Phil Curry's 1957 Chevrolet
1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air restyled by Junior Conway of Junior's House of Color for Phil Curry of Compton, California. Phil's Bel-Air was shaved for handles and emblems. The hood was molded and scooped, and the original grille bar was replaced by a 1957 Buick grille, giving the car a massive appearance. The rear end was kept untouched except for replacing the stock bumper with a 1957 Chevrolet station wagon bumper. Once the bodywork was done, the car was painted Candy Blue over a White Pearl base. The scoops in the hood received pearl outlining. Underneath the hood, the engine was almost completely chromed. Eddie Martinez fit the car with a black sculptured leather tuck and roll interior. The interior was sewn into a pattern utilizing both horizontal and vertical pleats. The trunk received the same treatment, and it was fit with a full array of tools secured to the floor. Phil's Bel-Air rolled on chromed and reversed wheels with baldy caps.[1]
In 1963 Phil's Bel-Air was featured on the cover of Rod & Custom July 1963. Early in 1964, Phil sold the car to Terry Crary of Palm Springs, California. After driving the car for about 6 months in the hot Palm Spring desert the lacquer paint cracked and crazed badly. Terry attempted to strip the paint off to get it repainted, but discovered that it had been painted twice with the blue candy over the white pearl base. He took the car to his friend Walt Drews, who was working for Larry Watson at the time, to get an estimate on stripping the paint. Walt gave Terry a price he couldn't afford, so he traded the car to Larry Singletary for a 1937 Ford pick-up with all Chevy running gear. Terry lost track of the car after he traded it away.[2]
Magazine Features
Rod & Custom July 1963
Rod & Custom June 1998
References
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