1956 Chevy 210 Delray

https://members.tripod.com/~CJMorrison/Chevy.html

First pictures July 1, 1998 - Part I

"Restoration" July 16, 1998 - Part II

"California or Bust" July 30, 1998 - Part III

"Go West Young Man" Aug. 5, 1998 - Part IV

"History" Aug. 24, 1998 - Part V

"Took my Chevy to the Levy" Aug. 26, 1998 - Part VI

Carl Morrison, Owner

Third owner as of July 23, 1998

Roger Hunter, Off-the-frame restorer in Indiana

Part VI

	This is proof that we got "Big Red" home safely from Evansville, Indiana, to Placentia, California. I pulled her out and took a picture in front of our house.
	I plan to drive Big Red to work, here at Cypress High School, and to nearby Cypress College, in Cypress, California.
	"Drove my Chevy to the levy...." and took some pictures one August day. Here she is on the cliffs above Corona del Mar Beach, California. Beach cliffs down the coast can be seen in front of the hood.
	Want to take a ride? This is the 'fun zone' on Balboa Pennisula waiting for the next ferry to Balboa Island, CA.
	This dolphin fountain and water tower are located back home in Placentia, CA. The red, white, and blue water tower marks Placentia as an "All-American City"...whatever that means.
	As of today, this is the stadium of the Western Division of the American League leading California Angels, at the remodeled and renamed Edison Field...we'll keep the light on for you! We can see the fireworks from our home when they have displays.

Part V

History

Photo Credit: Car Shop, 1955-57, Orange, CA

Paul Clifford, Clifford's Classic Car Consultant Service, loaned me the book,Complete Book of Collectible Cars, ISBN 0-7853-0971-3, from which the following information was extracted.

Production: In 1956, there were 205,545 of the 2-door sedans (pictured above and below) produced. There were 283,125 of the 4-door models made. Chevrolet made 20,021 4-door hardtops (the first year for this model). They also made 18,616 2-door hardtops and 56,382 Delray coupes. I'm still unclear if I have a 2-door sedan or a Delray coupe. Roger Hunter, classic car restorer, says the vinyl interior which I have made it a Delray coupe. This totals 583,689 Two-Ten Chevrolets made in 1956 excluding station wagons.

History: "Midrange series in the enormously popular 1955-57 Chevy lineup, boasting a higher trim standard than the One-Fifty, but less sparkle than the Bel Air. The sporty Two-Tens are more affordable than their Bel Air counterparts, however, and offer the same attractive styling, features, and performance. Fewer were sold new, so fewer are around now. Though chevy's full range of engines was available, most Two-Tens were equipped for workaday duty.

For: "Cheaper than Bel Air �Hardtops quite rare �Lovely looks �Parts plentiful �Reasonable appreciation potential

Against Far behind Bel Air in collector esteem (and price) �Few equipped with performance engines or exotic accessories (though it's easy to add both)

Specifications:

Length: 197.5 in.

Wheelbase: 115.0 in.

Weight: 3130-3320 lbs.

Price: $1775-2270 (new)

Engine:

cubic inch displacement: 232.5/overhead valve, Inline-6

bore 3.56 x stroke 3.94 in.

bhp 136

(1955-57 V-8s were 265 and in '57 added a 283)

Prices in 1994:

Two-Ten Delray 6-cylinder in Fine* condition: $13,000

Price increase 1995 - 2005: 8%

*"excellent original or restored condition, capable of scoring at least 85 of 100 points in typical show judging. Everything on it works as intended, and nothing major needs attention, though there may be a small thing or two that isn't completely right (as there usually is)."

On My 1956 210 Del Ray the tag reads:

Style No. 56-1011A = 210 2 dr Del Ray

Body No. S 2210 = Made in St. Louis, MO

Trim No. 567 = Black Ivory Imitation Leather

Paint No. 711C = India Ivory and Matador Red

Engine: "Blue Flame 140" 6 cyl. inline

235 Cu. In. Comp. Ratio 8.0 Bore 3 15/16"

Gross H.P. 140

Price: $1970*

Weight: 3162 with a V-8

Number Produced: 56,382

Sources: The Hot One, Chevrolet 1955 - 57 ISBN 0-87938-050-0

and: http://chevyclassics.simplenet.com/index.html

Part IV

The moment of truth, 10:00 a.m., July 23, 1998: Receiving the keys from Rodger as Jr., proud of his work, watches.

Matthew co-piloted as we headed west. He took this picture of me driving it for the first time, enjoying the 260 air conditioning...two windows down, 60 miles per hour. Do I look happy or what?!

For the record, Matthew took a picture of the mileage.

Sue drove the escort car and Carla was her co-pilot. Carla took this picture to prove we traveled west. Earlier state lines were crossed at night.

California or Bust...We made it! It was about 110 degrees at this time in Needles, CA, July 27, 1998.

Williams, Arizona, home of Route 66 magazine.

Carla drove most of the time until we flat towed 'Big Red' the rest of the way to California. Doesn't she look cool in red?

The title "Big Red" for the Chevy came from Sue who remembers our Big Red Floats while visiting my folks back in Southern Indiana. Big red, as you can see from the ad, was red 'pop.' Now if you have to ask what 'pop' is, you are too young.

This is the route we followed bringing Big Red to California, except we used the Interstates which paralleled old Route 66. We joined the 66 route in St. Louis, having come from Evansville, Indiana. Click the plate to the left to get a readable sized image of the plate. If you are interested in Route 66, there is one show you might be interested in: Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino, California. Their web site: www.route-66.org

Part III

July 23, 1997, we took posession of Big Red, took a few pictures, and headed for California.

(Click any small picture on the left below to see a double-size version)

Carla probably has the most miles behind the wheel as of this writing.

Matthew took on greater responsibilities of driving the 24' Ryder towing the car 2,000 miles.

Victory Red, we had been told by Roger, was the color of the 1998 Chevy trucks. We found, on the road, that it is also the color of the current Corvettes and the new Freightliner trucks.

Roger Hunter (right) and Roger Jr. who restored the car in Indiana.

In case you are interested in owning the car to the left, a '57 Bel Air 4-door hardtop, it's in Indiana just waiting for you. I can give you some tips for getting it to California!

Matthew flat-towed the '56 nearly 2,000 miles paralleling Route 66 from Indiana to California. One of us always rode with him in the truck and the other two drove an escort car. The truck contained his household possessions.

Westward Ho! Somewhere in Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, or New Mexico...they all seem a blur now.

Part II

In 1956, Chevrolet made 1,612,000 cars and kept the price under $3,000. New features since the 1955 model year were:

Scooped rear wheel opening

Left tail light fuel fill

"V" under hood ornament on the Bel-Air V-8 models

Fuel injection was an option.

"Big Red," as she's been named by Sue, is beginning to look more like a classic shining lady.

Click any small 'thumbnail' picture and see a triple-sized picture (300 pixels), click 'back' to return to the Chevy Page.

Our first view of her completed. Even here you know she's a six-cylinder because of the lack of the "V" on the hood.

Inside, the matching-sides dash has the speedometer on the left, radio speaker on the right. Be careful, no airbag, but aftermarket seatbelts in the front. Stick shift. AM-FM-Cassette player without changing original dash...where's those oldies and swing tapes? (We have a cassette-to-CD adapter for Route 66 CD.)

Big Red at Roger's shop in Indiana. Note the 'spinner' hubcaps and "210" model side trim.

All shined up and ready to go. Two-door post model. Where do you put in gas? Why duals on a 6-cylinder? Split manifold!

Color is "Victory Red." It's the 1998 Chevy truck deep red. Not as orange-red as the original red as seen on the '57 in the background. Shall I drive back the '57 in the background for you? It's for sale too. Contact me for a list of what Roger has for sale.

Count 'em...Blue Flame Six.

Split Manifold = duals on a 6.

How she was reborn:

Right rear quarter panel and Dodge 'spinner'hubcaps

Left rear quarter panel

Driver's door and dash

Inside trunk, right

Trunk, tail lights, back window

6-cylinder engine, front

Engine right

Engine left

This car was at the "Hot August Nights" show in Nevada. The maniquin drove it there!

This picture shows an owner's repaint request which did not follow the original scheme...see the black and white photo above for the original two-tone sheme. Which paint scheme do you like the best...two color or one?

February, 1999, I took her to Cypress College Auto Dept. for a complete overhaul. Here's what greeted me as I entered the operating room door to visit the patient 1/22/99.

The 78,000 original miles had caused minimal wear of the cylinder walls so the next oversize would work fine for rings. One piston showed excessive wear, so that will be replaced and we checked the clutch and fly wheel.

Cypress has excellent equipment and instructors. We observed an engine half finished on the boring machine.

Big Red is back on the roads, rattling windows in the neighborhoods of So. Calif. as she watches the Southwest Chief head from L.A. to Chicago about 8:15 PM in May, 1999.

	The moment of truth, 10:00 a.m., July 23, 1998: Receiving the keys from Rodger as Jr., proud of his work, watches.
	Matthew co-piloted as we headed west. He took this picture of me driving it for the first time, enjoying the 260 air conditioning...two windows down, 60 miles per hour. Do I look happy or what?!
	For the record, Matthew took a picture of the mileage.
	Sue drove the escort car and Carla was her co-pilot. Carla took this picture to prove we traveled west. Earlier state lines were crossed at night.
	California or Bust...We made it! It was about 110 degrees at this time in Needles, CA, July 27, 1998.
	Williams, Arizona, home of Route 66 magazine.
	Carla drove most of the time until we flat towed 'Big Red' the rest of the way to California. Doesn't she look cool in red?
	The title "Big Red" for the Chevy came from Sue who remembers our Big Red Floats while visiting my folks back in Southern Indiana. Big red, as you can see from the ad, was red 'pop.' Now if you have to ask what 'pop' is, you are too young.
	This is the route we followed bringing Big Red to California, except we used the Interstates which paralleled old Route 66. We joined the 66 route in St. Louis, having come from Evansville, Indiana. Click the plate to the left to get a readable sized image of the plate. If you are interested in Route 66, there is one show you might be interested in: Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino, California. Their web site: www.route-66.org

	Carla probably has the most miles behind the wheel as of this writing.
	Matthew took on greater responsibilities of driving the 24' Ryder towing the car 2,000 miles. Victory Red, we had been told by Roger, was the color of the 1998 Chevy trucks. We found, on the road, that it is also the color of the current Corvettes and the new Freightliner trucks.
	Roger Hunter (right) and Roger Jr. who restored the car in Indiana.
	In case you are interested in owning the car to the left, a '57 Bel Air 4-door hardtop, it's in Indiana just waiting for you. I can give you some tips for getting it to California!
	Matthew flat-towed the '56 nearly 2,000 miles paralleling Route 66 from Indiana to California. One of us always rode with him in the truck and the other two drove an escort car. The truck contained his household possessions.
	Westward Ho! Somewhere in Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, or New Mexico...they all seem a blur now.

	Our first view of her completed. Even here you know she's a six-cylinder because of the lack of the "V" on the hood.
	Inside, the matching-sides dash has the speedometer on the left, radio speaker on the right. Be careful, no airbag, but aftermarket seatbelts in the front. Stick shift. AM-FM-Cassette player without changing original dash...where's those oldies and swing tapes? (We have a cassette-to-CD adapter for Route 66 CD.)
	Big Red at Roger's shop in Indiana. Note the 'spinner' hubcaps and "210" model side trim.
	All shined up and ready to go. Two-door post model. Where do you put in gas? Why duals on a 6-cylinder? Split manifold!
	Color is "Victory Red." It's the 1998 Chevy truck deep red. Not as orange-red as the original red as seen on the '57 in the background. Shall I drive back the '57 in the background for you? It's for sale too. Contact me for a list of what Roger has for sale.
	Count 'em...Blue Flame Six.
	Split Manifold = duals on a 6.

	Right rear quarter panel and Dodge 'spinner'hubcaps
	Left rear quarter panel
	Driver's door and dash
	Inside trunk, right
	Trunk, tail lights, back window
	6-cylinder engine, front
	Engine right
	Engine left
	This car was at the "Hot August Nights" show in Nevada. The maniquin drove it there! This picture shows an owner's repaint request which did not follow the original scheme...see the black and white photo above for the original two-tone sheme. Which paint scheme do you like the best...two color or one?
	February, 1999, I took her to Cypress College Auto Dept. for a complete overhaul. Here's what greeted me as I entered the operating room door to visit the patient 1/22/99.
	The 78,000 original miles had caused minimal wear of the cylinder walls so the next oversize would work fine for rings. One piston showed excessive wear, so that will be replaced and we checked the clutch and fly wheel.
	Cypress has excellent equipment and instructors. We observed an engine half finished on the boring machine.
	Big Red is back on the roads, rattling windows in the neighborhoods of So. Calif. as she watches the Southwest Chief head from L.A. to Chicago about 8:15 PM in May, 1999.