The first time I saw my Bel Air, I wasn’t looking to buy it. It belonged to a friend of mine and I was just there to take pictures of it. That is one of the things like to do, take pictures of old cars. My buddy offered to sell it to me for $10,000. He said that he had put a lot more money than that in it having it “redone” and he let his brother-in-law work on the engine. He told me that the car broke down on him a couple of times and he got frustrated with it, so he parked it in the garage and quit messing with it. I didn’t have the money, time, or space for a 1957 Chevy at the time. So, I just admired the classic car, took my photos, and silently wondered how anyone could let such a cool old car sit in their garage wasting away for almost three decades. It had junk stored on top of the hood and truck that we had to remove before I could take my pictures. Stuff was stacked around it so close, I could only take pictures of the interior through an open window because I couldn’t open the door. A few years later when he offered it to me again (at a price I couldn’t turn down), I had moved about nine hours away and was unable to look it over before I agreed to buy it.
Now that I have had the Bel Air for a few years, I have discovered that there are several things that are beyond my skill level to fix. But that is okay. I have found a mechanic that is super knowledgeable on Tri-Fives (Chevys from 1955 to 1957). He is also an honest man that I trust. We discuss what needs to be done to the car, he researches the options along with the costs, he explains the pros and cons of each to me, and allows to choose the course of action. I feel that I have not only found an outstanding mechanic, I have found a new friend to help me and my-brother-from-another-mother with our project.
Here is what has been accomplished so far:
- New battery
- New gas tank
- New spark plugs
- New belt
- New hood & truck emblems and license plate frame
- Added an alternator (to allow it to start better)
- Added new power disc brakes (front and back)
- All carpet, headliner, etc. has been removed
Here are the major stages of the project still ahead:
- Fix rust spots (they are not bad considering the car came from the Kansas City area)
- Add seat belts
- Make sure it mechanically sound enough to take short road trips
- Add power steering
- Add automatic transmission
- Add air conditioner
- Nice paint job (inside & out)
- New interior upholstery
Keep track of our progress here and on the My Vintage Values Facebook page. Thanks for your support and thanks for following our journey!
