It’s fun to see how etymology relates to automobile names. Have you ever wondered about the story behind the word “belvedere”? The term has been around since the 1500s and combines two Italian words: “bel” for “beautiful” and “vedere” for “view.” So, feast your eyes on the beautiful view that this stunning four-door example of Detroit iron gives us.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1958 Plymouth Belvedere sedan listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Click the link to view the listing)
“The car is fully restored, top to bottom. It comes with manufacturer A/C and power steering,” the listing says.
In all its glory, this Belvedere has the sky-high tailfins that the world came to know and love in the late 1950s. I love the color combo on this car, and I wish we could review the trim tag to find out its true identity. The color name may be some variation of salmon, coral, or rose – I did some Googling and saw that Coral (paint code S) was an option that year. Either way, it’s a stunning look, especially when done up in two-tone form with a complementary white roof and wide whitewall tires.
The black and white seats have a clear vinyl wrapping over the seats and look to be in great condition throughout. This makes sense since the seller said the car went through inside-and-out refurbishment. Power up front comes from a V8 paired with a push-button automatic transmission, and there were a variety of V8 engines available during this era ranging from 260cid through 350cid displacements. The seller says that the car runs smoothly.
The Belvedere model lived from 1954 through 1970, initially sold as a full-size model but later classified as a midsize. In the late 1950s (up until 1958, at least), the Belvedere was the top-trim offering for the Plymouth lineup, which explains why its amenities were well-appointed for its time. This one comes with power steering, a radio, a dual exhaust system, and lots of brightwork to turn heads.
Lastly – I surely can’t discuss any 1958 Plymouth model without at least making a quick mention of Christine, the famous Plymouth Fury who came to life as a haunted car in Stephen King’s 1983 novel (later made into a horror film that remains one of my favorites to this day).
The asking price is $35,000 or best offer for this beautiful Belvedere.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Though this beautiful ’58 Plymouth is not the same as Dad’s ’57 Belvedere, it is very close, and brings back many fond memories.
Dad’s was also a four door Sdn, and had a V8 engine, though I don’t know what size, and the push button automatic transmission.
My favorite memories of that car are from the summer of 1962, when Dad, as the only driver, took us on a nearly 7,000 mi vacation from Indiana, through all the southern states and sight-seeing ventures along the way to California, where we stayed with family for more than a week. Then it was through most of the Northern and Plains state on the way back to Indiana, stopping at most every national Park and other opportunity along the way. The Plymouth never missed a beat the entire way, not even a flat tire.
That trip, that summer, was my introduction to where the states were located, and kindled my lifetime appreciation for our great country.
Thank you Tyson, for this article, and the great memories it brings back.
mike sparks, Indiana