Ron Hepding of Parkville, found himself in an interesting car situation.
After he built his daughter a 1970 Mustang, his wife asked him why they also didn’t have one. At first, Hepding thought she was only interested in a Ford. But she responded, “No, I want you to do a ’50s car.” Five months later, Hepding owned a 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air, two-door hardtop.
Hepding recalled how he always yearned for the shoebox style vehicle. So when the now-retired salesman finally had a job that could afford such a luxury, he wasted no time.
“I pretty well had it worked out in my mind what I wanted to do. I originally did the majority of the body work,” said Hepding, who doesn’t get below the chassis these days.
He purchased the car in 1986 and the project was completed in 1991. During its five-year build, Hepding slowly brought together a custom that took on life from the sum of its parts. The roof was chopped and lowered three inches and special glass and plastics were used for the viewing surfaces. The headlights and antenna were frenched. The wheels came off a 1953 Oldsmobile. The tail lights were from a 1956 Packard. A 1955 Nomad bumper replaced the stock, while he removed the badging on the car. He kept some of the original styling cues from 1953 such as the Chevy teeth on the front grille, although Hepding, discontent with leaving well enough alone, added a few more on the outside to give the car a more grimacing appearance. Dummy lake pipes run along the side skirts, a feature that the driver could activate when more horsepower was needed and the rear exhausts wouldn’t cut it.
In fact, wherever your eye turns, there is evidence of Hepding’s handiwork, which, in “American Graffiti” terms, looks more like Suzanne Somers than Wolfman Jack. Although, Hepding admits he has a “wolf whistle” for the car horn.
In 2001, the Bel Air faced a major setback when a deer decided it was stronger than its front fascia. The car was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. Instead of rebuilding from scratch, and since only the front end absorbed the fury of the deer, Hepding bought another 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air. Using the parts from his new donor vehicle, he was eventually able to patch up his project.
“My father taught me as a youngster that the man who is a failure is the man who never tries. If you’re intelligent to know that you don’t know everything there is to know, then you go pull a book and you start learning. Then it’s a matter of getting out here and working it.”
What do you drive?
A 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air.
Why do you drive?
I drive the car because most people say to me “How can you drive this thing? Why don’t you trailer it?” If I got to trailer it and can’t drive it, I don’t want it. Cars were made to be driven. I’ve always enjoyed just cruising down the street in this thing and watch the heads turn.
What makes this car so special?
With regular restorations, there’s an attitude. Anyone can build a car. It takes a real man to cut one up.
What’s your most memorable driving experience?
When you take a long trip to Syracuse and you’re just driving that car and that car is going down the road there is nothing like it to know that you created the car. Nothing is original.
What was the first car you owned?
The first car I owned was a ‘54 Ford. Not much of a car. When I sold it, I had both doors strapped because the striker plates in it were gone and the doors just wouldn’t close.
What’s currently in your CD player?
I’ve got an MP3 player and I’ve probably got 5,000 songs in there. My main genre is the ‘50s music. I’ve got a lot of instrumental.
And your first ticket? What was it for?
I was going down to pick my father up from work. I was down in Baltimore and I made a left hand turn when the cops were out in the middle of the street. And I made a left and they had a white line that went around it and I went outside that white line and he pulled me over and gave me holy devil and gave me a ticket. I knew enough to stay in my lane but I gave him a little bit of wide berth because he’s standing in the middle of the street. Back in the day, you’d get pulled over if your tires looked balding.
Check Out My Stats:
Engine: Chevy 355 V8
Horsepower: 343 hp (Dynoed)
Performance: 700 R4 transmission, 3:73 rear differentials w/ posi-traction
Paint: custom gold base with metal flake and translucent purple
Wheels: 15-inch white walls with radial tires
Suspension: Air ride suspension
Exterior: custom hood, roof, tail light fins
