The 1958 Chevrolet Impala is often credited as the first official muscle car. Packing a standard 235.5-ci I6 engine rated at 145 horsepower was one thing; having a 348-ci V8 rated at 315 horsepower as an optional engine was groundbreaking.
60,000 of these offspring of the Bel Air were produced, with about 17,000 convertibles. In 1958, the Impala was still considered a Bel Air. In 1959, it would ride its success to becoming its own model of car.At last Ford took over and ran chevy out of Detroit.
