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Feature Car - Mark Baker's 1955 Chevy from Fairview, Texas
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Mark Baker's '55 Chevy
Mark has always loved the look of a ‘55 Chevy as far back as he can remember. Mark says ‘Why it has taken me this long to own one I really do not know’. Since 1999 Mark has owned a total of seven collector cars starting with four that he no longer has, a 1937 Plymouth business coupe, 1933 Ford Vickey, 1932 Ford Hi Boy (national show winner) and a 1937 Ford truck (Australian Ute) to the three that he now owns, 1937 Ford Cabriolet, 1967 Ford Eleanor Mustang (one of the 11 original ones from the movie) to his red 1955 Chevy. He says he saved the best for last!
Buying the ‘55 Chevy started out being a possible trade for Mark. For almost a year he had his sights on one of his buddies ‘55 Chevy, Doug Pederson's Bel Air Hardtop who also belongs to the same ‘Tri Five’ car club as Mark, the Dallas Area Classic Chevys. Mark had put my 1937 Ford truck up for sale and with that sale was to buy Doug's ‘55! A gentleman by the name of George Huxhold from Wisconsin saw Mark’s ad for the ’37 Ford and called to see about a possible trade of a ’55 Chevy but that deal could not work out for Mark like he wanted. Mark received a large number of pictures of the ’55 before that and his interest was strong. Mark let it sit about two weeks and then George called again to see if a deal could be struck and Mark decided to work on getting a fair price to just buy the ‘55. Mark got his mechanic involved, Wade Faustman of Wade's Custom Rods to get another opinion. He also got the builders name so that Mark could ask questions even further about the ’55. After looking at all the pictures and speaking to the builder of the 55, Mark and his braintrust felt that George had about $62,000 into the car and everyone involved was impressed with the build. Mark went after the car and in the end came up with the ’55 for well under the build cost estimate. Mark made a trip to Kansas City with a trailer and after driving the car the deal was made.
The ‘55 was a two owner car, now a three owner. The first owner from Florida owned the car since it was new and sold the car to George six years ago. It was a four year build and the only thing that George kept was the body. The build includes the following, paint (bright Porsche red), interior (ultra leather with a one off back seat), engine replaced (ZZ4 with 365 horse power), 700r transmission, 605 power steering, Ididit steering column, rebuilt front end, sway bars front and rear, Aluminum cross-flow radiator, Dakota Digital dash, Foose nitrous wheels (chrome) 18 &20's, BF Goodrich G force tires, Vintage air, all new wiring, ultra leather interior and matching trunk, new bumpers front and rear, new grill along with an engine shroud to cover the fan and wiring in the engine compartment, plus a great looking air cleaner cover with air brushed ’55 hood ornament emblem. Most of the engine compartment pieces has been chromed. New exhaust system with dual exhausts and Magna Flow mufflers was put in for that muscle car sound. Mark bought the car at the end of June 2008 with only 2,900 miles on the car and after the trip to Houston for the 2009 Lone Star Classic Chevy Convention he now has over 5,900 miles on her. Mark says that it’s a great driving car, very comfortable with a great sounding stereo!
Check the gallery for more photos of this beautiful ’55 Chevy and if you see Mark at a show, be sure and tell him Hi and just maybe he will take you for a ride in his car!.
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