When I got infected? 

Maybe very early in my life. My dad ALWAYS drove German's little sister from the Chevy, also of the General Motors Company. It's Opel. Then when I was about ten my aunt died and one of my brothers (Harald) took over her Opel from 1968. He drove it as an all day car and then also restored it frame off. That was just the first of I guess about 5 to 6 cars of that type. Actually I even got my first "driving lessons" in one of those old ones ;-) 

Seems to be a hereditary disease since I still got stuck with that brand ;-) In 1997 I got together with Frank who is now my husband. And he wakened up my interest in American vehicles, especially the old ones.

First he had a 49' Harley which he restored and rebuilt in the original style. This one was followed by a newer model. During all that time we kept on visiting meetings in the area or the neighboring countries where you could watch the cars, the people and get a little scent of the old times.

 Sometimes together with that brother of mine who meanwhile also got a big interest in the American steel. Frank really got me infected ;-) And since we also have two dogs it was always a little sad to leave them at home when we got on a ride. So he made the decision to sell also this motorcycle so we could maybe really get one of those cars where also the dogs would fit in. It should be one out of the 50s and also one that GM has built.

Bopp in the back of the 57'

So we started to screen the internet. After a while Frank sorted out two Tri-Fives which seemed to be in a fair state and in an affordable price range. One of them was a brown one from 1955 which was standing about 800 km away, the other one was from 1957, a BelAir, in a color that we then called pink. It was a little later that we learned this is Dusk Pearl which turned out to be much more than just pink. But let's talk about that later. So we got in touch with both sellers. Talked a lot about both offers and even more about both cars and the thing to buy such an old car in general. 

Don't ask me now what really was the point that we decided to first visit the 57. Maybe also the fact that it was a lot more near by. April 21st, actually Harald's birthday, we started out to see the car. Some guy was with us to help us judge the state of the vehicle. It turned out that the description of the car had been pretty fair. It seemed to be in a solid state, with few rust spots. Even didn't seem to be rusted through somewhere at all.

 The sound of the motor was okay, the transmission did it's job and the paint was bad. So then came the point when we had to decide. And no - we didn't take a one nights sleep to think it over. We put our signature under the contract that very same day. It was ours now and we promised to pick it up the next days after we arranged some paperwork. And we also took it with us that very same day. Filled up oil and he took us home - an almost two hours ride. We are talking about a 57 Bel Air, 4 dr sedan, according to the VIN built in November 56 in Oakland.  It carries a 283 engine built in Flint, together with a 2-speed Powerglide transmission. The color combination is dusk pearl with roof in imperial ivory. No major factory accessories. Interior is silver and black pattern. We decided to take him "home" for the first night and leave him in the driveway which is right beside one of our living room windows. Let me tell you, that was a strange but great view! Next morning I was up first. So went out to have another look at and under the car. oh uuuuuh, not too good, there was quite a big oil puddle beneath it.

I took my bike and went around, from one to the other to the other and so on. Finally found one who had a barn which he had renovated and where just next month should get one place free. Ha! That'll be ours. So he moved in in a dry and windy place which he shared with two trailers. Then came the first meeting we visited with him. The seats got some spare covers so that the dogs could give us company. There we also got to know some members of the German tri-5 forum

  www.tri-chevy-forum.de  It's always good to see faces behind the nicknames. More and more we got to know him. Frank repaired some things, we learned where to get the parts we need. The first summer Frank also did some parts from the inside, took off the paneling of the doors, etc.... He also got a name. His paintwork isn't too good. So since he looks like a toad with all those tiny poxes we called him Toad according to Toad in American Graffiti who has also been one of our favorite roles in that movie. Last year Frank inspected the inner parts of the floor. Believe it or not, he seemed to be the first one to take out the felt under the carpets. Prepared for everything we were more than astonished to find everything fine. No rust, no holes, just some sand. 

What would we want more? He really seemed to be a fair car. It's always fun to take a ride with him. Can't hardly say, what is better, to sit behind the steering wheel or beside the driver. I like both. People seem to like it, what also might be because of the color. For them it's just pink. For us it is more than that. We learned that the name of that color got it's reason. There is some point during sunset when the color of the sky is exactly the same as the one of the car. What is strange about is is that it seems to adopt the color of it's environment. When you are on the road and look over the hood on the street it looks like one, as if the hood molds into the road. And it happens with almost every street. Well if you meet people somewhere, especially when it is at gas station you get the inevitable question about what it might take to fill it up. But I don't care. They don't have to pay for it and at least they show interest and with some you come from this to some more talk. As a resumee, yes it's mostly Frank who does the most of work around Toad. One reason might be that the dogs also want to be cared for. If the day would just have 48 hours........ But each time I hear the motor coming to life it's something special. One day Frank even took the car and came around the office where I work to cheer me up. Especially during the summers we now spend a lot of time with music of the 50s and 60s or even from earlier. Thanks to my grandparents our livingroom also is furnished with their old sofa and armchairs. We stepped into this adventure with few knowledge about this brand and this car but now after 2,5 years of learning a lot about it with the help of people, books and the internet we came to the conclusion that we apparently got a car in a pretty much original and good state which is also almost complete. According to the cowl tag everthing seems to fit. So it's really worth to keep it in good shape. Our plan for the future is to overhaul the motor and the transmission. But we want to keep the Powerglide transmission. Then we also want to give him a paint job - yes, it will DEFINITELY be dusk pearl again :))) 

www.tri-chevy-forum.de

See more of this beautiful 57 and it's owner's

In the last Tire Tracks international page I reported on the Brighton England time trials - an interesting race against the clock.  This time our entry from England comes from member Steve F.  He has sent us his story and a great group of pictures, including many great shots of our favorite cars.  Take time to look through the pictures.  

At the meet were fuel altered , outlaw Anglias , and  other dragsters. The famous "Gasser Circus" a top fuel funny car and a jet-car. The racing stopped around 7:00 in the evening but the action didn't as just after darkness fell we were treated to a cackle fest followed by a fireworks display . I have followed drag racing on and off since the '70's but have never seen , felt or heard a cackle fest before. Awesome !!!! 

Once that the fireworks died down it was off to the pits for some entertainment in either the clubhouse or the marquee for some beer and music.  We had a late night that night!

 

The next day was filled with more racing and a lot of cars turned up just for the day on Sunday . We stayed until the end , about 6:00 pm Sunday evening to see the Fuel Altered's , jet car and the out law Anglias put down there final runs.  Sadly the fuel funny car lost drive. In all my years of going to car shows and the like , this rates as the best 
ever and I look forward to next years event . Steve.

Pictures of the drags in England

Shakespeare Hot Rod Drags