Lake County >> John Alderman is something of a traditionalist. His tangerine-orange 1956 Chevy sedan delivery may have a Ford 9 inch rear end since the part is practically bullet-proof, but he’s all about keeping his car true to its roots.
While some people swap out entire parts, transforming their car into a Frankenstein hybrid of different brands, Alderman is a Chevy man through and through. “I don’t think that’s the way to do it because you’re getting out of the theme of that vehicle,” he explained. “I’m a firm believer in keeping them pretty close to how they came.”
Although he was raised around cars and has been interested in them his entire life, the sedan is Alderman’s first ever classic car, which he purchased two and a half years ago. He wasn’t originally searching for a sedan delivery. With a long-time interest in the Tri-Five era — a small batch of Chevys produced for just three years, from ‘55-’57 — he was after a regular two door hard-top sedan model.
Then he saw the vibrant delivery and fell head over heels.
Over the years Alderman has had a number of different cars, from Dodges to Fords, but it’s always the old reliable Chevy he’s turned back to. The others just seem to break down too easily.
Alderman isn’t sure just how many hands the car has passed through since being built at a Los Angeles Chevy plant in 1956. As far he knows the sedan remained in LA until 1999 when a sky marshal bought the car. It jumped around the country with the marshal until landing in Yuba City, where Alderman purchased it.
As the name implies, the model was once used as a delivery vehicle, transporting everything short of huge boxes and furniture. Alderman’s neighbor remembered when the cars used to drive around delivering peanuts.
And through updates and restorations — power steering, air conditioning, power breaks — Alderman has kept true to his beliefs. The car is still very much a ‘56 Chevy. “It drives really nice, so you kind of get the best of both worlds,” he said.
Classic car engines can only be rebuilt so many times, though. What many people do — including Alderman — is purchase what is called a crate motor, which comes with the engine and all parts already put together. You pop it into your car, hook some things up and you’re good to go.
Alderman is an engine guy. Body work and paint jobs aren’t really his forte. So when it comes to working on classic cars, the fascination lies in the mechanics. And the beautiful thing about older cars is their simplicity. Open the hood and the spark plugs, the carburetor, it’s all easily discernible.
“Sometimes the new ones look like you have a sewing machine in there,” he said.
And naturally, one of his favorite parts of car shows is checking out the engines of other car enthusiasts. At these shows, stickers displayed in the windows list a car’s make and model, year, horsepower, the engine, etc. Even as a kid he was interested in these things — every two years his father would bring home a new car and Alderman was always poking around under the hood.
But if there’s anything Alderman enjoys as much as working on his car, it’s driving it. Never once has it crossed his mind to confine the sedan to trailers and garages, even before he got his hands on it. It’s why he joined the Lake Lords car club — Joe Colabella started it in an effort to bring together car enthusiasts who actually want to take their vehicles out on the open road.
Too many people own cars and don’t take them anywhere, Alderman said. He’s always disappointed when he meets fellow car lovers who don’t care to join their comrades on runs.
“What’s the point in having them unless you drive them? You have to use them,” he insisted.
For Alderman, there’s nothing quite like the reaction his ‘56 Chevy sedan delivery elicits. As he putters down the street, people wave, honk, shout and give him many thumbs up. He’s never met anyone who doesn’t know the make of his car.
“It’s just a kick,” Alderman said. “It’s kind of cool that people appreciate it still. You’re looking at a car that’s 60 years old.”
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
