2-door Handyman wagon, California car, fully restored, A/C, 700R4, stereo

Most folks do a double-take when they spot this California-bred 1957 Chevrolet 210 “Handyman” station wagon. Yep, t’s got two doors, ut it’s not a Nomad, combination very few folks have seen. Chevy says there were just over 17,000 of these built in 1957, relative drop in the bucket, ut because of their position as a work vehicle, ery few have survived with many experts suggesting that there are far fewer of these than Nomads. Whatever the case, t’s one of the most attractive wagons of the 1950s and with a high-quality build it has been transformed into one of the most versatile hot rods we’ve ever seen. The color combination is what it was wearing originally, he interior was upgraded to Bel Air specs, nd it’s loaded with features ranging from A/C to a powerful stereo to disc brakes. If you’re a fan of wagons like I am, his car is going to be very hard to resist.

The odometer was not reset during the restoration/build, nd the 29,215 miles shown on the odometer are believed to be authentic. The build only has about 2500 miles on it, o it’s sorted out but not used, nd the car presents pretty much in as-new condition in every way. It spent the entirety of its life in sunny southern California and it shows, ecause the sheetmetal is absolutely spotless inside and out. The guys who built the car are pretty talented and they’ve been doing this for a long time, o you get even gaps on both doors, tailgate that closes without a lot of effort, nd a hood that just clicks into place when you bring it down. The colors are Sierra Gold over India Ivory, lthough a modern Chrysler color called “Vanilla” has been substituted for the Ivory simply because it was a bit creamier and has a softer contrast. Whatever the name, e love the look and the workmanship is outstanding in every way. You’ll note a few custom details, ncluding the shaved hood, implified grille, nd trick headlights with the marker lights built right in. It’s wearing plenty of fresh chrome, oo, ncluding California 1-piece bumpers, nd every piece of stainless on the car was either polished to look like new or replaced with a fresh piece. The car is jaw-dropping in person but doesn’t beat you over the head with the upgrades. This is hot-rodding done right.

As I said, he interior was upgraded to Bel Air specifications, ncluding factory-style beige vinyl with black and copper pattern cloth, he ideal choice. That’s the original front bench wearing a reproduction seat cover, nd new door panels, resh carpets, nd a correct headliner were added to give it a very finished look. There are a myriad of upgrades inside, ll designed to make this a comfortable high-speed, ong-distance cruiser, nd among them are a powerful A/C system from Southern Air, tilt/telescope steering column with a leather-wrapped billet wheel, nd a great-sounding AM/FM stereo system with iPod interface so you can take your music with you. Factory gauges have been restored and remain fully functional and as we said, e believe the mileage shown is since new, s it was not reset at the time of restoration. Modern 3-point seat belts have been added for front seat passengers, hile the rear seats use traditional lap belts, aking this the ideal cruiser for the enthusiast with a family. The cargo bay has been fully restored as well, sing laminated wood instead of the original linoleum for a warm custom look that’s just as durable. Given the car’s creature comforts and massive trunk area, can scarcely think of a better car for a cross-country road trip than this Handyman wagon.

As far as we can tell, his was originally a V8 car, ut during the rebuild the original 283 was removed and replaced with a 355 cubic inch crate motor making approximately 350 horsepower. Thanks to the wonders of the small block Chevy, t was a veritable bolt-in proposition, lthough it was treated to all-new componentry. Finned valve covers and a matching air cleaner are just part of the dress-up on this handsome powerplant, hich also includes a shiny Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, hrome accessories, nd aluminum heads to help build horsepower. An HEI ignition system lights the fires and long-tube headers feed a custom stainless steel exhaust system with X-pipe and Magnaflow mufflers that are mellow, ot aggressive. There’s a big radiator up front with both a mechanical fan and an electric pusher fan, o both the engine and the A/C remain ice cold, ven in traffic, nd it’s got a new Wilwood master cylinder for the power disc brakes.

For comfortable cruising, 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission was installed, nd it powers a 9-inch Ford rear end with 3.50 gears inside, o it’s punchy around town but just loafs along at 1800 RPM at highway speeds. You can see the car’s California heritage in the spotless floors, hich are 100% original, nd there are exactly zero patches or replacements in the body—they just don’t get much cleaner than this. New body mount bushings keep it quiet and the frame itself was powdercoated for long-term durability. Almost everything on or under this car is new, ncluding the lines, oses, hocks, rakes, as tank, nd all the rubber parts, o it feels tight and smooth going down the road. Classic Torque Thrust wheels complete the subtle look, nd they wear staggered 225/70/15 front and 235/70/15 blackwall radials for just the right attitude.

You will probably not see another car like this at any show you attend, nd as far as resto-mods go, his one is absolutely one of the finest we’ve ever seen. There’s easily twice the asking price wrapped up in the build and with the car’s California history, ou never have to worry about what’s going on underneath. It’s also loaded with every feature you want in a modern resto-mod, ll of it brand new and fully functional. If you’re into wagons like we are, his is a very special car indeed. Call today!