Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Heater was optional

1955 was the year I fell in love with the Chevrolet. I wanted one. Of course that was out of the question the car was priced at about $2200. But I loved the design. Over the years I saw the car become a classic. Most folks think the ’57 Chevrolet was the one, but for me it was the 1955.

We owned a 55 Ford, I customized it, with the help of JC Whitney's catalog. But it was not the Chevy.
(For a car I loved, this is the only Picture I can find, That is Marty(our son Jack's best friend) leaning against it. )
I think it was 1976 or there about, We were stationed in Key West Florida. I saw a 1955 advertised in the paper, I had to go look at it. IT was a jewel, I gladly gave the lady $50 for it, and drove it home. I only lived a couple miles away (this is Key west you are never far from home). When I got home it was over heated, the radiator had a hole in it the size of your fist, but I was one proud guy.
My sweet wife came out of the house , “What in the name of common sense is this?”
“This, my love, is my dream car, this is a 1955 Chevrolet!”

I worked on this vehicle, I redone the inside( again, with J.C. Whitney’s help). I sanded it down and painted it myself. This was a great car. The Gas tank had many leaks in it, but I learned early that a bar of soap will stop most leaks in a gas tank. Just keep rubbing the soap over the hole and eventually it will stop leaking. So there was a lot of soap on that tank. Problem was, we were going back North, and it had no heater. The car was bought in Key west, and the buyer so no need for the expensive ($150) heater so he did not order one. I had no idea how to install the heater. If you know the car, the heater in 1955 was under the passenger’s seat. So I never did get one installed. When we got to NC I sold it for $500. I still miss that car.
Amazing that at one time a heater was an option and A/C was a very expensive option. Things certainly change.
Thanks for reading the Log.
Nite Shipslog
PS: :
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A Crowded elevator Smells different to midget (I have heard).





9 comments:

Lucy said...

Marty's dad's only new car was a Chevy with the cat eyes tail lights. It had a heater but no air conditioning. So you think you bought a bargain??? I bet you had fun renovating it.

~mel said...

A bar of soap to stop the gas leaks! HA... Did you leave a trail of bubbles when you went through rain puddles?? BP should try to use some soap to clean up it's mess. Don't you wish the cars of today were as easy to mess around with under the hood as the good ol' oldies? Now they're all computerized and technically jam packed ... can't even get to the dip stick without being a master mechanic.

shirl72 said...

I think the 57 chevy was a pretty car. When I
was looking for a car Dad and I looked at them
and he could not believe the price they were
asking. I finally got a 59 Dodge and that
was a beautiful car. Cars have changed and
I cannot tell one car from another. They all
look alike.

Shirl

Anonymous said...

JACK, THE FIRST NEW CAR I EVER BOUGHT WAS A 1957 CHEVY STATION WAGON.
FALL OF THE YEAR AND I MADE THE MISTAKE OF REQUESTING CERTAIN THINGS INSTEAD OF BUYING RIGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR.

WHAT A LEMON. I BELIEVE IT MUST HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH REJECTED PARTS.
WHEEL BEARINGS ALL WENT BAD, BRAKE SHOES WERE NO GOOD, ALMOST CRASHED WITH THE POOR BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE APART ONE FREEZING NIGHT WHERE THE WELD DID NOT HOLD, CAR PARKED IN THE DRIVE.

GENERAL MOTORS REFUSED TO PAY OR FIX ANYTHING.
FRIENDS BUYING ALIKE CARS HAD NO TROUBLES AND WERE HAPPY WITH THE CARS. sam

betty said...

I didn't realize that about the bar of soap! wow! I think you made a nice profit on that car (although I know you didn't want to sell it) from what you paid for it and what you sold it for. I think heaters are important in a car especially if you are heading somewhere where it is VERY COLD! I think you made the right decision to sell it

betty

Coffeeveggie addict. said...

i so so loved your car....hmmm,i just wonder how it feels to ride on it....have a nice weekend....takecare you and sherry!

hugs,
blue

BlueRidge Boomer said...

There is a show on one of the cable channels called...American Pickers....last weekend these guys found a 56 Chevy in a barn...mint condition....20 miles on it....the farmer had bought it for his wife and she never learned to drive....Keys were still on the seat!!

What a find!!!

Enjoy

Fred Alton said...

Man, for me it was the '55 Ford! And you had one. If memory serves me right that's what you had in Biloxi? Great car, that '55.

Anonymous said...

Surely there was much class on four wheels, probably even more passion than nowadays. A nice start into the weekend for you.