Louie Gaulrapp's 1954 Chevrolet

The car as it appeared in the cover of Car Craft May 1957

Louie demonstrates the door latches, a coin or key is used to make contact between trim to energize the electric solenoid.

1954 Chevrolet owned by Louie Gaulrapp of Lakewood, California. The car was restyled by Louie and George Branson Body and Paint Shop. The car featured a 1955 Ford grille inserted in an oval grille opening made by two 1954 Chevrolet top grille bars, brazed together with all the seams molded in. The hood was peaked, nosed and louvered, and the corners were rounded. The headlights were shaded. In the rear, the car featured a set of 1955 Mercury station wagon taillights, that were cut down and modified to fit the fenders. The deck lid was de-chromed. Louie's car was also fit with dual exhaust. Once completed, George painted the car in a lime green metallic nitro lacquer. Von Dutch pinstriped it in a mint white. According to Larry Watson, Louie's Chevrolet was pinstriped in 1956, on the same day that he pinstriped Santo Vasques' 1950 Chevrolet Convertible All window and door panels were chromed. Oldsmobile Fiesta hubcaps and louvered fender skirts wrapped up the style.

Magazine Features

Car Craft May 1957
Custom Cars September 1957
Trend Book 143 Restyle Your Car
Car Craft April 1958
Trend Book 197 Custom Cars 1961 Annual