1958 Chevrolet Impala Custom- Award Winner and Historical Custom Piece

1958 Chevrolet Impala Description

Built in 1965 in Lima, Ohio by Dale Shellenbarger. It came out to look something like a prototype for Chevy’s El Camino, which, according to accounts at the time, Daleintendedto use as a shop truck and rolling advertisement for his business. Original ideas for the custom car included front end looking similar to a 1963 corvette stingray, roofline sectioned 20” to give a 1953-53 corvette look a like. Rear of impala cut away to achieve a lower stance. Bucket seats are from a 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix, Mercury turnpike cruiser power rear window. Radio antenna in rear fins. 45 RPM record player in dash. Tachometer and Misc. gauges mounted top of dash. Note cutaway steering wheel, shaved door handles, full tuck and roll upholstery- floor and bed also. Engine is the original 283 with a mild cam, solid lifters, tri power, corvette valve covers. Transmission is a hurst automatic ratchet shifter. Original paint was “Apricot Marrigold Metalflake.” Had 55,000 original miles according to theprevious seller, Robert Fox, and my Grandparents barely drove it- so plus 55,000 miles.

The “UnderDawg” won 34 out of 36 first place awards including the 1966 Nationals at Indianapolis and runner-up for Best Radical Custom in America 1966-1967. Awards include Best Paint, Best Interior, Best Wheels, Best Engine Compartment, and Best Dash.

The 1958 was featured in almost every car magazine of the time (I have copies of many of the articles that were written about it including pictures prior to the build and the original color in shows). Customizer, Dale Shellenbarger, owns Coach Masters Inc. When asked about the name of “UnderDawg” Dale said that when finished and ready to enter car shows he was told he would never be able to compete with the big boys such as Barris, Winfield, Bailon, and Starbird. It subsequently won almost every show it entered! A rare piece of American Custom Car History. This radical custom was owned by three of America’s Biggest collectors, disappeared for twenty years and then was found by Robert Fox in Nevada in 1998, which was then sold to John Davis in 2000 to add to his growing collection in Cornelius, Oregon.

About the Papa's ToysCar CollectionThis car is a part of the Papa’s Toys Car Collection located in Cornelius, Oregon. Started by John and Susan Davis in the 1980s, it was once of the largest collections in the Pacific Northwest of 180 street rods, classics, customs, racecars, and special interest vehicles ranging from the years 1922—1982. The collection is open to the public once a year where all proceeds go to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. This year $22,000 was raised in a single day and over 700 other hot rods showed up to enjoy the day. Not a single car has ever been sold from the collection until less than five months ago when Susan decided it was time to downsize the collection and to a more manageable number and let other people enjoy the cars. We decided to sell 120 cars from the collection and have sold 60 of that already to excited locals in the Portland area.

General information about the cars. All cars in the collection have been stored for many years in a climate controlled, rodent free showroom and have been looked after by our mechanic. The cars that are up for sale were unplugged three years ago and put in a “sleep mode” for preservation and are sold "as is." Though some haven’t ran in years, we have sold 60 and had no complaints after buyers have checked the brakes, fuel lines, hoses (what you would check on any old car) prior to driving it down the road.