FINISHED! 1955 210 in Japan

[JapanAaron]

Well, after 10 months and lots of time/$$$$$ the car is finally done. Almost all parts were purchased from Mutton Hollow, Mainly Chevrolet, Summit Racing, Vintage Auto Glass and numerous Ebay sales. Features Dakota Digital dash, Flaming River steering column, 89 Corvette C-4 suspension/brakes, American Autowire, Torque Thrust II, polished stainless fuel tank, 89 IROC Z TPI with MAP conversion and basically every nut and bolt replaced with new stainless. Car was stripped down the bare metal and built from the ground up.. in Japan. Got lots of positive response today while driving it home from the body shop, can't wait to take it cruising.

[Blackie]

Nice ride

[townsman0]

Beautiful:tu

[Grumpy1957]

that is on sweet lookin 55... turned out awesome! hows she drive?

[BLACKHORSE]

:::SIGH:::

MINE IS "JUST STARTED" SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE LOOKED, BUT I DID, LOL...

VERY NICE...

MARK

:cool:

[Falfa55]

Very Nice!!!!:tu

[jimbo]

NICE!!! 10 months is movin right along.

[JapanAaron]

that is on sweet lookin 55... turned out awesome! hows she drive?

Thanks for all the positive comments. Grumpy, the car handles corners like a champ. The ride is a little stiff on rough roads (which are all the roads on base) but I like it. The rack and pinion makes for some really tight responsive steering too. Anybody considering fuel injection.. it's definitely the way to go. Throttle response is incredible compared to the old carb setup that came with the car when I purchased it.

[SScott55]

Really nice and clean,
I bet you get so many looks in Japan. It is cool that your car is like an exotic there.

[Chevynut]

WOw, that car is beautiful.....for an import. :D :D :D

No kidding, I love the color scheme on it, and the engine compartment looks really nice. I'm not sure about the blue hoses, but whatever turns you on. ;)

Congrats on an awesome build! :tu

[C57heaven]

"
No kidding, I love the color scheme on it, and the engine compartment looks really nice. I'm not sure about the blue hoses, but whatever turns you on. ;)"

I too vote for black or braided silver hoses for a better blend in the engine compartment. It would be a much classier look IMO. Otherwise the look is right on!

My 55 was black and white reversed from yours when I bought mine. Like that combo either way on a 55 or 56.

How much is gas over there? Is there much room to drive it when off base?
Did you buy it there? Inquiring minds want to know.....:)

[ETriggs]

I think that car looks incredible!!! I love how it looks. Can you post a pic of the trim tag that you bought? I wanted to see how it compares to original.

[tripleduece]

SWEET!!!

[Sweden]

Congrats.:tu

The car is looking awsome, nice job they did in Japan.:)

[Jedi_CGB]

Nice Job!
You could probably put one of their domestic cars in the trunk for emergencys!:D:D:D

[JapanAaron]

Thanks for everybody's support and positive feedback. As for the blue hoses, after install I also have decided that they don't look as good as I thought they were going to. They are the Good Year High Miler hoses and will probably be changed out this summer with some standard black hoses. Gas is around $3.02 on base (93 octane only), off base around $5.80 for mid grade and $6.50 for high octane. I will get a picture of the new trim tag as soon it stops snowing. The car is put away in the local covered parking garage for the day until it stops snowing and dries up. The trim tag is almost exactly like the original. There was only one letter that was a little different than the original style from GM. Chevynut, thanks again for your assistance in identifying what year my C-4 suspension was. Couldn't be happier with the way the car turned out.

[JapanAaron]

"
Is there much room to drive it when off base?
Did you buy it there? Inquiring minds want to know.....:)

Yes, I bought the car in Japan last spring. Car was pretty rough with a large amount of rust in the floor pans and roof rain gutter channels. Otherwise, the car was solid. As for driving it off base, I have a 93 Chevy Blazer full size and haven't had any problems moving around. There are some streets that you have to avoid.

[grandmas55]

Beautiful car. I have a '55 210 Delray but yellow and white. What is the story behind the car? Please tell us; inquiring minds want to know. Did you buy it in Japan or have it shipped there? I would love to ride around Japan with you just to see the reactions. We have lots of Trifives here in the Silicon Valley but I still get a lot of thumbs-up. Personally, I like the blue hoses. How 'bout some interior shots? Mark

(PS: you answered some of my questions above had I been astute enough to read)

[mickeywestsr]

Velly nice Hoss........

[vander55]

That car looks fantastic, I cant imagine how it must stick out around there. I hope you take it with you to your next base. Real nice job


Ken

[Ronny's 55]

Beautiful car ! It really came out nice. I really like the the colors flipped.

[Troy]

Beautiful Car, I kind of like the hoses it gives a contrast under the hood! I wish mine looked like this!!!!

Take Care
Troy

[JapanAaron]

Beautiful car. I have a '55 210 Delray but yellow and white. What is the story behind the car? Please tell us; inquiring minds want to know. Did you buy it in Japan or have it shipped there? I would love to ride around Japan with you just to see the reactions. We have lots of Trifives here in the Silicon Valley but I still get a lot of thumbs-up. Personally, I like the blue hoses. How 'bout some interior shots? Mark

(PS: you answered some of my questions above had I been astute enough to read)

Cars history is as follows (as much as I can tell). Original California car, resto mod and C-4 conversion conducted by Scotts Hot Rod shop in Ventura California in 1989. Shipped to Japan in 1990 and sold to me in February 2007. Car only had three coats of paint to remove, original turqoise blue/green, yellow and finally white. I will get out and get some interior pics this week, unfortunately it's snowing here and the parking garage is not very well lighted. Got lots of looks yesterday while we were driving around town and on base. Thanks for all the positive feedback from everyone. It will be shipped out of Japan in March-April timeframe and sent back to Illinois for dry storage. The salt air over here totally destroys all chrome and metal. Can't stand to see all my work and $$$$ go to waste.

[johnnys55s]

WOW, look`s great, a work of art or shall i say a bloody masterpiece, can`t wait to see the interior.:tu

[JapanAaron]

well as promised, here are some interior pics... hope you all like, comments and replies appreciated. Yes, I know that the dash script is not a 55 but a 53 Chevy. I like the broader script so I went with it. These pics were taken during a Japan Hot Rod magazine photo shoot today. Will be sure to post pics of the magazine article when it comes out. They promised me a 4 page centerfold spread as the feature car.

[JapanAaron]

final two shots....

[ETriggs]

Looks GREAT!!!

[JapanAaron]

Looks GREAT!!!


Thanks ETriggs.... it just occurred to me that I forgot to get a pic of the trim tag yesterday when I had the car out. Sorry about that. I will have it out again this Saturday and Sunday, I will get the pic then and forward to you.

[fins&chrome]

Congratulations for the 4 page mag feature. The photographer must have gone wild with this very unique-looking car. The colour combo does a lot to highlight the keypoints of its design. Well done!

[jimcg]

A beautiful car and the interior looks super as well! :tu

[NickP]

:tuWell, after 10 months and lots of time/$$$$$ the car is finally done.

Great job Aaron! :D

[JapanAaron]

I think that car looks incredible!!! I love how it looks. Can you post a pic of the trim tag that you bought? I wanted to see how it compares to original.


ETriggs, sorry it has taken so long to get you this pic of the trim tag. Hope it's clear enough for you to make out any differences from the original GM tag.

[chevman57]

That thing tirned out nice. When do you get to come back to the states too?
Terry

[awhotrods]

Really nice car!! Cool to hear its travels from CA. to Japan, & back to the States!

[JapanAaron]

That thing tirned out nice. When do you get to come back to the states too?
Terry


chevman, car is being shipped out of Japan in April. Upon arrival in California, it will be shipped to Illinois and put in storage until I get home this summer. I won't be home permanently until my retirement in July 2010.

[dseale4888]

SWEEETTTTT!!!! That came out very nice. Congrats on getting a beautiful car on the road again.
Dave

[ETriggs]

It looks FANTASTIC! That trim tag looks great too! Congrats on the finished product! You have a car to be PROUD of!