In 1984 a family friend told us of a 55 that would come to be a family member itself. 100% in house family project. 1984 pics In the woods! Notice the raised wheel wells. As we got her! 327 Muncie m21 4:10's. Missing about everything , ruff n rusty. When dad got out The steering wheel came off!!! I was behind him in our 66 c20 chevy. Apart she came. My 69 z28/rs x33 in background fixing leaf springs. Still got her. Dad blasting frame I prepped & sealed it w DuPont Velva-seal. A horrible before we got it pic! All came out , pulled n fixed damage properly . My uncle did 100% of the body work as I was then 12 & learning from him. I did most the engine , trans, under hood smalls , etc at that age in our garage / machine shop. Learning from his oldest son, our machine shop guru. Who carried out 1/2 the build in almost every area with his pop. The rockers, floors , braces , lower quarters , r valence, headlight eyebrows were all cut clean out n new dan chuck metal installed. I spent quite a few weekends at salvage yard drilling out spot welds from floor braces . Progress. Next block & prime with good ol DuPont 181s fill & sand ...man I miss that stuff. My uncle Joe . Was a Great man. Taught many of us young n's at the time all what we know about old cars. Now we're bumping their age. A true master craftsman. He deserves all the credit & made this build possible he loved the hobby. Love that lacquer! Great for a dusty shop! I'm still looking for a lost roll if undeveloped film!!!!! From 1991 A dream come true for all of us! 350 gm crate , th400 narrowed 9 inch, 4 wheel discs , ps/pb, ac , tilt , cruise , pwr windows. Tinted glass, gypsy n shoreline beige. 1991 , drove it to super chevy Memphis got top 5 , drove regularly & NEVER ever trailered. Parked next to 57 gasser of dads , a friend sold him Another story in itself. Put Cragar's on in mid 90's 15x6 & 15x8-1/2 pulled 9 inch & narrowed it some more. This pic from 2013 NSRA Springfield , Mo. ... The end? or better yet with the next gen of kids coming up ... A new beginning! Better get back on the ol 53 150 project. Thanks to all!
Thank you all for the kind comments! It's the only tri five we've kept, scaling down do to age & upkeep. They really are amazing cars to drive, gm knocked out of the park these 3 years!. Dad sold the 57 last summer, since we didn't build all if it just mechanicals for his pal it was less sentimental. We will always keep the 55. I loved them both but the memories can't be bought. It's more than an old car, it's a group of 4 guys working on her as a labor of love to resurrect one back from the too far gone point. Many folks would've passed on this one. Thanks again guys! Flux
Great pics & a great-looking ride . My friend & I restored his 55 BelAir HT together a buncha years back - did most of the stuff ourselves over about 4 years . It was a great time & it turned out beautiful . He had to sell it over a divorce a couple years ago . That sucked for him , I'm 100% sure , but he needed money to put towards a house .
Nice car, great story. Well done! Tell who ever the service ribbon represents in the last photo, Welcome Home!
Beautiful. Reminds me so much of my old '55. Was a gypsy/ivory belair hardtop, v8,glide with factory power windows. Wheel wells were cut out much more crudely though. I sold it to my Dad when I first got married. He sold it a bit after that. It was sooo close to being done. Jambs painted, body ready for final block, full new interior in boxes.. Dad already had a 57 and decided he didn't need both so similar. Somebody stepped into an easy to finish project. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Thank you! I'm proud of all our veterans that's my dad & it's his dream car & I'm proud he's my pop, drafted Nov 68 served in 101st in Vietnam. I can't say thanks enough to all. I love the HAMB!
The many wonderful things you guys have said, made us feel so good! I showed some of the family & they love it! Feel like I wrote just a mini car autobiography or rather picture book. Nothing like a happy ending. Kinda think we all like digging through our old shoeboxes full of car pictures. Even when they're about an old but not forgotten shoebox.
The Jalopy Journal
