September 2015 Feature Car

 

 

I was looking through an auto trader on a Sunday afternoon and came across a ‘56 Chevy for sale or trade for a Harley. I just so happened to have a Harley for sale so I made a call.  I told the gentleman what I had an then he began to tell me about the ‘56.

It had a 350 with a cam and headers, turbo 350, power brakes, Weld Mold wheels and a gray interior. The clutch pedal was up under the carpet next to the fire wall. It was also a 3 on the tree car at one time. I told him that was what I was looking for and he also said my Harley was the type of Harley he was looking for.  So the next weekend I loaded up the bike on the trailer and headed to the outskirts of Ft. Worth.

We made the trade and I became a very proud owner of a 1956 Chevy!  This was my second car, as my first was a Chevelle SS 1970 with a 454.  I was going to let my oldest son have that and I take the ‘56.  My wife and I have owned the car now for 7 years. 

We were caught in a hail storm coming back from a show in Broken Bow, Oklahoma with nowhere to pull in for cover so I slowly kept driving, hearing the big chunks of ice beating the car up. After about 15 minutes the storm stopped and I pulled over to view the damages.  To my surprise it did not have as much dings on it as I had expected.  Older cars are made better than todays as for as the metal.  So I called the insurance company, they came out in 2 days and wrote me a check on the spot.  With that I took a big step and had the car totally redone.  Soon my ’56 had new paint, interior and wheels.  But along the way I had already put in a 700 R transmission with a 383 stroker small block.  It is a driver, very very seldom do I trailer it, only if we take the motorhome.  We have other classic cars in the family but my Tri-Five is my favorite!

 Ronnie Ruyle

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