1955 Chevy 210
Looks can be deceiving. Especially when it comes to what rolls out of Wicked Rods & Customs\’ workshop and this 1955 Chevy 210 proves it. (Though, we use the label ’55 loosely.) Winning a Steel the Show Award at a Goodguys North Carolina National is no small feat, but this car did it.
When the owner found this ’55 hard top, he spotted an opportunity to relive a teenage experience. There was just one issue: Requirements of the modern road and lifestyle have, well, changed a tad since the 1950s. But that’s where Wicked comes in.
Before
After somewhere between 20 to 30 years in a garage, this car was in pretty good shape, but in order to completely redesign it from the ground up, Wicked’s technicians had to strip it down to ground zero. (Because, after all, that’s the only way to do it.) After pulling the body off, they started by adding a brand new Art Morrison frame, pairing it with a pro-touring suspension system—every piece of which is absolutely brand new and hand selected. Next, the old engine was swapped out with a modern LS-3, that just so happens to produce 425 horsepower (a far, far cry from the original) and bolted to a 465e transmission. A new, custom rack-and-pinion steering system and four-wheel disc brakes make this car drive and stop like a modern dream.
This 210 features a fully custom paint tone, but inside and out strictly maintains its original appearance, including whitewall tires and hubcaps, and a stock interior (that’s been heavily updated, however). Traditional old-school, Delray upholstery and a classic Bel Air steering wheel offer slight departures from the original 210 styling, but in a way that even a hard pressed Chevy historian would find difficult to pinpoint. When you turn the key, however, you’ll notice a radical departure from the 1950s. First, it’s been outfitted with modern air conditioning. And while the gauges look traditional, they’re actually Dakota Digital. Meanwhile, original window cranks no longer require any muscle to move, but now serve as tip actuators for full power windows. Lastly, behind the glove box lies a remote stereo system that includes such things as USB ports, Bluetooth technology and every imaginable feature.
This car’s owner turned to Wicked in order to recreate his teenage years with a modern twist. Now, the only addition he’s aiming to make is 300,000 miles to the odometer after he retires.
