The fact was that I lived almost my entire life, up to this point, about a mile from the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. My friends and I would often go ice skating and play hockey on the frozen Tech Center Lake.

Oftentimes, you would be the first to spot the latest GM vehicle creation cruising around in our neighborhood.

It was 1976, America was celebrating its Bicentennial, Rocky was playing at the movies and Gerald Ford was our President. There was so much going on…But I remember it most of all because I was turning sixteen years old. And that meant I could legally obtain my drivers license.

Having saved up enough money from my paper route, over the past several years, I was now ready to buy my first car. When my friends and I spotted the 1955 Chevy Bel Air in the parking lot in St. Clair Shores, It was love at first sight. I left a note on the windshield asking the owner if he was interested in selling the car. The rest is history….

I ran home and told my Dad, "I found the car I want to buy!" When I told him it was a "55 Chevy", he seemed less enthusiastic than I was. Maybe he knew it would spend a lot of time in his garage. And it did, from 1976 through most of 1986, as it slowly was restored to near original condition.

I bought the car for $800. It originally had a Seamist Green Paint with an in-line six cylinder engine and automatic Power Glide transmission.

Over the years, the car has been restored with the intention of keeping it close to original. It now has India Ivory and Gypsy Red Paint with a 265 cubic inch V-8 engine.

I considered selling the vehicle a few times over the past several years and my wife brought me back to my senses and stated very firmly, "You’re not going to sell that car because you will regret it!" The car is driven on nice summer days and I still get a kick out of cruising Gratiot and Woodward Avenue.

It will probably remain in the family for years to come, just ask my wife!

The 1955 Chevy is recognized as a classic. Revolutionary for its small block V8, exterior styling and interior design and color combinations. It was a great time for General Motors.

Today, GM is again leading the industry with great vehicles and breakthrough technologies. I’m sure kids with after school jobs are saving their money to also buy their own "GM Classic".

D. Renke
March 2008

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