Hello Impala fans,
I've always wanted to join National Impala and as of May first I purchased a 1959 Chevy Biscayne
and thought it only natural to finally join this club. So far I've done everything wrong that someone should never do when purchasing their first classic car
and if ya'll don't mind I would like to share my little situation with you.
Living on the east coast with all the rust that we have down here, I thought i'd search long distance for my first classic car, try to find a nice dry southern car. So in searching on several online sites for about 6 months I found a car I was really interested in and could afford. Described as a one family owned Arizona car that has been environmentally stored most of it's life and was rated as an 8 out of 10 rated quality driver I thought this could be the one. The broker that posted the advertisment and now the current owner of the car had a perfect 100% positive feedback rating over an 11 year time period so I felt someowhat safe beliving his ad. So after numerous e-mail and phone questions, watching a video of the car and viewing over 43 pictures I did the unthinkable...purchased the car without seeing it first in person.
What was delivered to my home via a transport company five days later was shocking. Almost the entire left and right sides of the car front panel to rear panel are so wavy the car must be 90% bondo.The drivetrain a 235ci 3 speed on the tree seems to run fine but I don't think it's a numbers matching engine as stated in the ad. The trunk floor had been replaced at some time prior and even though the frame looks solid I see some rust in the floor braces. To sum it up I've learned a very expensive lesson, and now I have a project car to restore when money allows instead of the nice quaility driver I was going to enjoy this summer. I still love the car though.
I hope to learn allot from this site as parts and repair isn't as easily available for a 1959 X-frame as say it would be for a Tri-Chevy or even a 61-66 Impala. All in all putting the trouble aside I do love my Lucy and what she hopefully can become someday soon, Lucy is my little nick name for this Red over White 59' Biscayne. Thanks for reading.
Steve
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