My father was never into cars, other than his string of Chrysler Cordovas in the mid-'70s; it's pretty much always been about "transportation" to him. Although, he did take me to quite a few NASCAR races out at Riverside, and I've been a motorsports nut ever since. So, my hot rod addiction was self-inflicted, and I really can't pinpoint what one thing got me hooked. However, some kids, like Springfield, Missouri's Bobby Lowe, are a bit more fortunate, having fathers already immersed in the hobby or at least who have had a strong involvement in the past. This isn't saying that all kids with a rodding family heritage follow the same path, but obviously--and fortunately--the younger Lowe took the "low" road instead of opting for the current import trend.
The '59 Biscayne originally started out as just a nice project for dad to take to various shows. At the time, Bob Sr. was building a Deuce roadster, and as it turned out, both cars were nearing completion. It was at this point that dad figured it was about time his son have his own "appropriate" set of wheels and turned the keys over to Bobby. While the roadster debuted at Goodguys Indy, the Chevy didn't have its official coming-out until the Nats in Columbus the following month--where both received Top Ten awards (the '32 being honored by Street Rodder, of course). A gratifying reward for father and son, to say the least, but more importantly, it gave Bobby the "driver's seat view" of a major car show for the first time.
When acquired, the two-door post was an unrestored, 57,000-mile gennie with a late-model drivetrain update. Besides a fresh 383 with Keith Black pistons, fuelie iron heads, Edelbrock/Holley induction, and Sanderson/Flowmaster exhaust, as well as a TCI-equipped TH350, the underpinnings remained pretty much stock. Oh, yeah, Air Ride Technologies and Bilstein suspension components were a small addition that netted the ground-hugging stance that tucks Center Line billets with BFG rubber in the 'wells. The body, started by Jeff Oldham and finished up by Mike Meeker (serious health issues prevented Jeff from finishing), features minor mods like a nosed hood, emblem removal, and filled antenna. House of Kolor single-stage black applied by Meeker gives the car a real mean presence, and the color makes the chrome, polished stainless, and Carriage Works one-off grille (by Curt Cunningham) jump. Adding even more contrast is a deep red, Ultra leather interior by June Gullet and White's Custom Auto. A Carriage Works banjo wheel, aluminum knobs, and various stock appointments are all visible, but the Grundig head unit, Polk Momo speakers, and Air Ride/Vintage Air controls are all hidden from sight. Mike Jennings is credited with major mechanical/machine work, installation, and final fit and finish. To date, Bobby has driven the wheels off the Biscayne, experiencing not a single mechanical difficulty along the way. Even the slightest glitch won't affect the experience he's had this past summer on the road with his dad, the two touring the highways in their fine American iron.