|
Owner: Vinny & Angela Calderella
Where do you live?
Yorktown Heights, NY
Vehicle: 1954 Bel Air 4-Door
How long have you owned this vehicle? June 2017
Where did you get this vehicle? Private owner in Connecticut
What is the story behind the vehicle? When we bought it, the mileage was 58,000 original. As far as I know, we are the 3rd or 4th owners.
What condition was it in when you got it? It was in very good condition. The body and interior are as you see in the photos. It had cooling issues and fuel issues that were corrected by my local mechanic. The car was not driven much by the previous owner.
What kind of work have you done to this vehicle? I replaced the four door sills, door lock knobs, door & trunk weather stripping to make it look new. I installed front seat belts and put in a modern AM/FM/CD radio. (I kept the original AM tube radio and speaker). Also, I installed a 6-volt alternator, 6-volt electric wiper motor and switch with a single fuel pump in place of the vacuum/dual fuel pump.
What was the hardest part to find? The full wheel cover style that was only on '54 Chevy models for one year. When we went to Carlisle, PA, a vendor had quite a few and I was able to pick out 5 of the best ones.
What other vehicles do you own? This is the only classic car that we own now. I wish I had room for more!
Do you have any other projects that you are currently working on or plan to start soon? I'm 72 years old and have been doing this for over fifty years. I still love it, but this is most likely my last old car. My wife and I really like this Chevy because you don't see many 4-door sedans with six cylinders at car shows.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about starting a restoration?
Don't buy a car on emotions alone. Get one as complete as possible, especially if it's an off brand. Do you want a driver or a trailer queen? Whatever the price of the car is, you should at least double that amount for any parts or repairs that will come later. All the old cars I had over the years, I always drove them because that's the best part of owning one!
Are there any interesting stories that you can share with us about your experiences with this vehicle? It's a kick to drive! Whenever I stop to get gas, people always come over the me and ask what year it is. they always say what a beautiful car I have. Also, I love to see people's reactions when we take it to car shows.
| 
