-
First Drive
A little history - we all have history, right?
This is my second 57, the first one I bought 55 years ago in 1962 at the age of 17. I was in high school and king shi*. I quickly removed the 283 and replaced it with a 327. It would run as I remember but lacked certain amenities. It was a 150, black, 2 - door post, 3 speed car.
Now I have a factory FI car that looks that same - 2 door post, 150, black car. So it is in my garage but not running well - yet. Current gas is bad shi* when left in the tank for a long period. I'm having to de-fuel it and god know what else. Anyhow I had it running (not well) and drove it around the block. What a tank! No power steering or power brakes, minimal head lights and I'm 17 years old again...
So I'm having fun with this car and sparing no expense, it will remain stock to the nut and bolt. Hope to attend some shows this coming summer, just want to be a player.
Cheers
Al
-
Hi Al, sounds like you have a neat car that many of us would love to pore over and explore.. :) Have fun with it and 'keep on keeping on'.. :)
-
Welcome to the site. I guess I have a hard time understanding why anyone would restore one of these cars to 60 year old condition, but it's not my choice what you do with your car. :)
-
That's what the word 'restore' means, CN... ie. RESTORE to original condition... :) Otherwise, you are *Preserving*, *updating*, or *Customizing*... IMO... :)
-
Welcome to the site Al. Neat car and neat story you have there. Enjoy the heck out of it, and do whatever you want to it as you bring it back to life.
Life is short, get it drive-able...
-
I have had my 56 for 10 years this coming April. It didn't run then, and I never drove it more than around my property until 2-11-17. Finally finished the wiring, and drove it 2 miles to the mailbox and back.......it's a start. I need seatbelts, then an alignment and new tires, and it's a driver! Finally! I share the excitement.
-
Al, some of us love 60s era hot rods and spend the $$$ to build them. However, only a fool would modify an original Fuelie or 2x4 car unless it was an incomplete basket case. I share you pain on the crap they call gas today.
-
Unless they're some rare option or special interest car, original restored cars (is that an oxymoron??) don't bring near the money that a nice modified car does. And you fix those horrible brakes and steering with more modern parts. Original restored cars belong in museums, not on the road imo. Once they're modified, they're not original anymore. Most guys today want modern performance (steering, brakes, suspension, lights, etc.) but old car looks. All you have to do is watch Barrett-Jackson to see that.
-
Here's a couple of examples. Show me ANY original restored 56 Chevy, Nomad or anything else, that has ever brought this much at auction:
This 56 Nomad with an LS6/405HP crate engine, T56, and a so-so interior brought $275,000 at BJ.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...1a44516886.jpg
Here's another modified 57 convertible with AME frame, LS3/480 and 4L80 that brought $264,000 at BJ:
https://theblock.com/sites/default/f...?itok=oz3FSZsF
Neither of these cars would have brought nearly that much in restored original condition, or even built to "60's" standards. :D
-
Are you planning to sell yours at auction when you finish CN???
PS. Loan us $100K-150K each and we can each build one of those cars, then when we sell it at BJ for $250K we'll pay you back??? :)