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You know how you have a plan and your latest project
won't take long, then it somehow gets out of hand and
six years later you finally get to drive it? Well, so
does Bob Hyde!
Words by Kev Elliott, pictures by Mike Key.
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The grille
surround was painted body colour, while the bumper end
trimpieces and overiders were original factory options
in '53. Apparently. All the chrome on the car was
re-done by Hockley Enterprises in Southend. |
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It all started
for Bob when his Aunt's boyfriend showed up in a '60s Impala. That
was it - he was hooked. Since then he's been through over 100 cars
by his reckoning, and he's not about to let up anytime yet.
The '53 Belair you see here came into his
possession in 1990 with a fresh MoT, and Bob drove it
until the ticket ran out, then parked it in a barn for
a couple of years while he did up a house. With that
out of the way his interest in the Chevy was rekindled
and he started work on it himself. Fancying a roof chop,
and not feeling confident enough to tackle the job
himself without cocking it up, he rang around for
quotes. Most places said straight off that they could
do the job but Paul Burnham's approach of, 'Lets look
at some pictures of the car first, then I'll quote it'
struck Bob as being the most honest response.
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The Chevy was duly shipped down to Burnham Autos in
north Kent, which is a fair old trek from Bob's place
in Buckinghamshire, but as Bob says, 'At least I knew
the job would be done properly.' We asked Bob just
exactly when his car went into the workshop, only to be
told, 'Let's just say it was when Paul still had hair!'
Told you this was a longterm project.
Change
of plan
The original plans for
the car were, obviously, the chop, as well as a pale pastel yellow
paint job, whitewalls and hubcaps, sidepipes, fender skirts and a
black interior with leopard print inserts. Still, at least he got
the inserts, though they're now snow leopard print, tying in with
the monochromatic scheme of the rest of the car. |
That's the original 235ci six-banger in there, though
Bob's planning on replacing it with a hotter version
this winter. Note the repositioned dynamo, making room
for the 24v alternator. |
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The original plans for
the car were, obviously, the chop, as well as a pale pastel yellow
paint job, whitewalls and hubcaps, sidepipes, fender skirts and a
black interior with leopard print inserts. Still, at least he got
the inserts, though they're now snow leopard print, tying in with
the monochromatic scheme of the rest of the car.
The original plans were shelved when Bob bought the
Budnik Switchblades at about the same time Len Beech
debuted his pale yellow Merc. Unsure of what colour to
now paint the Chevy, the decision was left to Paul, who
came up with silver, setting the theme for the project.
Starting with the chop, the roof fame down by 4in at
the front and 4.75in at the rear, the lower corners of
the original rear window being sunk into the rear deck.
At the front the original screen was cut down, though
all the side glass is new tinted glass, with the door
windows now operated by XJ6 electric mechanisms. The
same Jag also gave up its wiper to the Chevy. |
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Those who know their Chevys will know that stockers
have stainless trims round the windows, meaning that
all the holes had to be welded up in this case. While
the welder was out the rear doors were welded shut, the
front fenders were stretched by 1.5in and Mercury head
light surrounds and stainless inserts added to french
the headlights. The bodyline on the front fenders was
also lengthened, with matching lines added between each
headlight and the hood. At the same time all the
handles, badges and trim were shaved and the split down
the centre of the hood was welded up to make it
one-piece. With all the bodywork complete the car was
shunted across the yard to CC Racing for a coat of Audi
silver.
Snow leopard
Burnham Autos employee Keith Andrews was responsible
for the Chevy's interior. The stock back seat was
retained but re-upholstered in grey tuck 'n' roll
vinyl, with the aforementioned snow leopard inserts.
The front seat, sourced from an un-named '70s yank and
widened 5in in the centre, was similarly trimmed, the
central armrest flipping down to provide a storage
compartment and a home for the stereo remote control.
The door panels too were trimmed in vinyl, with the
stock stainless trim now repositioned. |
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The stock steering column now has an ally cover, topped
with a Budnik 'wheel, while the column shift linkage
has been treated to a B&Q chrome shower rail tube
cover! Keith Andrews is responsible for the interior,
including the headliner. |
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As the
dash had been smoothed, a new home had to be found for
the switches, now residing in a panel under the seat
best described as something from the Jetsons. It's
just a pity that no-one gets to see it down there.
Keith didn't stop with the interior either, as the
trunk is upholstered in the same way, with a tuck 'n'
roll panel covering the hydraulics.
These
consist of a DS Engineering-installed single 12v pump,
split to give Bob back to front options but no side to
side. With a choice of either 24v or 36v it's simply a
matter of how high he wants the Chevy to jump! |
The re-trim carries through into the trunk, with all
the hydraulics gubbins hidden from view behind the
Chevy logo'd panel. The single exhaust splits into two,
allowing the twin Chevy logo tailpipes to exit under
the bumper. |
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Stock six-pot
When it
came to the running gear Bob decided from the start to
leave it all stock. Not something we're used to round
here, but it was all in perfect working order so why
not? The 235ci straight six feeds a Powerglide trans
and a stock rear end, now mounted on custom-made coil
springs fitted around the hydraulic cylinders.
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Seventies highrider look sir? No, thought not. |
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The motor still retains its original dynamo, now repositioned to
allow space for the 24v alternator that, charges the hydraulics
batteries. |
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Though the motor runs fine, with Bob driving
the car on an almost daily basis since its debut at
this year's Supernats, he's planning to swap it over
the winter for a hot 235 with twin carbs that will
come from Patricks in the States. That should provide
a bit more poke!
Speaking of the Supernats, the Chevy,
christened Lois incidentally, walked off with the
Scrapin' award, as well as gaining an army of admirers
when it was on display on the Custom Car stand over the
weekend. It may have taken a while for the project to
come to completion, but it was certainly time and money
well spent.
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Shaved and smoothed rump seems to
be saying 'Does my arse look big in this?' Tail-lights
are almost the only things on the car that aren't
silver, while or black. |
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Bob's thanks go
to Paul Burnham and all at Burnham Autos (01474 824007), Doug
Ripley at CC Racing (01322 380980), and his wife, Lucy
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