59 Rear Clip equal to a 58 ?

[William B.]

I have a lead on a 59 rear cip. I want to use it on a 58 and have the car top flighted, the outside I believe is the same except for trunk lid. Is the interior of the trunk and gas tank area the same? Are all 58 trunk lids the same, some seem to have more raised nubs under the trunk irons

[G B.]

No

The floor of a '58 Corvette trunk has two removeable metal panels that I've never seen in a '59 model trunk.

[Wayne W.]

Re: No

I have seen at least four different versions of the 58 trunk lid. There well may have been more. The last was, in fact, what appears to be a 59 style with the bars installed.

[Ted S.]

There are several differences .............

I have a '58 and I used to have a '60. My understanding is the '59 is closer to the '60. My '58 is a very late car (i.e. next to the last day of production). There's a filler panel at the back of the '58 wheel well that was not on the '60. It's like a '57 instead. The rear bumper brackets are unique to a '58 and are inserted through large holes cut in the trunk floor. There's a small metal plate that covers a hole that's cut at the end of the rear leaf springs. The inner bracing on the trunk lid has a curved area for the last rear pin on the trunk irons. Also I have the plates that Jerry indicated but mine are made of fiberglass. If you need some pics I could possibly help out since my '58 is completely disassembled at this point. Hope this helps.

[Bill B.]

Re: There are several differences .............

Ted, I am not familiar with a "metal" plate on mine? I do have two small formed fiberglass cover plates (about 3.5 x 3.5 inches) which were bonded to the back of main trunk area. I also believe the upper metal access plates were used for the first 300 cars (don't know for sure) and the more "shaped" fiberglass floor panels after that. I also think the rear inner wheel area looks different than the others?

[Ted S.]

Rear Spring Access Plate

Here's a pic of the rear spring access plate. You can also see the cutout for the rear bumper brackets. Aaannnddd thanks Rob for the C1 Registry Weblogs

[Ted S.]

The fiberglass acces panel

Here's a pic of the access panel and in my case it's fiberglass. And if you'll notice the inside of the trunk area is black. The car originally had charcoal interior with a black exterior. All of the inside areas that would normally be painted "charcoal" in this case are painted black.

[Ted S.]

Trunk Lid Reinforcement for Trunk Iron

Here's a picture of the reinforcement on the inner trunk lid bracing for for the rear most pin on the trunk irons. Again notice the black paint which on a charcoal interior would have been painted "charcoal".

[Ted S.]

Rear bumper bracket

Here's a pic of the rear bumper bracket. Notice the large rubber seal which I believe goes on the frame side of the trunk vertical surface. Anyone out there know for sure?

[Ted S.]

Rear wheel well filler panel

Here's a pic of the rear wheel well filler panel. This is located at the back of the wheel well. In my case the original had been damaged in a prior accident.

[Ted S.]

Re: Rear Spring Access Plate

I just checked the plate and it is indeed fiberglass.

[Rob M.]

Re: Rear Spring Access Plate

You're welcome!