FEATURE
Images BY Chadly Johnsonary Hogansen has been working on cars for as long as he can remember—it’s practically all he’s ever known. His journey began in 1974 at a collision shop, where he started out working on other people’s vehicles while building his own projects on the side. His first personal build, a 1956 Chevy 150, remains one of his proudest accomplishments. As the collision work began to wear on him, Gary made a shift in 2007, joining the team at MetalWorks Classic Auto Restoration in Eugene, Oregon. There, he honed his craft and became an expert in bodywork, restoring award-winning show cars.
Gary had previously built a Chevelle convertible, but that car had served its purpose and he was ready to move onto something with a little more brawn, shall we say. He always had a hankering for a 1957 Chevy—something similar to what he drove back in his high school days. In January 2014 Gary came across what appeared to be a promising example on Craigslist. The car was a partly done drag car—basically a shell. It came with no engine, interior, trim, or glass, although it did have a 9-inch rearend. The car was located in Idaho, so Gary took a gamble and bought the car based on the images featured in the ad with the idea of using the Chevelle money to finance the ’57 project.
“The car, for the most part, arrived as advertised except for some roof damage, but being a bodyman I was able to take care of it,” Gary says. “Over the next seven years, my son, a few friends, and I worked on the car weekends and weeknights.” For hot rod shop owners, customer cars pay the bills and take priority over personal rides, hence the car taking as long as it did to complete.
“I wasn’t set on a particular engine combination, but as luck would have it, my buddy Lindsay Worn had a badass big-block he’d been using in his drag car but wanting to go quicker and faster, he sold the engine to me for a good price,” Gary notes.
The Drummond-built 496ci big-block features a compression ratio of 10.5:1, Edelbrock aluminum heads, and a Billet solid flat-tappet camshaft. The rowdy mill is good for a stout 624 hp and 615 lb-ft of torque, giving Gary plenty of tire-shredding power while remaining docile enough to drive on the street.
Induction duties are handled by an Edelbrock Air Gap intake manifold paired with a Holley HP Ultra 950-cfm carburetor. Hooker headers and a custom 3-inch exhaust system with Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers give the car a deep, menacing growl befitting its performance pedigree.
The chassis consists of an Art Morrison subframe with custom coilover mounts, QA1 shocks, and an early AME four-link rear suspension giving the car a functional and all-important aggressive stance. Weld Prostar wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson rubber coincide with the car’s sinister demeaner that rely on a 12-inch rotor, one-piston caliper disc brake system front and rear.
The interior of the Chevy reflects a hands-on approach. Gary, with the help of Jon and Gabby Lind, tackled the interior by crafting custom door panels and installing black loop carpet. Procar by Scat seats provide comfort and synchronize with the performance theme. A Flaming River column and Billet Specialties steering wheel offer precise connection to the road.
The dash remains stock, maintaining the car’s classic aesthetic, while Auto Meter gauges provide critical performance data. Kevin Holston took on the wiring portion using a Speedway harness, ensuring reliable operation without unnecessary complexity.
The car’s Glasurit Salsa Red paint, expertly applied by Rich Chamberlain, perfectly complements the 1957’s timeless body lines. Gary took on the bulk of the bodywork himself, repairing the aforementioned roof, customizing the firewall, and making sure every panel fit like a glove. The result is a flawless exterior giving the car exceptional eye appeal.
For Gary Hogansen, building this 1957 Chevy was more than a restoration project—it was a road back to his roots and exposing lifelong passion for hot rodding. The car embodies the spirit of hard work, perseverance, and the thrill of creating something truly unique.
“The most memorable experience I’ve had with the car was driving it for the first time. It happened to be on my birthday, so I did a massive, John Force–style burnout down the street,” Gary laughingly confesses. “Building the car did not go without challenges, as achieving proper panel fitment and having to build a core support and custom inner fenders added more time than I expected. The previous owner had a blower engine in it, so the firewall was cut back, requiring extensive work to align the wiper motor. I even had to rework the hood hinges to get them to function properly, but in the end, it was worth all the hard work.”
From its rumbling big-block to its striking red paint, Gary’s Chevy is no trailer queen, it’s a rolling canvas of hot rod culture that has defined his life. Leaving a cloud of tire smoke in his wake, Gary proves that the heart of hot rodding is alive and well in Eugene.
Vehicle: 1957 Chevy 150
Type: Big-block
Displacement: 496 ci
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Bore: 4.310
Stroke: 4.250
Builder: Bob Drummond (Caswell, OR)
Machine Work: Bob Drummond
Rotating Assembly: Eagle crankshaft, Eagle rods, Mahle pistons
Valvetrain: Edelbrock valves, Comp rockers, Smith Brothers pushrods
Camshaft: Billet solid flat tappet, 615 lift, 235/243 duration at 0.050
Cylinder Heads: Edelbrock aluminum
Induction: Edelbrock Air Gap intake manifold, Holley HP Ultra 950-cfm carburetor
Exhaust: Hooker headers, custom 3-inch exhaust, Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers
Valve Covers: Custom fabricated
Accessory Drive: Billet Specialties
Ancillaries: MSD ignition, MSD wires, SPAL fan, Griffin radiator
Output: 624 hp at 5,800 rpm, 615 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm
Transmission: GM TH400, Gear Vendors overdrive by Ken Cluck (Eugene, OR)
Torque Converter: A-1, 3,500 stall
Shifter: Hurst
Driveshaft: 3-inch aluminum by Drive Line Services (Eugene, OR)
Rear Axle: Art Morrison Enterprises 9-inch housing, Truetrac posi, 4.56:1 gears, Strange 31-spline axles
Chassis: Art Morrison subframe
Front Suspension: Art Morrison control arms, custom coilover mounts, QA1 coilover shocks, QA1 400-pound springs
Rear Suspension: Back-halved with early AME four-link, QA1 coilover shocks, QA1 250-pound springs
Brakes: 12-inch rotors, one-piston calipers front and rear, Wilwood master cylinder, Wilwood proportioning valve
Suspension Mods: Crossmember cut and reinforced
Wheels: Weld Prostar, 15×6 front, 15×14 rear
Tires: Mickey Thompson Sportsman 215/70R15 front, 31×18.5×15 rear
Upholstery: Black and gray vinyl, red stitching, black loop carpet
Door Panels: Custom by owner
Installation: Owner, Jon Lind, Gabby Lind
Seats: Procar by Scat
Pedals: Garage sale
Steering: Flaming River column, Billet Specialties steering wheel
Instrumentation: Auto Meter
Wiring: Speedway harness by Kevin Holston
HVAC: None
Entertainment System: Nope
Bodywork: Gary Hogansen
Painter: Rich Chamberlain
Paint: Glasurit Salsa Red
Polishing: Owner, extra elbow grease
Glass: Tinted gray, Auto City Classic
Body Modifications: Custom firewall, custom floor sheetmetal
