1956 Chevrolet Corvette Factory Options

• The base price of the 1958 Chevrolet Corvette without any optional equipment.
• This base option price included a 283 cubic inch, 230 horsepower V8 engine, 3-speed manual transmission, vinyl interior trim, and a soft top.
• The 1958 Corvette underwent an extensive redesign that included new body panels, a new instrument panel and new upholstery.  The 1958 Corvette featured dual headlamps for the first time ever, and many chrome trim pieces, including chrome headlight bezels and rear decklid “suspenders”.  Addtionally, the ’58
• Corvette featured non-functioning louvers on the hood.
• The radiator grill of the 1958 Corvette had 9 teeth, instead of 13 (as in all previous years.)

Heater (101) – An interior space/.cockpit heater.

• The 1958 Corvette heater has an “outside” fresh air type heater

AM Radio, signal seeking (102)

• A standard Delco, signal seeking AM radio with conventional volume and selector bars.
• The AM Radios for the 1958 Corvette are transistorized.
• Most 1958 selector bars for the signal-seeking feature included the word “Wonderbar”.
• Models not equipped with this option received a painted block-out cover plate

Parking Brake Alarm (107)

• A warning light that illuminates/ indicates when the parking brake is applied.

Courtesy Lights (108)

• Interior lights mounted on the interior of the car to aid in visibility when outside lighting is unavailable.

Windshield Washers (109)

• A washer pump and dispensing nozzle mechanism that dispenses cleaner onto the windshield.
• The windshield washer reservoir for the 1958 model was supplied by Trico.  It was a hard, white, plastic jar with a red lid.

Wheels, 15×5.5 (276)

• Optional wheels that were one-half inch wider than stock.
• Featured small, passenger car hubcaps instead of standard, full wheel disc covers.
• For 1958, the wheels may have been painted black (in some instances) instead of silver.

Whitewall Tires (290)

• Original tires were either U.S. Royal Air Ride, B.G. Goodrich Silvertown or Firestone Deluxe Champion.
• All tires were wide-whitewall type, with whitewall widths varying from 2.5 to 3 inches.

Powerglide Automatic Transmission (313)

• An “optional” two-speed automatic transmission developed by GM.

Auxiliary Hardtop (419)

• An optional hard-top that replaced the standard convertible top.
• Although the Auxiliary Hardtop is shown as an option, customers could swap the convertible top for the auxiliary hardtop at no additional cost.  Of the 5,607 Corvettes sold with this option,  2,215 of them were the result of this substitution.

Power Windows (426)

• Electronically controlled windows which could be raised or lowered during vehicle operation

Two-Tone Paint Combination (440)

• A second, optional paint color that was used to highlight the bodyside coves
• A total of 3,422 Corvettes featured the two-tone paint scheme in 1958.  Of these, 757 were painted Silver Blue/Silver, 756 were painted Signet Red/White, 729 were painted Charcoal/Silver, 499 were painted Snowcrest White/Silver, 252 were painted Regal Turquoise/White, 190 were painted Panama Yellow/White, 199 were painted Tuxedo Black/Silver, and 36 were painted Inca Silver/Black
• The charcoal exterior color is believed to have been replaced by black sometime after the midpoint of 1958 construction.

283 CI, 245 HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) (469)

• A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine
• 2,436 of the 1958 Corvettes were built with this engine.

283 CI, 270 HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) (469C)

• A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine
• 978 of the 1958 Corvettes were built with this engine.
• This option required a three- or four-speed manual transmission.

Power Operated Folding Top (473)

• Electronically controlled convertible top that could be automatically raised/lowered.
• Unlike the 1953-1955 Corvette Roadsters, which had an optional top that could be attached to the car, this convertible top was an integral part of the design, allowing the 1958 Corvette to be classified as a true convertible.

283 CI, 250 HP Engine (Fuel Injected) (579)

• A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.

504 of the 1958 Corvettes were built with this engine.

• Of the total quantity built with this option, 400 came equipped with a manual transmission and 104 came equipped with a Powerglide automatic transmission

283 CI, 290 HP Engine (Fuel Injected) (579D)

• A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
• 1,007 of the 1958 Corvettes were built with this engine.
• This engine option required a three- or four-speed manual transmission.

Positraction Rear Axle, 3.70:1 (677)

• Higher performance gear ratio designed for increased acceleration and driveability.
• 1,123 ’58 Corvettes included this option.
• Required a manual transmission.

Positraction Rear Axle, 4.11:1 (678)

• Higher performance gear ratio designed for increased acceleration and driveability.
• 2,518 ’58 Corvettes included this option.
• Required a manual transmission.

Positraction Rear Axle, 4.56:1 (679)

• Higher performance gear ratio designed for increased acceleration and driveability.

370 ’58 Corvettes included this option.

Required a manual transmission.

• Of the 370 Corvettes built with this option, 75 had a three-speed manual transmission, 295 had a four-speed manual transmission.

Heavy Duty Racing Suspension (684)

• Modified suspension system featuring a number of performance/handling upgrades.
• Included special front and rear springs and shock absorbers, a heavier front stabilizer bar, quick steering adapter, metallic brakes, finned brake drums, fresh air ducting to rear brakes, and front brake air deflectors (except for very early production-year models).

See Also 

C1	’53	‘54	’55	’56	’57	’58	’59	’60	’61	’62
Gen	C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6	C7