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OF A KIND: Anchoring a collection |
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STORY: John Matthew
PHOTOGRAPHY: Douglas Little
In a community rich in customized and restored vehicles, one-of-a-kind
vehicles can sometimes be considered the norm. But even in
such elite leagues, a one-of-a-kind vehicle straight from
the factory is a true rarity. Such a vehicle rests in the
lower showroom of Jim Gauthier Chev Olds Cadillac.
The rarity starts with a mint condition 1956 Chevrolet Bel
Air convertible. The car is a rare collectible in its own
right, but a unique set of circumstances combined to make
it truly unique.
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The tale begins at a medical convention in Tarrytown, New York
in the mid-1950s. A husband and wife, in town at a medical convention,
visited the local Chevrolet factory to order a new 1956 Chevrolet
Bel Air convertible. They have two requests. First, they wanted
the car painted in Inca Silver. Second, they wanted the entire
car painted in Inca Silver as to better conceal dirt.
The only problems were that the car was originally designed
for a two-tone paint scheme and that Inca Silver was a colour
destined for the 1957 model year, not 1956. Regardless, the
factory accommodated and documented the unique requests.
The vehicle only had three owners. The woman who originally
bought it sold it to a friend of the family who, after performing
a meticulous frame off restoration in 1994, sold the car to
Jim Gauthier earlier this year through the online auction house
Ebay.
"It's the only one in captivity that is painted from the
factory in that colour," Jim Gauthier, president of Jim
Gauthier Chev Olds Cadillac, said. "The only other time
they used that paint was when they did two tones. That car would
normally have an Arctic White two tone with it."
Gauthier located the vehicle online while searching for rare
vehicles to fill a newly built museum now occupying what was
formally a used car showroom. "I decided I wanted the '55,
'56 and '57 Chevrolet convertibles - the three fives,"
he explained. "In my estimation and the estimation of a
lot of collectors, those are the three most popular Chevrolet's
today."
The discrete museum, whose 11 collectibles are available for
viewing only when accompanied by a salesperson, serves three
functions. First, it creates a distinct sanctuary for customers
in the final stages of purchasing an automobile; secure from
the electric atmosphere typical of a showroom. Second, it adds
a unique sparkle to an adjoining showroom for the Cadillac line
of vehicles. Lastly, it provides a haven for the classic cars
in between summer Sunday night cruises.
"I'm heavy into collecting cars, I wanted to build a display
for these cars and have them readily available for me to drive
them," Gauthier remarked. "I enjoy taking them out
on Sunday's."
In the summer, the museum is set to take on a fourth role as
it forms the backbone of a planned show and shine at the dealership.
Gauthier, who intends for the show to become an annual summer
event, said it will also act as a fundraiser for charity.
MUSEUM
The museum is an evolving collection with vehicles regularly
being sold to make way for other collectibles. Listed in chronological
order, the following automobiles comprise the museum, which
is open for viewing only when accompanied by a salesperson.
1956 Bel Air convertible
1956 Bel Air Nomad Wagon
1956 Lincoln Premiere convertible
1956 Lincoln Premiere 2 door hardtop
1957 Bel Air convertible
1958 Bonneville 2 door hardtop
1958 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special
1960 Oldsmobile Super 88
1966 Malibu 2 door hardtop
1971 Dodge Charger R/T
1989 Golden Hawk |
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