56 Chevy 210

class"wp-image-373 alignright" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads201309Walker4-297x300.jpg" alt"Walker4" "297" height"300" b56 Chevy 210b - My Dream Carbr Owner: David Walkerbr Kuttawa, KYpblockquoteiMy sister said, "Brother, you're not going to buy that of junk, are you?"iblockquotepbr strongHighlights:strongbr a Platinum Certificate and 979 show rebuilt 283 small-blockliululppululliOriginal California carliululpbr quote: Over a two year I replaced the rocker lower rear quarters, lower fender iipanels, all floor trunk floor, a door skin, and headlight bezels.iblockquotepbr My love for Chevys started back in high school when in 1984 I my first Chevy, a 1955 two-door sedan. Although I loved all Tri-5 Chevys back then, my real love was for the 56s. I liked the changes in the grille, taillights, and rear wheel styling. My budget just would not allow me to own one! img class"alignnone size-large wp-image-365" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads201310Walker3-1024x466.jpg" alt"56 Chevy 210" "610" height"278" That first 55 is long gone I ended up doing a full restoration on that sedan. In the early 60s I was a mechanic at a Chevy dealership so I did all the mechanical work myself. The body work was done by a classic body shop. When I retired, I set out to fulfill my childhood dream of owning a 56 Chevrolet. After months of searching, I located this car online at an antique shop in Wichita, Kansas. The on the computer looked rough, so I took a trip to Wichita. I stayed with my sister, Jan Ames, in Tulsa, Oklahoma and together we went to see the car. img class"alignnone size-large wp-image-364" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads201310walker1-1024x585.jpg" alt"walker1" "610" height"348" The 56 was a California car, assembled in Oakland. Judging by the oil change stickers on the door jamb this car had been all over the country. The car was rough to say the least. The floor and trunk area were gone, the rocker were rusted, fenders dented and rusted, not to mention the hole in the roof! My sister said, "Brother, you're not going to buy that of junk, are you?" After crawling underneath and seeing the frame etc., in good original shape, I said, "Sure!" The 56 was all original; it had never been worked on, and because of its bad condition was being out for junk. In September of 2007 I trailered it home for restoration. img class"alignright wp-image-374" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads201309Walker5.jpg" alt"Walker5" "288" height"432" The first thing I had to do was learn to weld. I enrolled in a night welding class and got the basics down before a Mig welder. The next step was to get a rotisserie. After getting the body on the rotisserie, I went to work. Since Im retired, I had no time frame. I started on the floor until my welding improved. Over a two year I replaced both inner and outer rockers, lower rear quarters, lower fender all floor trunk floor, a door skin, and headlight caps. There were many fabricated in the rear wheel wells, lower windshield comers, as well as that hole in the roof. New springs and spring bushings, tie rods, A-frame bushings, and a fine job completed the undercarriage. The 283 engine, not original, was rebuilt and coupled to a three speed transmission and a column shift. My dream was to have a basic,sporty, no frills 1956 210 Chevrolet. After the interior trim, dash and under hood myself, it was off to Defews Body Shop in Draffenville, Kentucky for the exterior Seven coats of three stage Tempting Turquoise Candy and three clear coats finished the job! The interior was fabricated by Linda and Ron Comwell of Kentucky Kustoms in Morganfield, KY. They did a beautiful job! The car was completed in the spring of 2011. One of the first shows I attended was the Meguiars Wal-Mart Show in Oak Grove, KY. The 56 won Best of Show out of about 150 vehicles. Also got to meet and shake hands with Barry Meguiar. Since then, img class"alignnone size-medium wp-image-366" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads201310Walker6-300x200.jpg" alt"Walker6" "300" height"200" I have attended many shows and have won numerous Best of Show awards here in western Kentucky. At the Music City Chevy Classics Show in Nashville in July of 2012, I took first Platinum certificate with 979 The car also took Best Interior for the Custom Class and third in the Junior Judging. My future include driving the 56 to many shows, as well as just "cruising" with our local car club, Lakeland Cruisers of Western KY. strongspan style"font-family: Times;"Shop for Tri-5 Chevy at a href"http:www.ecklers.com"www.ecklers.comaspanstrongbr strongspan style"font-family: Times;"Follow us on our Tri-5 Facebook a href"https:www.facebook.comEcklersClassicChevy?frefts"Click here and Like us!aspanstrongp