The rear axle was changed to a single joint arrangement with its pivot point located 87 mm below the differential centre line. This gave improved handling and increased comfort and less camber change and better handling in corners. Uhlenhaut wanted the new low pivot axle for the Coupe but was voted down by the board of directors, reminding him that 3000 manufactured axle units remained at the factory and costs were already getting very high for this car. A hardtop became an available option from September 1958.