It never ceases to amaze us how some cars stay in one area,
or even the same city, for their entire lives, while others move around the
country at seemingly alarming rates. It can certainly make chasing down some
old rods and customs an adventure. And let’s not even get into how well-known
cars can simply disappear from the scene entirely only to surface decades
later!
Two- Door Manner
Born 1959
This ’59 Brook wood was originally built some years ago in
Michigan by Russ Peterson, who invested two years of his time into the wagon.
Somehow it moved cross-country to Northern California, where Joe Schenk heard
from a friend while attending the Good guys show at Pleasanton that a two-door
’59 wagon was for sale. “I had to go see it; after all, he said it was a
two-door!” Joe told us. A 45-minute drive later and, “It was in good shape but
I could tell it needed to be totally gone through mechanically. I don’t think
there was any getting out of the purchase as my 10-year-old daughter fell in
love with the color immediately.
“So the purchase was made, and we were off back to the
hotel. Now came the fun part, driving home to Las Vegas from Pleasanton in a
50-year-old car that definitely needed some mechanical attention! Not to mention
it was 110 degrees driving through the desert in August! Anyway, my daughter,
son, and I made it all the way home. And the car? Well, let’s just say its
tongue was hanging out! The cam started to go fat about 50 miles from home and
the trans was so hot the foor felt like it was going to melt!”
Two- Door Manner
Born 1959 seat
Joe spent another year going through the car, replacing the
motor with a big-block, switching out the overheating trans for a 700-R4,
adding AccuAir suspension with Ride Tech ’bags and Hot chiks antiroll bars (the
latter being fitted after some “interesting” cornering characteristics at 60
mph coming home from a show one day) and new rear trailing arms, as well as
fitting Astro Supremes and Coker Classic whitewalls. He also had Pinto’s
Paintworks in Las Vegas handle the bodywork, which has shaved handles and
filled hood openings, before applying the PPG Glade Green. Most importantly for
Joe, the Impala trim package was added. He then moved inside and installed a
Custom Auto sound/Kicker/Alpine stereo combination, and re-upholstered the car
using stock materials, adding an I-did-it column and a 14-inch version of the
stock steering wheel.
The back of Manner
Born 1959
We often ask owners what they consider to be the hardest or
most challenging part of their project, and Joe replied without a doubt that it
had been sourcing the parts he needed, as wagon parts are “next to impossible
to find”. He obviously found them, and now gets to enjoy the fruit of his
labor, driving the wagon to both local and out-of-state shows, even making the
10-hour trip back to Pleasanton, this time without the issues of that first
trip!
