May 2005 Street Rods

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1957 Chevrolet Station Wagon 4-Door

Barbara D’Amato owns one of the 127,803 Chevrolet 4-door station wagons produced in 1957. Her station wagon was the #73900th produced that year in Norwood, Ohio. The original selling price was $2456. It is difficult to find many people that have owned the same vehicle for over 40 years but Barbara is one of those few.

The D’Amato’s were second owners to this model 210 Townsman 6-passenger wagon. These Belchertown Mass residents bought the vehicle in 1974, restoring it in 1977. Though the original color was turquoise and ivory, in it’s second life it is Cadillac palomino on the bottom and dark brown on the top. It is factory equipped with a wonderful built-in visor over the windshield, a 283-8cylinder motor with a power glide transmission. The interior was recently redone in a camel colored pleated velour cloth. A pleasant extra greets you on the inside, an original style 1957 chrome tissue dispenser.

This stately vintage vehicle is more to the D’Amato’s than just transportation. It is a large part of their lives together and much of their pleasure. They use the wagon regularly except when it snows.

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1944 Chevrolet Pick-up Truck

This May 2005 season opening “Cruise Night” at the Ludlow Mass. Elks brought out Ware resident, Jeannie Odiorne in her 1944 Chevrolet Pick-up truck. Quite unique, this pick-up is most definitely one-of-a-kind. Jeanne rode in this same pick-up when she was just a kid. It originally belonged to her farmer neighbor and was long ago abandoned in his fields. Jeanne and her husband would pass those fields regularly and over the years noted the deterioration of the truck. The roof was caved in, body riddled with bullet holes and the glass was all broken. In 1980, the owner finally sold it to them for $100. The engine was seized up and there certainly was a lot of restoration to be done.

Today it is a real eye-catcher. It is gray and maroon in color with subtle flames that flicker in the sunlight. The bed is short and low built around a bumper they found in the woods (source unknown). This street rod has a 1970 Nova front end and a 305 Chevy engine. Jeanne reupholstered the interior herself in a burgundy cloth. The running boards were reworked from side boards of a dump truck and the rear fenders from a Volkswagon. A friend fabricated Chevrolet emblems embedded in the running boards.

Jeanne is a happy street rod owner. Her husband has assured her that this is one restored vehicle he will not sell or trade, (he is famous for selling or trading his restored vehicles soon after Jeanne gets attached to them) it is hers for as long as she wants it. He does continually maintain or update it as needed. What a guy.


1976 Pontiac Firebird

James Houghton of East Longmeadow Mass has restored this sunshine yellow 1976 Pontiac Firebird. He particularly enjoys taking his daughters cruising in it or attending car shows. It features a 540 cubic inch motor, turbo 400 TCI transmission, rack-and-pinion front end and Ford 9 inch rear end. The wheels are Weld 5 Stars. This beauty has many additional Pro Street attractions.


1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS350

Springfield Mass resident, Wayne Vandini, is enjoying retirement in this restored 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 350. This dover-white, high value restoration vehicle is all-original with a 350-300hp motor, 3-speed turbo hydro transmission and 3:73 gear with a 12-bolt rear end. The wheels are 14 inch with original trim rings. A standard blue metallic vinyl completes the interior and reverse hockey stick stripes and pinstripes on the exterior. Wayne drives his Camaro for pleasure and brings it to car shows. He is honored to have it appear in Camaro World and Muscle Car newsstand magazines this summer.