Mervs 58 Chevy

Local builder and friend Merv Nichol has embarked on a new project and agreed to document and photo journal every step as the project progresses.

Understand, this is an “Old School’ build, restoration.

What does that mean?

Well, this would be the process BEFORE all the remanufactured parts were available at the drop of the hat. Where you created bits and pieces. Found solutions for each new problem, and substituted work and creativity, for buying replacement parts.

As a young man, Merv has fond memories of his own 58 2 door. As with most of us, along the line, the car was sold to facilitate various other things. Merv long harbored a desire to reclaim his prized car. When he recently became aware of a 58 in the Moosejaw SK. area, he had little choice but to make it his own. A weekend later, and the ‘basket case’ was on the trailer, and making its way to his shop.

An uneventful trip home, and start evaluating the assortment of parts, the missing items, and the damages to the car.

The Home Coming

From the onset, it is clear it will never be an original car, suitable for restoration as the original engine has long since departed to locations unknown. Thus, making this a mild/conservative custom becomes the most logical objective. Still, the boxes of parts must be documented and evaluated. A clear absence of floor pan indicates the ‘started’ project by prior owners which never came to conclusion. All the fenders, doors, trim etc. are found.