This week’s pick for car of the week is an extremely fascinating one.  The judges saw this 1964 Chevy pickup pulling into its place at the show and immediately knew that this would be the pick of the week.  “Blue Velvet” a name affectionately given by the judges, is owned by Bob Swenson of Bloomington who has made the trip to ACCS nearly every single week for years.  He found the pickup in an ad in the Line chaser.  He bought the truck 8 years ago and has taken the past 5 years to restore it.  He has done nearly all of the work himself (including the really sweet little model to match) only the cab and frame are original.  He ingeniously hid all of the wiring in the frame and one of the first things I personally asked was, “Where’s the battery?”  “In the back” he said with a grin.  The engine compartment looks amazingly clean and streamlined with 200 louvers in the hood and 210 in the tailgate.  You can fully appreciate the engine with the battery and wiring hidden.  Bob has been a motor head since high school.  He has owned many classics.  He has owned a 57 Chevy pickup-big window and a 1937 GMC.  When I asked him which his favorite was, he immediately answered “This one”.  I think because he fashioned a lot of the metal work by his own two hands.  Being an engineer as his career, he fully understood the concept of the old adage, “Necessity is the mother of invention”, which he demonstrates in the truck’s grill.  I asked him how much he had into this beautiful truck and he very proudly stated only $25,000.  I find it hard to believe as I am sure you will when you see this pick up.  Make sure you get yourself over to see it.  Pretty impressive.  Congrats Bob for being the feature car of the week.

Stats:

350 Chevy engine

Blue/White color combo

1959 Chevy impala dash replaced the original dash and 4” had to be added in the middle to get it to fit.

New dials

Electric remote doors