When Steve Thatcher was in high school 45 years ago, he bought his neighbor’s bright yellow 1957 Chevy Bel Air for $1,500.
“It belonged to an older lady who lived down from my grandmother’s house,” he said. “She just couldn’t drive it anymore — and I was looking for a ’57 Chevy.”
Now, he and his wife, Mary, take the car to shows across the western United States. On Saturday, April 5, the couple will drive to Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Road, Sahuarita, for the annual 37th annual Chevy Showdown, hosted by the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson.
The annual event is Arizona’s largest GM car show, the 175 classic vehicles are at least 30 years old. Every year, another cohort of cars becomes eligible.
The cars do not have to be in mint condition.
Vendors and a DJ are featured. GM owners who wish to show off their cars can RSVP, or register at 7 a.m. the day of the event. The cost is $35.
Most of the proceeds benefit Therapeutic Riding of Tucson, Ronald McDonald House, Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center and Aviva Children’s Services.
Thatcher’s Bel Air is not all original. He started his project with the engine.
“It’s got a 350 with a 350 turbo,” he said. “It’s a Crate motor; I wore out the 283.”
A “Crate” is the size of the engine.
“I just like cruising it,” he added. “I’m not a horsepower (guy) … It’s enough for me.”
He installed front disc brakes, and although it came from the factory with air conditioning, Thatcher replaced it with something more convenient.
“(The original air conditioning unit) pretty much consumed the whole passenger side of the engine,” he said. “You had to change the plugs from underneath.”
The car’s factory color is Indian ivory. Thatcher and his dad have painted it yellow, inspired in 1979 by a family friend’s new Ford 4-by-4 truck.
“That’s the only thing Ford on it, the color,” he said.
An acquaintance in Mexico reupholstered it.
Thatcher mentioned that he has gone through three transmissions, and the most recent rehabilitation involved changing the halogen headlights to LED ones.
It is clear Thatcher loves this car.
“I drive it to all the car shows,” he said.
Mary said she rides in the car, but has only occasionally been behind the wheel.
“This is his baby, not mine,” she said.
Still, the couple have great memories in the car. They dated in it, changed their children’s diapers in the trunk and even allowed one son to drive it to the prom.
Thatcher really credits his late dad with sparking in him a love of cars.
“My dad went through 17 different cars in high school,” he said. “He told me, ‘If you find a car you like, just keep it,’ and I still have it.”
Chevy Showdown
WHEN: 7 to 9 a.m. registration; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. show Saturday, April 5
WHERE: Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Road, Sahuarita
PRICE: Free admission; food available for purchase. To register a car, the charge is $35.
INFO: ddcaz.com/sahuarita/entertainment
