Photos & story by
Terry Denomme

For Erskine, AB’s Peter Pollock ownership of his sweet mint green 1959 Impala came after suffering some bad luck.
“This is not the first 1959 Impala I’ve owned,” he says. “On October 14, 2008 we lost our first 1959 in a fire along with our blown ’52 Bel Air, a 1955 Chevy 210 and a 1970 ½ Z/28 Camaro.”

It was a devastating loss but since the fire was only a material loss, he breathed a sigh of relief and by the end of that same month “the hunt was on to replace the lost collection.”
Pollock called his good friend Larry at Hot Rod Hill in Cedartown, Georgia and a long conversation led to a decision that a 1959 Impala would be the first car to be replaced. It didn’t take long to track down the new 1959 Impala.

“When we arrived in Cedartown it was love at first sight,” says Pollock.  “The car needed nothing more than to be loaded onto a trailer shipped home and enjoyed.”
One of this Impala’s biggest fans has been the Pollock’s 2-year old grandson. “He spends more time cruising around in it with his mom and dad than we do.”

Besides its iconic winged tailfains and cat’s eye taillights, one of this car’s outstanding features is the stance. While the Slimline Design of the 1959 Impala was Harley Earl’s last attributed contribution to GM design, Pollock’s example has a great stance thanks to an Air Ride Technologies suspension system combined with a set of Billet Specialties Fast Lane wheels. Out back 18” wheels are wrapped by 255/50/R18 Toyo Tires while up front are 17 units wrapped in 225/55/R17 Toyos. CPP disc brakes now reside on all four corners. The stock rear end remains though is now stuffed with 3:73 gears.

The biggest engine available in a stock 1959 Impala was a 315hp Super Turbo Thrust 348ci with 11.0:1 compression and three, 2-barrel carburetors. Pollock’s Impala still has a big block, but now it’s a 454ci good for 316hp at the rear wheels. An MSD ignition system, Billet Specialties Tru Trac sperpentine belt system and a single Holley 750cfm Street Avenger carb are the main features of the 454. Transmission is a 700R4 with a floor shifter and console from a 1969 Impala.

The same ’69 Impala donated its bucket seats to its older brother, though they were slightly modified to fit. The dash is a completely retrofitted with a digital gauges. Steering column is Ididit topped by a Billet Speciatlies steering wheel.  A Vintage Air unit keeps things cool on warm days.

Over the years, Pollock has spilled blood and tears building cars and while he didn’t build this car he says it was the perfect remedy for the post-fire blues.
“We had shed too many tears and couldn’t wait.”
Nobody’s crying now...except maybe for the car’s former owner from missing his ultra cool ride.