While driving to the post office this morning, in my small town on old Route 66, I noticed five Chevies that had settled like a flock of migratory birds.
Once a year, out here, we have the Route 66 “Fun Run,” but clearly this wasn’t it. These Chevies all knew each other.
One of the passengers explained that they were on a mission to drive all the way to Chicago, having set out from California that morning.
Soon they took off to continue their quest….
… retracing the great migration west that their parents or grandparents must have made with just a quick wave goodbye.
Nice, really nice. Too bad there wasn’t a ’55. That’s my favorite, then the ’56s, and the ’57 last, since it’s too overdone and heaven knows it’s over-exposed.
There’s a Chevy mechanic in town who has three ’57s, in red, white and blue. He likes to pull them out on nice days, his Chevy pals bring over their Vettes, Camaros or Malibus, and they hang out. One’s a custom, one’s for the drags and one is stock. Like AMT 3-in-1 kits at 1:1 scale.
No, I wouldn’t mistake them for Vauxhalls.
Fourth one in the line is a ’55… the darker blue one with the silver flames. I think it would be my favorite too.
How’d I miss that? Thanks.
Nobody ever did Holden virtually photocopied the styling of the 55 for its FE/FC models replacing them with the 57 styled FB/EK models the size up close is a dead giveaway, Chevs were quite expensive being priced above Vauxhalls and double the price of a Holden but were less equipped than corresponding makes Cresta and Premier models.
Atleast NZ Chevies had V8 engines from 55, In OZ the 283 only became optional in 1960 but its mostly quite flat and they didnt want to detract from their underpowered local offering too much I guess,
Chevrolet was the top of the local range with Cheviac for good measure anything else had to be imported Vauxhall was priced mid range with agricultural Holden at the bottom in the early 50s all three did utes Vauxhall in Wyvern and Velox the panel kit was also assembled as a convertable called a Vagabond much prized now rusted wrecks sell for serious coin, I know how to make one you need a ute and you insert a sedan centre section in the correct place and thats it on the ute chassis which began life under a CA Bedford van, if you can locate the wrecks your in business Chev utes survive in good numbers as do Vauxhalls both were quite overbuilt BOF style the Holden was unitary and stronger than either of them and thousands survive.
Not a white wall or Continental kit to be seen!A lot of British Tri 5s have every extra on them,the worst being a Continental kit and the strange fender guard/crash bar thing.Thank you for another great article and photos Charles.
I saw a 57 with great Patina at Easter it had major surface rust battery flat in the camera its the only 57 I’d shoot.
5 tri-5’s
Love ’em… love ’em all!
Nothing nicer than a simple, clean tri-five on some nice Ansen slots, Cragar SS-es (I know they’re not really represented here) or AmRacing Torq-thrusts.
I always enjoyed long distance travel in the ’57 150 in owned back in the early 80’s. And I did a lot of it!
Patiently waiting for the opportunity to redo my ’57 Handyman. And then it’s wifey and me, off in search of…
Does anyone call these shoeboxes, anymore?
Yes they are still shoeboxes to some of us geezers but so is the 51 ford we saw the other day. Tri fives makes it chevy. It’s nice to see someone doing what everyone should do with old cars. Chas108, like you I drove mine to work every day relatively recently. $4 gas and 13mpg got it parked in 07. Seems like forever doing something to change that.
Old cars should run. My hat is off.
Good for them! I just drove the western half of 66, from Amarillo to LA, four weeks ago, and I was disappointed to see not one single solitary vintage car making the trip. No, the 1990’s Bonneville sedan with a Wisconsin collector plate doesn’t count; sorry sir or ma’am if you are reading this.
Sounds like you are in Kingman or Seligman. Did the Chevy drivers do the Sitgreaves Pass? That is one hairy stretch of road.