DACC's Club Choice Award at the 2008 Lone Star Classic
Chevy Convention in Waco went to Rex & Myrtle Buzan of Henryetta, Oklahoma. His
1955 Turquoise and Ivory two-door hardtop is about as originally restored as you
will ever find. It has "numbers-matching" 265 engine and power glide
transmission. It has the original treadle-vac power brake booster, power
steering, tinted windows, Wonderbar radio, but no air conditioning. It has the
front grill guard and fender guards and is equipped with original-style spiral
shocks. There is a great deal of attention to detail and originally. Most of the
bolts and fasteners were salvaged and refurbished from the original car during
restoration. Things that couldn't be restored were replaced with good ones from
salvaged cars, not reproductions. This car's been some interesting places
recently. It was one of 100 cars chosen to be displayed in the pavilion during
the Oklahoma Centennial Celebration at Tulsa, when they dug up and displayed the
1957 Plymouth Belvadere time capsule. It was chosen as the Best 1955 at the 50th
Anniversary Celebration of the 1957 Chevy in Detroit last year. Rex also won 1st
at the Starbird Rod and Custom Show in Tulsa this year. Rex loves to drive
his car, but generally trailers it, because he likes for his wife to go to the
shows with him. Myrtle really enjoys the comfort of air conditioning, so she
urged him to get their enclosed trailer, so she and the car could both be
comfortable.
Rex has a true passion for 1955 hardtops. He was in the Army, when he saw a
brand new 1955 Turquoise and Ivory hardtop at the Chevy dealer and fell in love
forever. After his discharge in August 1955, he made a deal to buy a new one in
Connecticut, just like that first one he saw. Unfortunately there was a flood
before he took delivery and he witnessed his '55 floating in the showroom
window. Eventually he got a new Turquoise and Ivory 1955 two-door hardtop, which
he drove until a drunk driver hit the car in 1958.
Work and family diverted his attention until 1976, when his 14-year-old son was
nearing driving age. Rex convinced Marshall that a '55 Chevy was the neatest car
to have. They found a '55 four-door sedan with every possible option except air
conditioning. But soon after buying it, they found a '55 two-door hardtop and
Marshall was as crazy about it as Rex had always been. They restored it and
painted it Gypsy Red and Shoreline Beige. A few years later he built another one
just like it for his daughter... a dad's got to be fair! Remember this is three
'55's and counting.
In late 2003 Rex was recuperating from a broken leg, minding his own business,
when a neighbor found this original 1955 Turquoise and Ivory two-door sedan for
sale. Rex asked the owner to hold it until he could walk again. In 2004 he began
renovating the car that we saw at the Lone Star Convention. He credits Gene
Shockley of Tulsa with helping him immeasurably with the details of the
restoration. Also Pete Sawatzky of Stroud, OK for finding him all the parts he
needed. Rex trailered the car body on a roll away frame to Gary Robbins in
Virginia for the paint and body work. Meanwhile, Rex did all the rest of the
work on the frame, suspension, etc. himself, including building the motor and
rear end.
If you ever need to know anything about a 1955 Chevy, ask Rex!