Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

[Hugh S.]

Howdy,
I'm a newbe here with my member of #60,000. I have a red 1958 Corvette, well at least that is what the title and Vin Number say? My vin number is J58S100010 The Vin Number tag I must say looks as if it has been changed but don't know for sure, the Screws/rivets that affix the tag to the door post appear to have been changed.

Yet my Corvette has no trunk chrome strips nor does it have the Louvered hood that 58's had. What other ID features should I look for to let me know if by chance I have a 59 or 60 model? Inside feature that may be different. Frame numbers( where are theose located at) ?etc.
This is all new to me.

Thanks for your help,

Hugh
from Virginia

[Brandon T.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

The frame number on my 58 is stamped on the outside of the frame on the drivers side below the door. It may be hard to read, some of my numbers was very lightly stamped.

[Philip P.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Hugh,
There is information that will help you in the 1958-60 Corvette restoration Handbook, It is for sale at most of the corvette suppliers and sometimes on EBay. It will help with many of you questions. Your car should have the VIN stamped on the frame in a location below the drivers seat but not easily seen I have been told you can cut a hole in the floor but that would be extreme. The VIN tag was screwed to the door jam on 58 to early 60 when it was move to the steering column.
Phil

[Hugh S.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Hi Brandon,
Thank you. I'll look.

Hugh

The frame number on my 58 is stamped on the outside of the frame on the drivers side below the door. It may be hard to read, some of my numbers was very lightly stamped.

[Hugh S.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Hi Philip,

Thank You. I assume I can get the 1958-60 Corvette restoration Handbook, via the NCRS web site?
I have heard here from some old timers, that sometimes folks would take the trunk chrome strips off the 58 trunk lid? In that case I guess there would be hold filled in the trunk lid?

Thanks,
Hugh

[Leif A.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Hi Philip,

Thank You. I assume I can get the 1958-60 Corvette restoration Handbook, via the NCRS web site?
I have heard here from some old timers, that sometimes folks would take the trunk chrome strips off the 58 trunk lid? In that case I guess there would be hold filled in the trunk lid?

Thanks,
Hugh

Hugh,

How old are you and who are you calling "old timers"...I resemble that remark

[Hugh S.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Hi Leif,

Oh I'm 67, on old timers remark, well No harm was intended. Forgive me.

Hugh


o intended

Hugh,

How old are you and who are you calling "old timers"...I resemble that remark

[Leif A.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Hi Leif,

Oh I'm 67, on old timers remark, well No harm was intended. Forgive me.

Hugh


o intended

No harm at all...just messing with ya. Most all of us are in the same neighborhood.

[Dick W.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Hi Leif,

Oh I'm 67, on old timers remark, well No harm was intended. Forgive me.

Hugh


o intended

Spring chickens

[Richard M.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Geesh, I'm 59, what am I......a egg?

Hugh, Welcome to the group. 58's are very nice. I own a '59.

A few telltales of the 58's. I'm going from memory as I don't have book access at the moment, so I may be in error on the instrument lenses.

Instrument cluster gauges have convex lens, half moon chrome inside, and rounded needle tops, with dots for segments.

Tach should have a rev counter.

The door panels should have a uniquie looking design, different from 59-62.

The frame should not have radius rods. They mount between welded brackets on the frame to welded brackets on top of the rear axle housing close to the brake backing plate. Radius rods were '59 up. There should be no rear sway bar either.....'60 up. There should be 2 rear axle rubber bump stops mounted above the axle on the frame.

The frame# may be seen with a mirror at about where your calf is when in the seat, on top of the frame horizontal near the outer area of the outer curve. It's in 2 locations, always., as the stamper had to hit twice to advance the sequence#.

Like this.....
Notice the rear radius rod on this '59 and the welded bracket on the frame.
P5190002.jpg
P5190003.jpg P5190004.jpg

From under the car it's like this....

FRAMESN_1.jpg

Rich

[Jerry C.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

58 will have trunk filler panels on either side of the trunk floor.

[Thomas H.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

It may be possible that sometime during the life of the car the hood and decklid were sold and replaced with 59-60 ones. They can bring some $$

A couple other things are the shifter (assuming manual trans) did not have the reverse lock out "T".

As Rich said, the door panel inserts are different with the 58 having a grid of small black squares. The door panel itself was two pieces unlike later years that were one piece.

The seats in a 58 also have a different pattern from later years.

Post a few pictures and we can assess the car a bit easier.

Tom

[Bob B.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Hugh,

If you've got a digital camera, some pics would be a big help. Could you get us some pics of the VIN plate? It attaches with Phillips screws and they can be changed. But if a different VIN plate is attached that doesn't match the number on the frame, that could be a problem.

What about your engine? What is the casting date? What is on the engine pad? What are the dates on the transmission? The differential? What kind of seat covers do you have? You have a very early VIN, so the hood support should be on the right side.

Bob

[Ian G.]

Re: Help in Identifying my 1958 Corvette

Correct me if I'm wrong, also 58 hubcaps had no open sots around the perimeter and they added little lengths of rubber tubing in the wheels at the open spots between dogbone welds to keep stones from getting caught in there. In 59 they added slots in the hubcaps and stopped adding the tubing early-mid 59. My 59 spare had tubing born on dec 58.

Another difference, on each end of the dashpad to protect the ends are bumpers. On 58 and early 59, they are small, thin stainless, and mid-59 onwards they were thicker, wrap around and painted interior color.

A 58 will also not have a rear stabilizer bar. Those were added in 60.