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Hot Rods 1938 Chevy Coupe I Just Bought Bell Auto Parts Connection

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Black Panther, Jun 5, 2023.

  1. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    I was looking on Craigslist and stumble onto this car. Committed to buying it based on a few pictures...glad I did. Belonged to Chuck Strader who started working for Bell Auto Parts in 1965 I think. Car and him were originally from Illinois. I think this car had two versions...one with Olds power..fancy interior...rear nerf. Then Chuck gets the job at Bell Auto and decides to make his car serious. It got a B&M Hydrostick BC model trans (blown compe***ion)..57 Olds rear...and engine looks like it was being prepped for a blower.

    Wheels and tires shown were added in the late 60s early 70s...the car has been off the road, in a garage since 1965. I believe the first iteration of the car was finished about 1957. The interior is really a work of art. Anyway...will add more pics as time allows....hope my Hamb brothers like it..

    00F0F_ciCzPpjpvdC_0CI0t2_600x450 (1).jpg 79742 (1).jpeg 79740 (1).jpeg 20230530_152717.jpg 20230530_155242.jpg 20230530_155131.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2023
  2. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

  3. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    At some point Chuck put a '37 nose on it...note that little handmade crest that's on the side of the seat....says "Chevolds"

    There was a hamber here called Wolfie who worked with Chuck at Bell Auto in the mid 60s...and mentioned this car here on the Hamb about 12 or more years ago...but Wolfie (Steve Doll) hasn't logged on in forever. Was hoping to reach him to have him fill in some details..but his email is inactive. Bummer
     
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  4. ronzmtrwrx
    Joined: Sep 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,455

    ronzmtrwrx
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Man, that is awesome! How could your HAMB brothers not love it? Congrats on the win.
     
  5. Kreepea_1
    Joined: Sep 17, 2007
    Posts: 520

    Kreepea_1
    Member

    Nice!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  6. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,479

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The mul***ude of holes drilled in the pan. Are they for some kind of vent, or oil return from somewhere?
     
  7. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 3,361

    lumpy 63
    Member

    *****in:cool:
     
    Stogy likes this.
  8. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 5,618

    51504bat
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    What's with the Illinois plate? Just wondering. Nice find.
     
  9. rusty1
    Joined: Nov 25, 2004
    Posts: 13,034

    rusty1
    Member

    very cool!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  10. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,498

    Squablow
    Member

    That steering column would have been from a then-new '65 Cadillac when installed, maybe ordered through a dealer? That had to be expensive, although the rest of the interior points to a very well finished car so I guess that's possible. Kinda odd they'd buy brand new wheels and tires years after it was parked and then never drive it, but that could have been part of a planned resurrection that never got off the ground?

    Either way, looks like a car with some great history and a very well preserved interior, and looks to have been built to a very high standard in it's day. I love the upholstery pattern! I wonder what the touchup weld on the rearend case was for? If this thing could talk, I bet it'd have great stories. Very intact too, wouldn't be tough to put it back to its 1965 condition.
     
  11. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    I'm ***uming he was going to put an aluminum breather on there..
     
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  12. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    The car and Chuck were from Illinois...he moved out here in 1965 I'm ***uming and started working for Bell Auto Parts..
     
  13. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Squablow...the Cad steering wheel is mint. It must have been new or near new when installed. I found the previous column drop inside the car...its pinstriped like the dash. I'm ***uming he did these changes and added stuff over the years. I'm sure he was getting a discount on the parts. There are plaques on the dash from old dragstrips...you can see them in the dash pic taken from the p***enger side. The black upholstery material is outrageous...must have been 50s diner upholstery. Seems very heavy weight stuff. The interior is what sealed the deal for me...you never see project cars with this level of detail. Trunk is also upholstered....
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2023
  14. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Maybe there are some pictures of it out there somewhere? The rear is pretty distinctive. Looks to always have been blue. Don't know what the red cowl is about. Being from IL it might not have had show exposure in magazines. I'm thinking if it was out here in Socal and finished in 1957 or so like I think...it would have.
     
  15. Max Gearhead
    Joined: Oct 16, 2002
    Posts: 7,855

    Max Gearhead
    Member
    from Wisconsin

  16. swade41
    Joined: Apr 6, 2004
    Posts: 14,467

    swade41
    Member
    from Buffalo,NY

    I'm digging it, really cool
     
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  17. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 5,032

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    This is one of my favorite coupes , I had a 37 for many many years . I think this is a 38 , with 37 nose
     
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  18. primed34
    Joined: Feb 3, 2007
    Posts: 1,558

    primed34
    Member

    Cool!
     
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  19. vtx1800
    Joined: Oct 4, 2009
    Posts: 1,903

    vtx1800
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You made a good choice purchasing the car:) The interior is just beyond cool.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  20. Sweet ride.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  21. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,901

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That is way cool! :cool: Congrats!
     
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  22. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,775

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

    Shrewd move buying it! That Coupe rules and the interior kicks ***. The car has some quality work and some nice touches such as the rear nerf bumper (which would make it easy to ID from an old photo).
    What are your plans for it? With that interior, I envision the car painted black.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  23. Okie Pete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2008
    Posts: 6,104

    Okie Pete
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Very Kool
     
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  24. Nice
     
    Stogy likes this.
  25. Awesome score. Love the interior like most others here. Tried to enlarge the center caps on the wheels but couldn't make out the logo. What brand are they ? Very cool it still has the Illinois license plate that also adds to the history.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  26. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Thanks for all the kind words. The interior is cleaned out now of the boxes and stuff so I need to take some good pictures.

    The center caps have a small American flag emblem...

    My plans are to go forward with Chucks vision. Try to match the blue and get it all one color...get or rebuild an Olds motor to put in it. It was getting setup for a blower..that might have to wait till I scrounge up the parts to do it..
     
  27. In_The_Pink
    Joined: Jan 9, 2010
    Posts: 977

    In_The_Pink
    Member

    That upholstery/fabric...amazing. Don't even think about replacing that, ever. Wonderful score.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  28. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,987

    bchctybob
    Member

    Holy smokes BP, what a cool car!! Glad you got it. Looking forward to seeing more pictures and more details. Those Chevys make such great g***ers. And it’s Olds powered!
     
  29. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,374

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    I thought in the pictures I saw before I bought it that the black part was fabric. It isnt..its vinyl too. All the squiggly lines are actually embossed in the material with white vinyl inside. There are also areas with little dots...those are also embossed. Don't worry about me changing it...I wanted a '37 or '38 Chevy coupe for a while...but when I saw the interior of this '38...I had to have THIS car...
     
  30. Very cool!! Also love the old chrome garnish moldings.
     
    Stogy and J. A. Miller like this.

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