Cecil Martin's 1958 Chevrolet

Cecil with his customized Impala in 1960.

Blue Ice as it sat in 1963. Photo courtesy of Steve Blades.

Blue Ice as it appeared in 1980. Photo courtesy of Steve Blades.

Blue Ice as it appeared in 2012. Photo courtesy of Steve Blades.

1958 Chevrolet Impala originally owned and restyled by Cecil Martin of Elmwood, Ohio in 1959. Known as "Blue Ice", Cecil's Impala was nosed, decked and shaved for door handles before the doors, hood and trunk were electronically operated. The body was covered with 16 coats of hand rubbed lacquer, and the interior featured a matching blue rolled and pleated leather upholstery, and a built-in Hi Fi system. A tube grille, custom hubcaps and chromed exhaust pipes that ran along the body sides were installed before Cecil lowered the car 7 inches all around. Power came from a Corvette engine. The Blue Ice was shown at a different car shows, and took home trophies at both the 1959 and 1960 Cavalcade of Customs car shows in Cincinnati.

In 1962 Mr. Blades bought the Impala from a used car lot. Blades kept on to the car for several decades, and he was still the owner of the car in 2012.