Love that ‘58! I had the privilege of meeting Candy Clarke in person at a rod & custom show in Portland Oregon. Got a really nice warm hug from her. She was ‘62 at the time and still looked great!
Just leave it as is! The car is perfect! Congratulations on owning this beautiful piece of Movie history. American Graffiti has and will always be my favorite movie and I’m not even a movie person
I love American Graffiti, Grew up in the '70's it was the tail end of the days of hot rods, drive ins And an actual life style. In which i grew up , and lived. ALL Fond memories, and still an old car enthusiast and caretaker/ owner today. This Impala is an important piece of our history and our culture. I am so glad that you are preserving it for generations to follow. You are so very fortunate to own it, And more importantly understand it's true value to many of us car folks out here. My favorite was the Milner coupe, but there are so many replicas today that it has blinded it's importance to some who do not understand not only the importance of the movie, but to our past. But this 1958 Impala is truly one of a kind. So glad you are it's care taker and wish you many happy years with it. Looking forward to seeing this beauty for many years to come. :)
I did the same thing , grew up in the 70’s in Modesto, my mom was a junior, and George Lucas was a senior! I ended up going to same high school they did.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,There's a guy out here in north eastern pennsylvania that has a clone....The one thing his car lacked was it did not have the slight rake in the suspension....That rake made the car supercool.....ATTITUDE.........ready to race......His car had amazing paint work....
Having built and restored classics for 35yrs, that's a car there's no amount of money you could pay me to restore it. as long as there's not any rust problems ... leave it alone
Best time of my life to grow up in. I'm a child from the late fifties. My hay day was the late sixties early seventies. Best music, BEST cars and life was freaking awesome 👍😎. I'm always impressed when someone rescues a piece of amercana and shows it to the world. Me, I would just try a buff and cut.... maybe a few resprays and call it a day. Refresh the motor, brakes and cooling system and drive it and show it. But as a collector, I understand that you want to do this. Best of luck!
The late 60s to early 70s were the best of times! Muscle car heaven great rock bands & music, great looking women (when women were real women), no political correctness, no Woke crap, & no social media! The Best of Times - Take Me Back!!!!
I live in Petaluma and have for decades and not a day goes by that I don't see the ghosts of American Graffiti here in town. Reminders are everywhere you look, and it's a nice feeling.
"All 3"? You muat mean the top three everyone has on their mind. Milner's 1932 5-window coupe Falfa's 1955 Chevy Steve's '58 Impala Dude, there were so many more cars in that movie. The Pharaoh's 1951 Mercury Laurie's 1958 Edsel Corsair Suzanne Somer's '56 T-Bird Curt's 1967 Citroen And the countless extras' cars on the strip and at Mel's Diner. I had the pleasure of visiting Mel's Diner. It was a cool feeling to actually eat their.
@@RalphSampson... Have you any pics of Mel's diner also was this the original diner or the Hollywood prop at a theme park if yes it's not the same as was in the movie
Candy Clark, Cindy Williams and Mackenzie Phillips had an autograph session at the Iola Car Show in Wisconsin last July. All 3 were available for autographs and photographs. A local guy with a real steel body 32 Ford 5 window Graffiti coupe had Mackenzie sign the dash right next to Paul La Mate's autograph. Too cool.
SAME year of my birth 😬...But, I gotta tell EVERYONE that, when they ask my birth date/age etc,😏 "Yep...SAME year American Graffiti was released and the same actual year that WAS unfortunately, the true DEATH of the American Muscle Car."..Sadly 😔
And I was a 12 year old girl who had a sister that worked at a theatre that showed American Graffiti..I fell in love with this car also. I know I watched that movie at least 15 times that summer. It warms my heart knowing that someone who loves it as much as I do, has it. I'm sure your intentions are to preserve her as best as possible and to keep her originality as close as possible. That's So Awesome!!! 😀💝
This car inspired my red and white interior in my 1964 el Camino. The show and Don Tognottis king T inspired me to build my 1923 roadster. You really have a piece of American history, congratulations.
Always thought that was the coolest car in the movie. After seeing this, I realize it's an old video, but I decided to watch the movie again. The car, the movie, the characters. All fantastic and so much fun!.
George gave us young viewers a glimpse of what it was like in America back in '62. I was only 8 when American graffiti was released and saw it 1st in '78 on the re re release it blew me away the cars and the music are the real hero's included were a few good characters.
An iconic Movie and Car that has ended up in the right hands. It needs and deserves to be kept as close as possible to the way it was in the film. Strange to think that at the time of the filming the car was only 15 years or so old from off of the factory build line!
I like you had my heart stolen by the 58 you are now so fortunate to own, Bring it back to its former glory as it appeared in the iconic move movie American Graffiti,,,,, Best looking car love it,,,cheers.
I believe Kent Folensbee of ALC machine suggested the paint scheme from one he saw in a magazine...I know he did some work on the 55 and always said he could under the car and know if it was the real deal....Bobby Johnson of Johnny Franklin Mufflers may have built the headers for the 32. I grew up in Sonoma County up until last year. I'm waiting for my 56 150 Chevy utility sedan to arrive from Petaluma...I moved out of state. It was used in "Peggy Sue Got Married" filmed at my high school.
Great car, everyone in my high school So. Calif. 1967 had either a 55-56-or-57 Chevy! Loved the scene where "Toad" asked Ford what he had in his car, and Ford said "more than you can handle"....not a harrison fan (draft dodger) but this film is classic so. california in that era.
Im in Washington state and I remember seeing that car around. I had heard the same guy bought the '32 coupe also, but for some reason I dont remember seeing it around when I was a kid.
,,,,,,,Great presentation......you gotta make another video , so the thousands of us can see the engine ....Few people have seen the original engine,,,and fewer know what it was......
Just saw AG yesterday as part of the 50th anniversary showing, and I wouldn't do a thing to that car. It still looks great and you have the original Mojo of the movie in that paint.
i'd leave it alone there only original once if you restore it then its history is gone the patina on it gives it character and most times when a car is restored its fitted with lots of reproduction spares making it non original
It's good to know that the original car by Ron Howard in American Graffitti still original as the movie. I'm just curious why the plate is from 56' and not 62'.
I'm one of the crowd, that says, "It's only original once." But, like Ray was pointing out, neglect has taken its toll. I'm sure it's not just the cosmetics, that need attention, but the mechanics, electrical, fuel, and brake plumbing, as well. This goes beyond the "preservation", state...... beyond the touching up of the paint.
That's what my dad told me ,regarding the car I got from him almost 20yrs ago now. It's no old hot rod or anything you'd like at all, but I got it because he was offered 500$ on trade in ,so I gave him 500$. He keeps his cars nice ,and I'm doing the best I can at preserving it. I'm nutty about chalk marks as much as any resto guy. Glad I never did stupid things and modified it.
CC Jensen Ahh Santa Rosa! I remember the area from being out there in the mid 1980’s. Also met a young lady from Heldsburg when we picked up a load of older muscle/classic cars & took them east to the Boston area to be sold. Great times & memories from being out there. Good Day to You!
I would like to know the pre history before American Graffiti ! Like did Lucius Film's build the car or was it purchased this way ? Who built it ? Was it someone's pride and joy ? Maybe talk to the original owner !
There's no way you can find who originally painted the car and did the striping? Surely if there's a will, there's a way. If you can't find the original painter and striper to find out how they did the work - PLEASE - just find a means to preserve it as it is.
I'm a huge fan of the 1958 Chevy that's a 2door hardtop with 3 tail lights on each side but as the years rolled by the style just took a flop with me and their's only certain 1s I like now cause people has messed so many of em up trying to make em look better when most of em looked just fine with old school mag wheels and tires with hidden dual exhaust..I can't stand seeing the exhaust stickn 6 or 8 inches out the back of em lol..I've always been into the stock look with alot of pep..I like this 58 Chevy and it's not because it's a movie car, I like how it looks..
I met a guy who was selling the axe that President George Washington chopped down his father's cherry tree with. It was getting old and fell into disrepair over the years. He said the other owners had changed the handle 3 times and the axe head twice. I LOVE HOT ROD RESTORATIONS. BUT THIS ONE SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE. THEY DIDN'T MESS WITH THE BULLITT MUSTANG.
I had made arrangements to go to Colville WA, years ago to do a photo shoot with the car. Unfortunately I never made it and the gentleman sold it before I could make the trip. I kick myself all the time for not getting it done.
I saw this car at the Axalta tent in Bowling Green, Ky they over restored it. Wasn't any dents in the rear bumper when Toad backed up into the other car.
I actually saw this car at a lot in South Florida. In Hallandale. It was a 24/7 365 shop. They had this car. And, cars from Indiana Jones cars. This was in 1981. So, I'm not sure the truth about its journey. And the lot was called The Candy Man. It was a 24/7 365 restoration company...
You guy's probably know this but the 1967 mustang used in the movie "BULLIT" with actor "Steve McQueen" sold at MECCA" autions for $3,450,000.00 , and it was in original condition since late 1960's when they made the movie. "Antique Road Show" normally say's some things are worth more unrestored !😎
Beautiful 58 Impala. Why did the cut out the rear package shelf and put in a flat piece of flat metal ? I noticed that in the movie. Owned a 58 before they were cool.
Is the interior leather? I would have guessed Naugahyde. I also would have guessed a 348 or a 283 engine. The 327 came out in 1962. An advertising slogan for the movie was "Where were you in 62?"
I agree with the majority of comments saying to leave it as is... The minute you "restore" something, you're risking replacing it with government-regulated water-based paint, inferior Chinese-quality parts, etc. Trust me, I've seen people "think" they need all new quarter panels and once they put on the aftermarket one, you see that panel flap in the breeze due to it being a thinner gauge than the original. Only restore what you absolutely HAVE to, but for a car this important, I think I would leave it alone and save the money. Plus, if you DO happen to sell it, it will go for more in the long-run if you DON'T "restore" it. Win-win, right? Spend no money and get more for it if you sell. But... If you absolutely got to have something that represents the car as it was in American Graffiti, you get another one and make a clone... Most movie cars aren't in any decent shape anyway... Anyway, I hope you kindly consider my advice.
