Projects Just Bought Eight 56-59 Chevy Trucks

A couple months ago, my wife came home and said that one of her clients had some old trucks out behind his office. After discussing the Pontiac that I'm working on with him, he told her that he wasn't trying to sell any but he would entertain an offer if I wanted one. I told her that I didn't need another truck or another project but I'd go look. The only thing I couldn't pass up, would be a 58 Chevy. This is what I saw when I drove by:

So I figured I'd wait until the 6 week 24/7 mission I was running was over and go talk to him. Unfortunately, before I had a chance to talk to him, he got in an accident on his motorcycle and didn't make it (Sad. Doc was a good man.). Because all of his finances went through my wife's office, I asked her to make sure that they didn't send the trucks to the crusher. His only family, his daughter, said she didn't know what to do with them and that she wanted me to buy them all or help her sell them. I ended up making an offer for all of them and I'm almost done bringing it all home. I'll post some more pics to show off what came with the deal.

 

Regardless of what you ultimately do, thanks for stepping in and saving them.

 

The first one on the trailer looks solid from a distance but is missing a lot of parts including the engine and transmission. It rolls and steers nicely so there's something to work with and the windows, door latches and hood latch all work smoothly.


It's rusted out in all the usual places including step into the cab.

 

This one has a decent frame but the front wheels felt like they were going to fall off the spindle. It's full of extra fenders and hoods and has a chrome grill off a 55-56 in the bed.

Maybe I'll make trailer out of this one to match the a finished truck.

 

Sad about the Doc, but great that you saved em.

 

This one has a really solid body, all of parts are there on the interior, the doors, windows and hood open and close very well. It has the usual rust and fiend have an engine but it has a teams mission in it. It did NOT like being moved. It squealed the whole time.

It looks good though. And it's got Texas plates on it so if its one of the ones that doesn't come with a title, it'll be easier to get one than the New Mexico variety.

 

It really is. I can't say enough nice things about him and he was one of my wife's favorite clients.

 

This is probably my favorite out of the bunch right now. It's almost complete and it practically put itself on the trailer. Put it in third gear and pulled it with the tractor and the engine turned!


You can't see it in the picture but this one has the 55-56 grill on it.

 

Here's another with lots of parts missing but still rolling.


It does have all of its glass and not as much rust as some of the others.

 

This one he had in the shop. Someone was restoring it for him. It's got IFS and R/P steering, disk brakes, an Impala rear end and motor mounts for a 350. The cab has all the patch panels tacked in and it's been sand blasted. Unfortunately, it sat it outside while I had to wait to get it and it got rained on.

 

A friend of Doc's came over while we were loading this one and said that they drove it to the spot where they took it apart. You could see that the gas in the oil filter looked pretty good and from the frame down, everything is there.


I checked the numbers and that's not a Turbo Fire but it is a 327 and it turns over.

 

The last one is probably the one I'll start with because it is mostly complete and all in one piece. It just needs a little TLC.



The only parts I noticed missing are from the engine bay: a starter, coil, air cleaner, etc. The freeze plugs are out of it and this one will not turn over. This is another strait 6.

 

Awesome deal...

 

Then there's parts everywhere. Fenders, hoods, bed steps, grills, bell housings, you name it. It took three trips in the truck after the yard was cleared to get all the "stuff". And in the storage unit was all of the goodies. Bumpers, side trim, headlight rings, dash parts, vent windows, all chrome. A nicely upholstered seat (pretty dirty) with sun visors upholstered to match.

All new glass. There's probably enough there to put together a finished show quality truck. Now the job is to finish one the way Doc wanted it: bright red with a hot rod rake, '56 with a screaming 350.

 

Gotta love how well stuff survives sitting outside when your in the SW. Where in NM are you?

 

In Alamogordo just the down the hill from the cool of the tall pines. You?

 

Hey---I work over at One Stop, thought that pic looked familiar.

 

I think he would have wanted it that way.

 

Looks as if you will be busy for quite a while! Nice that you were able to finally work it out and save all of them.

 

We might have already met then. I'll have to come buy some time. It would be good to meet a fellow HAMBer. I'll send you a PM.

From the stories that I heard from his buddy and the shop owner, he really would have wanted it that way. You could tell he was passionate about that style of truck. His daughter said she isn't passionate about it like her dad but she wants to see one finished.

Good thing I've got lots of time. My wife wants each of the kids to have one when they get old enough. Even if that doesn't happen and the best I can do is find homes for them, it's better than the alternative.

 

I'm in Albuquerque but I run down south quite a bit. Use to go to Alamagordo a lot to raid George's cool stash at North 54 Salvage.