By Fuelish Media – Images by the Author
Not many car enthusiasts still own their very first vehicle. That’s because most first rides are certified hand-me-down jalopies. This is why it’s so refreshing to hear stories about folks who have held on tight to their very first clunker. Even through times of seemingly endless downtime and repairs, the gleaming light at the end of the tunnel can be all the hope needed to keep on pushing.
Meet Craig Weaver—owner of this gorgeous 1956 Chevy 210. While it surely is an absolute stunner now, Craig can account for the car’s downtrodden past. “This was the first car I ever bought in my life,” he states. “I have owned it continuously since I purchased it on January 2, 1985. The first time I saw it was in a field with weeds as high as the front fenders. It had no engine or front grille, and the interior was nonexistent. My cousin towed me home with a rope tied to the back of his truck. I sat on a milk crate while steering 3 miles home, hoping the brakes would hold up.”
Hey, what do you expect for $500? Craig was just happy to own something that resembled a cool, old car, and he was determined to get it back on the road—one way or another. “It took about $2,000 and lots of favors from friends to get the 1956 up and running about 8 months after purchase,” he recounts. “While it may not have been a show car, it was mine, and it got me to and from for about 18 months. I drove it to college for a year and then only took it on occasional short cruises for the next 8 years. I then garaged it from 1995 until 2022, when I finally had the financial resources to start the restoration I really wanted for the car.”
Craig didn’t have to browse around long for a reputable shop to help whip his Chevy back into shape. Jay Ligtenberg and his team at Jay’s Place Rod & Restore of Ontario, California, was ready and willing to jump into the rebuild, starting from the ground up. The factory chassis was cleaned up and painted before the frontend was outfitted with Classic Performance Products’ 2-inch drop spindles and Eibach 2-inch drop springs for a noticeable lowering in ride height. The rear leaf springs were then de-arched 3 inches, and the eyes on the leaf packs were reversed to bring the back end closer to earth. KYB shocks were utilized throughout to provide a cushy ride quality, and 17-inch Wheelsmith OEM Series wheels and Nitto NT555 rubber provide proper old-school flavor with modern reliability to the chassis.
Next, the crew at Jay’s moved onto dropping in a GM Connect & Cruise package consisting of a 2010 Chevy LS3 engine and 6L90E transmission. The newer powerplant was modestly upgraded, but the goal was to give Craig the peace of mind of knowing that car would start right up any time he wanted to drive it. Long-distance trips would never be an issue again. Simply installing a new engine just wouldn’t do. Instead, the entire engine bay was bodyworked, prepped for paint, and dressed up with fresh hardware in the way of a Holley accessory drive system, and Eddie Motorsports hood hinges help make a lasting first impression.
Speaking of lasting impressions, Craig wanted to boldly style the exterior of his Chevy. To do that, he selected PPG Matador Red paint—a memorable hue, for sure—as well as fresh chrome plating handled by Ontario Polishing. Inside the confines of the cabin, the factory seats, along with the custom door panels, were reshaped, expertly detailed, and wrapped in black leather by Elegance Auto Interiors. The repainted dash was stuffed with Dakota Digital gauges, a Vintage Air climate-control system, and a full sound system featuring Rockford Fosgate and JL Audio components wired up by Hector Castro at Jay’s Place. These additions would make for much more enjoyable cruise sessions.
“The most challenging part of the whole process was waiting for the car to be finished,” Craig admits. “I couldn’t wait to take Ann Marie out for a drive. Back in 1985, we would go grab a bag of beef tacos and park at Lookout Point, where we’d pop the trunk, grab a seat, and have a romantic dinner. Ann and I got married 6 years later in 1991. We’ve been together for 40 years now, along with our ‘new’ 1956 Chevy Bel Air. They both make me happy and proud.”
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
Tech Check
Owner: Craig Weaver
Vehicle: 1956 Chevy 210
Built by: Jay’s Place Rod & Restore (Ontario, CA)
Engine
Type: 2010 Chevy LS3 Connect & Cruise
Displacement: 376 ci
Cylinder Heads: GM
Camshaft: GM
Induction: Custom cold-air intake from under fender
Assembly: GM
Exhaust: 2.5-inch with MagnaFlow mufflers
Dress Up: Holley accessory drive system, Eddie Motorsports hood hinges
Output: 430 hp, 424 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Transmission: GM 6L90E with GM 2,400-stall torque converter
Driveshaft: Custom from California Driveline
Rearend: Currie Enterprises 9-inch with 3.55:1 gears and limited-slip differential
Chassis
Chassis: Stock frame painted gunmetal gray
Front Suspension: 2-inch drop spindles, 2-inch Eibach drop springs, stock control arms, KYB shocks
Rear Suspension: Chevy leaf springs de-arched 3 inches, KYB shocks, rear differential narrowed 3 inches
Brakes: Front disc brakes, Corvette 8-inch dual master cylinder, rear drum brakes
Steering: Classic Performance Products 500-Series power steering gearbox
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Wheelsmith OEM Series 17×7 front, 17×9 rear
Tires: Nittto NT555 G2, 235/45R17 front, 275/50R17 rear
Interior
Upholstery: Black leather upholstery by Elegance Auto Interiors (Upland, CA)
Seats: Stock
Steering: Ididit column, 15-inch stock-style steering wheel
Instrumentation: Dakota Digital HDX gauges
Stereo: JL Audio with hidden Rockford Fosgate controller in glovebox
Climate Control: Vintage Air
Wiring: American Autowire
Exterior
Bodywork & Paint: Six Five Automotive, Auto Addiction OC, and Jay’s Place Rod & Restore; PPG Matador Red paint by Max Auto Body (Lake Forest, CA)
Mods: Shaved paint dividing trim
