Welcome MoreDoor lovers, collectors, enthusiasts and the generally interested. This week we have from western NC Ben H's retired U.S. Army 1956 Chevy 150. I'm excited about this particular MoreDoor. I remember seeing this car online and thinking how cool it was that it was supposedly an ex-Government vehicle. I've got a soft spot for them. Then my wife and I moved to NC and I realized this car was local to where we now call home. After a few missed opportunities to meet, we finally met up one day for a Saturday lunch. He has been a big MoreDoorClassics.com supporter!
| Any guesses to what Ben has named his former service car? Lieutenant Dan. Haha, it's SO perfect! He has had the Lt for a year and a half but Dan has already gained a reputation too. Folks all over know him because he is so distinct. Ben loves that the 150 is not perfect, its skuzzy, is drafty, smells musty, and he can jump in and go anywhere. Ben operates his own little shop as Hannah Cove Hot Rods where he does all of his tinkering. |  |
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 When Ben got Lt Dan, the stenciling was pretty much not visible. It wasn't until he started to wet sand the doors that he got an occassional glimpse at what was on them. He could only see the what was actually there in certain light and at certain angle. Military lettering is not very fancy at all so he was able to replicate the stenciling with supplies from the local craft store. |  |
 | Here are two signficant remnants of the past that prove Lt Dan's duty to this great Country. It's difficult to make out the decal, but Ben says its an old Army base parking decal. I am sure someone out there knows exactly what this decal used to look like. |  |
  | The paint was not in too bad when he found it in the PO's backyard - mostly covered in mold. Ben was able to buff out most of the car and cleared the roof, top of the truck and spots here and there to preserve ole Dan's experiences. His only other plans for the paint it to preserve it as is. Amen! One photo you don't see here of Lt Dan is the SBC that sits under the hood. The car was originaly a 6cyl three speed but the PO swapped that out for the SBC/TH350 that's in it now. All Ben knows about the current setup is it's a later model motor, and he is not too conercered about it either. He has healthy plans to get Dan stepping up his cadence. The trans is the turbo 350 and with the original rear end. Plans for the spring is a TBI 350 out of a 1991 Chevy truck mated to a S10 T5 trans. The 150 had power disc brakes when he got it, but Ben has since rebuilt the whole front suspension. He also put a set of drop spindles under it while he had it apart. The rear springs are original so it gives Lt Dan that nice stance, ha! Thanks to his friend Shane Green at Pisgah Tire in Canton, NC Lt Dan has that nice tone you can hear in the video. |
It's hard to imagine a car with such a cool history was sitting like this. Ben with his sharp eye and knowledge of tri-five's recognized this U.S. treasure on Craigslist. He struck up a deal shortly thereafter, and saved Lt Dan from an unknown future. Ben is the best hands this Chevy could have fell into. Ben, like most car guys, is an avid CL searcher. He found Dan on Chattanooga CL and you can see how Ben found it below. He knew something was off about the color but had a hunch. Believe it or not, that color is gloss OD green but has faded into the chocolate or mocca that you see here. The green is more evident in the truck and jambs. Ben is more of a '57 guy but has a special place for service vehicles and that is Lt Dan through and through.
Ben is no stranger to MoreDoor's either. Here are at least two of them that he has on the project list.
 Lucille. His 1957 Chevy Bel Air wagon and Ben's first car. He has a project or two standing between him and finishing Lucille...again. I can't wait to see her on the road! |  Nadine. His 1957 Chevy 150 and also a former government rig. This one has some get up and go! Ben's plan is a street pounding sleeper, and it's mostly there already. I'd say a murdered out MoreDoor will be quite to sleeper too. |
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