It struck me today when my dad put the black '56 Chevy in the shop today that it was nearly 25 years ago that he bought it for $1,000- to be my first car. It was a one-owner car that belonged to a friends mom. It was arrow straight and the orig. 6 cyl. ran like a watch. For years we were never interested in it because it was a 6cyl. 210 and we were looking for a Bel Air with a V-8. Well I had it probably all of one week when I cam home and found it totally disassembled and my dad told me- "I decided it's too nice for you- I'm gonna fix it up". I was heart broke- but it got repainted (same $300- spray job still on it!) and new upholstery and chrome. I still don't think my dad has even $4,000 in the car- but kinda glad he kept it because I would have wrecked and or sold it a LONGGGGG time ago.
Very sharp, Jim. I like the redlines, that's not a look you see often enough. Does it still have the six? -Dave
Yeah- it has the same six- now with all the Offenhauser dress-up (2x2, valve cover & side plate) and Fenton headers with dual exhaust. Del Ray upholstery inside- everything totally stock.
It does. My dad says its WAYYYY quicker off the line than his stock '55 Nomad with a 265/glide. He drives this one way more than the Nomad. And he's most proud that in 25 years he has never washed the car- just dry cleans them everytime he takes them out. This one never had a pinhole of rust- and NO body work before they sprayed the paint.
<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Jim, what a neat deal, the paint and all looks great!!Dads get smarter as we get older! Huh!!We didn't understand when we were pups!! I would prefer that over a BelAir any day. Hope the store is busy!!--A fan of your endevours--,Sololobo/Roadburners of Omaha </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Your dad was right...it IS too nice for you!! Very cool car...you don't see many two door tri-fives with sixes still in 'em for sure!!
Nice looking ride. Those '55-'57 Chevies are timeless. It's cool he kept the six. As was stated, you don't see that to often. Says a lot for that motor.
wow! Thats some car! Heck of a story with it too! There's nothing on it I would change, except the name on the title. I'll PM you if I win the lottery this weekend!
Funny thing- you could stack a pretty tall amount of money and my dad would never sell this car. They mean a lot more than money to us- and that's a good thing.
Hey Jim, I meet you and your dad when you were up here in WA delivering a car and stuff to a friend. Thinking about it, I come to the conclusion that I don't like your dad, unless he wants to adopt me then I will love him for ever! Oh ya nice car
Knew a guy in high school that drove a '56 210 tudor w/ 265 and a 3speed on the floor, after a couple years he traded the mags off it for a little Honda, his dad put some other wheels on it and repo'ed it! It was too nice for that dumn-ass!
Kewl story and i too dig the red lines and that paint looks like it has held up well. Just think what it will be in another 25 years
That's funny! My Dad and I decided a '58 Impala would be a great first car for me back in '82 or so. I was 14 and itching for a musclecar, but my Dad's first car was a '58 Impala, and when we saw one for sale on the roadside nearby, it was pretty much a done deal. It was a 348 4-bbl with a Turboglide trans, and it needed some work. But, it ran nice and looked okay. So, I got to working on it... Fast forward a couple years, and it's got a cheapo paint job and I've learned the intricacies of transmission removal and replacement after the T-glide got a rebuild. My time behind the wheel is severely limited, but I did get to drive it to the senior prom... Then, I join the Air Force and leave home. I tell Dad I'll come back for the car, but I find a cherry '69 Charger R/T in California and get to work making it go fast. Dad "repo's" the Impala and starts taking it to local cruises and shows. It's his now... So, I still kinda have my first car. I worked on it plenty and even drove it some, but it's Dad's car now. He says not to worry...I'll get it back when he dies. He's a positive thinker like that... Now the 348 has a tri-power, the paint job is much better, and there's a continental kit out back. He made it the way he always wanted his first car to be, and that's pretty damn cool. Dad's are funny sometimes- especially when their hot rodding sons are itching for their first car! ~Scotch~
A '57 Ford Country Squire wagon my grandpa bought in 1966. Loved that car too and was storing it while I was away in the Air Force. My mom decided it would be good to let my uncle use it and he wrecked it. I was young with no where to store it and it got scrapped. I still can't believe I let that happen- it was saveable, now I REALLY feel sad that it's gone now that my grandpa is gone too.
I love that car! A 6 is soooooo much cooler than a V8. Jim , that was the car on the lift when we where there? Michael
The Jalopy Journal
