This is great. Mymther had this exact car new when she worked as a secretary for a Chevrolet dealership. Had a powerglide though.
And according to my dad she wore the rear tires out in 6 months.
She says "Well, they were bias ply, and don't last as long as radials." Dad said "So you're saying modern radials and that big honking V8 powerglide would have held up better?"
Hers was this same color, and I'd like to build one for her.
fox
I'll be keeping tabs on this build. I learned to drive in a new black '58 Chevy with automatic trans. The day they took me to the State Police barracks for my test they put me in a stick. Needless to say I flunked out. Went down the hill, stopped at the stop sign, made the right to go to the stalls for the 3 point. Instead of just turnig right, I made a u turn, jumped the curb and went through the fence. The tropper hit the other brakes or I would have gone off into the field. Took it the next time in a stick and passed. Loved the car though.
Jim
I learned to drive on a 1970 International Harvester Travelall with a Chrysler redblock truck engine and a 3 speed. Power steering pump was broken and my dad said if I could drive it I could drive anything.
During the test, we drove through a residental neighborhood first. The examiner was a young black gal who was maybe early mid 20's.
She said "Look, just put it in drive and leave it there." I said It's a manual. She said "You don't need to shift it manually. Put it in D and leave it there."
I said "No. It's a 3 speed manual transmission. See, clutch pedal." (put it in and moved the lever around, then back into gear. Let it out without rev matching and the truck slowed down)
She said "I didn't even know they you could get a car like that."
Told her it used to be all cars had manuals on the column. Mentioned three on the tree, and she said "I think I've heard of that."
During manueverability I had to have it rolling since I could turn the wheel stopped. And started rolling too fast, couldn't turn the wheel quicky enough and would have run over a cone. Had to stop and pull forward turned the wheel, stopped and reversed turning the rest of the way. 5 point deduction, otherwise I would have gotten 100 on written and driving.