Dad's '55

My father, Jim Randolph, purchased this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe (also known as a two-door hardtop) in Skyline Blue and India Ivory in May of 1955 from Bobb Chevrolet in Columbus, Ohio. He and his wife put plenty of miles on it, cruising around town and even making the trip to Daytona Beach in 1956. Jim was into racing and was part of the Shark Racing Team in Columbus, Ohio. He and a friend wanted to turn the ‘55 into a race car in the early ‘60s, and began by pulling the engine, adding a racing cam, and stoking and boring it to increase the displacement of the original 265 cubic-inch engine. Jim’s friend passed away and the race car plan was scrapped. The car sat in the garage waiting, the engine and transmission sitting next to it. A decade later, Jim and his family moved to a new house and the ‘55 went with them. However, instead of a spot in the garage, the '55 was parked outside next to it. The years went by, and each summer Jim's wife threatened to have the old ‘55 hauled away to the junkyard. Eventually, Jim's son Gary decided to get it running. After some body work and new wheels and tires, he began driving it to cruises and shows in primer and with a blanket over the tattered seats. He worked on the restoration over the next decade as funds became available, visiting many junkyards looking for hard-to-find parts. He completled an off-the-frame resoration in 1993 before leaving for the Peace Corps. Gary moved Dad's '55 out to Colorado in 2020 and can be seen crusing around from time to time, playing some old-time rock 'n' roll!