Durban - Peter Moodley has long admired old American muscle cars and bought a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible about a year ago.
Moodley, 57, restores cars as a hobby and started rebuilding American muscle cars 12 years ago. Last year he completed an Oldsmobile Cutlass from the chassis up.
“After completing that project, I wanted to do another, but a bit different, and that’s when I started doing some research.
“When my son was driving in Joburg he came across a Bel Air parked on the side of the road.” They made an offer to buy it.
“The car wasn’t fully restored and we had to redo some of the modifications.”
I t took Moodley three months.
The car still had its original colour, a Tahoe blue and brilliant white two-tone with original wheels from the US, Moodley said.
“As far as the owner knew, the car was brought into Africa in 1956 and changed hands a few times.
“It landed in Cape Town and that’s where the restoration started. We are still documenting the history.”
Moodley worked on the car alone. “It would be too expensive to get some one else to do it,” he said.
Minimal parts were imported – he used local parts wherever he could.
“Everything is original on this car, right down to the badges, and the most surprising thing is that in 1956 the convertible top was automated, a rare feature, as all others were manual.”
Moodley said that as a left-hand drive, it had a different feel.
“It’s not built for hot rod racing – it’s just meant to look good.”
The engine is a straight six and the transmission a three-speed manual.
It’s always first in its category at car shows.
Moodley did four laps with it at the Top Gear Festival circuit track and says it was one of his most exciting moments with the car.
“One must understand this is not a car that is easy to replace. A lot of hard work went into bringing this blast from the past back and it’s likely to remain in the family and be passed on, but if a decent offer should come along it might just find its way back on to the market.”
Sunday Tribune