Good Car-MA

A great ’56 Bel Air made better by a frequently overlooked option: Respect

- Chris Shelton

In the upper end of the old-car hobby, particularly the part with the historically significant cars, possession isn’t so much regarded as ownership as much as stewardship. It’s a slightly selfless philosophy that respects the chain of people who possess a vehicle over its lifespan. In it, a person basically acknowledges the fact that their time with a vehicle is temporary—the car almost always existed before they came along and it will possibly outlive them; they’re just taking care of it for the time being.

It’s an idea that probably never occurred to Jeff Zirkle when he went to look at a 1956 Bel Air that was up for sale. “The guy had the car for a long time,” he begins. “He was really into it; he made this rotisserie and whenever he’d have something chromed he’d put it on the car to check it then take it back off. He stashed parts in every nook and cranny in his house—under the beds and in various rooms. Like I said, he was really into it.

“But then someone special in his life—someone who was a big part of the car—passed away,” Jeff continues. “He got the project moving a couple of times but just decided it was time to sell it. I went to look at the car but I think he was actually interviewing me. He was trying to find that person who he felt deserved it.”