Sixty Years and a Fifty-Six

Sixty years is a long time by anybody’s count. People change, styles come and go and the world continues to move. But in this constant state of growth it’s important to take notice when something retains prominence more than half a century after it was first brought into being. Case in point: the 1956 Chevrolet.

Throughout the history of our hobby, there have been a respectable number of ’56s modified to some extent. From the factory, the passenger car lineup was sleek, stylized and a sign of things to come. Traditionally, the ’56s have been less popular than their other tri-five counterparts, but that hasn’t stopped rodders and customizers alike from taking on everything from convertibles to Nomads. The ’56 Chevy was, and still is, downright versatile. Rather than focusing on a straight-axle sedan or ground-scraping hardtop, I figured we’d shift our attention to a different type of ’56—a half-ton-hauler.

Owning a pickup was a natural choice for Frank Vessel. You see, Mr. Vessel was the proprietor of a bicycle shop in Pomona, California, and he felt a pickup would be best not only for transporting his product, but also advertising his business.

Not long after purchasing the Chevy, he commissioned Matt Kolbert and Memo Ortega to bring the truck up to date with some of the latest customizing touches. Starting up front, the truck received a ’55 Pontiac front bumper and a grille made from expanded metal mesh. The hood corners were rounded and the seams were reworked, resulting in a refined appearance.

Continuing the minimalist theme, all brightwork was removed from the sides of the truck, while chromed running boards and dual lakes pipes added visual appeal. The biggest modification, however, appeared out back with eight-inch fender extension and the inclusion of taillights from a ’56 Chevy Bel Air. A ’52 Buick bumper and custom-made tonneau cover rounded out the rear.

Once the purple paint was applied, the heavily lowered mild custom had the quintessential late-’50s look. The lines that needed work were improved, and those that were fine stayed the same. It all comes together to make a good looking ’56, no matter what year we’re in.

Happy 60^th ’56. Here’s to many more.

—Joey Ukrop

Photos by Beindorff, Rod & Custom, July 1957