Customs Lost & Found, the story of a 55 Chevy

I grew up with a hot rodder dad. He always had a cool car in the driveway of one sort or another. I felt very fortunate that in the fall of 1986 as I was entering senior year of high school we bought a 55 Chevy Bel Air hardtop that was to be "our" car. This would be the first collaboration as all the others before had been his, I merely road shotgun.

It was a nice and clean turquoise and white sport coupe with a nice running 283 and a power glide. I started my senior year of high school in style. I drove it that way right up until the winter weather forced us to park the car. At that time, a full teardown commenced.

Everything new chrome that could be ordered was, the interior was redone in a grey cloth and vinyl and the body was stripped to metal and fixed where needed. We decided to go with a sleek black cherry paint. Black when in the shade, red pearl in the sun. We finished putting the interior in it at about midnight then night before my senior prom. Wide whites and 57 Caddy caps, you gotta love it!




After a while dad decided he wanted to run a new set of tires and Truespoke wires. I didn't hate them, but they weren't my first choice. Give and take I guess. We drove and showed the car for a few years, then like every other hot rod before, dad got bored and decided it was time to sell. Here are the last pictures of it when we still owned it. This is just as the new owner was about to leave.




Like all the others we moved on. New toys came and went. I have quite a bit of my dad and me, and for the most part I don't get attached either. I can't count the hot rods we have had over the years. Then one day I decided I wanted this one back, badly. To me, this is the one that got away. The first love you can't get out of your head no matter how much you try. So I posted a thread up here looking to see if anyone recognized the car.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/help-locate-55-chevy-in-boston-area.455077/#post-11236200


I also posted on Chevytalk.com and other Tri-Five forums. Thankfully I took the advice of the gent that suggested it. Because a few weeks ago I got a weird phone call from some guy claiming to have my old car. He said he had just bought it and was searching for its past and while doing different google searches he found my post on Chevy Talk and here on the hamb. After about a week of talking back and forth he decided the car really should be with me, so I jumped on a plane and flew to Florida to see my old car. We have now made a deal and I am getting my girl back. I have given him a deposit and am gathering the rest of the funds as we speak. I have stayed a serious hot rodder and have too many toys now. So I am clearing a couple out to make room and gather the needed cash.

Below are of me and my baby some 28 years later. My wife says she has never seen me smile so big before. I can't describe the joy I feel. The car has really held up well, my plans are to drive it just like it is for a few years then take it apart for a redo, but that is way down the road. Good thing I have spent the last 20 odd years in the restoration/collision industry and I can do it myself.

It is amazing to me that the car still wears the paint we had done in the winter of 86-87 and the same interior as well. The only changes to the car are mechanical. Complete new drivetrain since I owned the car.

 

And now the car has arrived back in CT, the reunion has been completed. The car arrived here Monday afternoon. Words can't describe the feeling.

Merry Christmas to me!!

 

The future plans are to get a set of wide whites and steelies. I still have the Caddy caps hanging on the garage wall. I can't wait to replicate the look from 29 years ago.

 

Wow, that would sure make me smile too.
Congratulations, beautiful car.

 

Just a great Xmas present. Congrats!

 

...AND you got rid of the wires! LOL.
Awesome story, thanks for sharing!

 

so cool, thanks for sharing your story! it looks great with the caddy caps. merry christmas!

 

Awesome car and great story. The 5 spokes look pretty good.

 

Hard to beat a sanitary tri-five Chevy! Glad to see it has been well cared for all these years. It must speak to the quality of work that someone else left it all alone, including the lettering. Merry Christmas indeed!

I like your plan to put whitewalls and Cad Sombreros back on it. But I kind of like the Truspokes and blackwalls, too! The TTs are just too common. Nice car.

 

Wow,what a lucky man.Your search sure paid off.She's a fine looking '55.

 

Wow that is good stuff right there. I sure do love 55 hard tops.

 

Congrats, a great story glad to see you got her back.

 

Wow, I'm glad that she is back home for Christmas. That is one sweet looking hardtop. I'm a product of a '70's upbringing, so those Tru-Spokes sing to me. Although, the Caddy caps and wide whites are pretty cool too. ARe those old Lee tail light lenses?

Congrats and enjoy man.

 

Love the car and the story. I too, want to know about the tail lights. Lees or Buicks?

 

You must be overjoyed! I can't imagine.....

I can't wait to see current pictures with the whitewalls and Cadillac caps. Such a cool car/story. You are a lucky man!

 

Wow! Great story. Good luck with it and enjoy.
Pat

 

Congrats! Glad you finally found it and were fortunate enough to be able to buy it back once you did.

 

Very cool story and car. I like all three wheel and tire combo

 

Nice looking car and a great back story on finding the one that got away.

 

Love your story! Car has survived well! Whatever you, Enjoy it! I like the mags that are on it but also your idea of Caddy caps & wide whites. You could have 2 sets wheels and tires, change when the mood strikes! Congratulations!!

 

It's great that the owner decided to sell it back to you. What ever you paid, it was worth it.
Memories are priceless.

 

Congrats - sometimes if you "wish upon a star", and the help of the internet, dreams do come true.

 

That's an awesome story. Chalk it up to good living!
My vote goes to Truspokes/BFGTA's and really consider keeping the paint and upholstery you and Dad did.

 

I knew you had been searching and am ecstatic that you found it! I have a similar story of my Nomad and know how you're feeling.

 

Awesome...I found the one that my father in law built in the 70's in Tx, and my uncle owned here in Ks(that's a weird story)...I spent 7 years trying to buy it before giving up and buying another hardtop....Glad you got it done.... I love the Caddy caps...

 

Wow, that is a cool story, and a gorgeous car! How on earth did you get him to part with it? I'm sure it was a tough decision for him.

 

I bet it cost you ten times what your dad sold it for to get it back.

 

I love stories like this because I know exactly how you feel since the same situation happened to me. That is a stunningly beautiful car, nothing much better looking than a nice 55 Chebby hardtop. Just icing on the cake that nothing major was changed.
I bet you don't let it go again...will you?

 

These are Lee lenses my father and I installed in 1987.

Thanks for all the comments guys. I am one very lucky guy. I figure it is probably easier to hit Lotto than find this car all these years later, especially intact as it is. It will be a long time before I ever rip it apart and redo it, as many flaws as it has, each one is awesome being it is the car I drove in high school so long ago.

Another great thing about this car is that, most any wheel and tire change will look good on it. Once back to WW and caps I still plan on keeping these wheels and tires. Nice change every once in a while.