STRATOCRUISER

Through the years, Dave Lane has owned a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from Hyundais, Hondas and MG Midgets to vintage Deuces and T-Birds. He’s also had his share of General Motors products, including a ’28 Pontiac sedan, a ’35 Chevy coupe, and now this beautiful ’59 Chevy Kingswood wagon.

Mind you, this big Bow Tie hasn’t always looked this good. In fact, were it not for many tireless evenings and weekends with family, and friends like Robert White and Paul Radcliff nearby, it might still look as it once did. However, the time was spent and the effort rewarded in a car that is every bit a driver, and a pretty one at that.

Building the Stratocruiser’s Chassis and Stance

Just eight short months before it rolled into its first event, Lane had it torn down to the bare frame, which he stripped and protected with 3M rocker panel coating. Next, he joined a pair of Superior 2-inch dropped spindles with new bushings and ball joints, Air Ride Technologies airbags and shocks, and disc brakes.

A pair of 18×8-inch Billet Specialties Talladega wheels were fitted with low-profile 235/40ZR18 BFGoodrich T/As that are tucked tightly within the front fenders.

The original three-link setup keeps the 10-bolt Chevy rearend in place while Air Ride Technologies airbags allow good ride quality and a slammed stance when the time is right. The original drum brakes have been left in place within the confines of huge 20×9.5-inch Talladega wheels and 275/35-20 BFGs.

Big-Block Chevy Power for the ’59 Kingswood

To bring all of this hardware to life, a ’99 Chevy 454 crate motor with 425 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque was fitted with an Edelbrock 600-cfm four-barrel, an HEI ignition system, and an assortment of milled and polished aluminum hardware.

Individuality comes by way of a custom, home-built air cleaner that has been painted to match the valve covers with the same two-tone paint scheme that coats the exterior. Short-tube headers feed a 3-inch stainless exhaust system that gives this motor all of the authority needed to qualify as a purebred hot rod.

All of that torque is multiplied by a Turbo 400 automatic transmission utilizing a Kugel Komponents linkage fitted to a tilt column from a GM van.

A Custom Interior with Room for the Family

The interior shows off the work of Houlka, Mississippi’s Billy Tunnel, with considerable lengths of green leather fitted with green and gold cloth inserts in a classic style. To get a better seating position, the front seat was lowered and moved back slightly. Matching green carpeting from Auto Custom Carpeting lines the floors.

The dashboard retains its stylish design, although the faces of the gauges were painted light green with the name Stratocruiser added to the speedometer; you’ll also find this moniker elsewhere. The dash itself was painted in a dark, flat green that works well with the hues of the upholstery and exterior.

Opening the glove box will also reveal another set of gauges, while switches for the Air Ride Technologies ride-height controls can be found on the floor to the left of the driver’s seat. There’s also another pair of gauges to keep track of oil pressure and voltage where the ashtray once was; hey, there’s no smoking here!

Since an Alpine audio system and MTX speakers were fitted elsewhere, the original center-mounted dash speaker opening was filled, and a set of ’97 Buick Riviera air-conditioning vents brings the effect of the Vintage Air A/C and heating system into play. The final touch comes with a Billet Specialties Classic steering wheel wrapped in a seamless leather cover.

Custom Bodywork and Two-Tone Paint

What really gives this car its character is the body, which was first media-blasted and then smoothed of the effects of 40 years of use and abuse. Once he had completed this, Lane replaced the floors, and the spare-tire compartment was removed.

The front of the hood was reworked, the bumpers were welded into single pieces, the antenna was flush-mounted and the emblems were shaved away, as was the tailgate keyhole.

Once all of the metalwork was completed, a combination of two shades of DuPont Chroma Premier paint was applied, with Woodcoat green metallic above and Planet Gold metallic below the beltline; this same shade fills the center of the side molding.

The airbrushed artistry of Todd Jones and Vicki Racer finished everything off as they applied the Stratocruiser name to the nose and tailgate of this wonderful wagon.

A Family Cruiser with Hot Rod Character

With everything said and done, the original goal of building a family cruiser was realized, as Dave and his wife, Nancy, climbed in front, while their two youngsters, Justin and Brandon, made themselves at home in what they feel is the best seat in this big Chevy—the rear-facing third seat, where they can enjoy the past as it rolls along.