search may take a while before you find the right car but - like I said before - the search is worth it.
Now go get that finmobile!KDC
Originally written October 13, 2001, edited and updated for this blog
This Biscayne was auctioned on eBay. It's typical - possibly on the nice end - of what you'll find when looking for a `59 project car. A person can still find a solid low-mile edition of a `59 if they put some work into it. This particular car is described as a long-time family owned car (1964), and still wears its original Code 970 Gothic Gold / Satin Beige two-tone paint. One thing I find interesting about this car is that the "Biscayne" logo is on the front fenders above the spear trim. While I'm not positive, I would conclude that this indicates an early production vehicle since many of the print ads for the Biscaynes show the logos ahead of the doors. This car's VIN would also substantiate that theory, as it's low-numbered. My Biscayne has the logo just ahead of the tail lights instead, and it does not appear to have been moved. I have now seen `59 Biscaynes with logos in both places.
