235 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame straight six.This involved the use of three double-barrel carburetors, a special cam and an 11.25:1 compression ratio, all sold as a package.ġ959 Chevrolet Kingswood interior Engines īuyers could order any engine and transmission, including the 348 V8 and the fuel-injected 283 V8 engines. Fuel injection was no longer available, but with the 348 cubic inch engine, a horsepower rating of 335 at 5800 rpm was now achieved. Under the hood, things remained constant. The new models possessed much more restrained front end, and the cats eye lights of the 1959 model were replaced by double cone tail lights. Under the hood, little change took place for '59 Chevys. A parking brake warning light was optional. A variety of speed options, such as fuel injection, special cams and bettered compression, gave horsepower ratings up to 315. The new Parkwood 6-passenger and new Kingswood 9-passenger wagons had Bel Air's model number, and as such were the middle range wagons. Brookwoods were now available in two-door or four-door body styles, both in six-passenger configuration only. Chevrolet eliminated its entry-level Delray based Yeoman models and the Biscayne-based Brookwood became Chevrolet's least expensive wagon models. Wagons were still classed by themselves, but had model numbers matching the car series. It was positioned between the Parkwood 6-passenger and the Nomad (now Impala based), still at the top was a six-passenger car.
The new Kingswood was offered as a mid range full size 4-door only 9 passenger model, with rear-facing 3rd row jump-seat standard. In addition, the car was 3 in (76 mm) wider outside and had 5 in (130 mm) more width inside than it did in 1958, through the reduction of door thickness. The car was built on a 119 in (3,000 mm) wheelbase and was 211 in (5,400 mm) long, which was 11 in (280 mm) longer than the 1957 model, making the Kingswood the longest car in the low-priced range. Its flat, wing shaped tailfins were identifiable from a distance.
The Kingswood was deliberately made to be unique: the headlights were placed as low as the law would allow, and the cats eye tail lights were unique to this model.