Tom ended up selling the car prior to enlisting in the Navy, which was a relief to his parents (selling the car, not enlisting), but he had plans to jump back into the hot rod scene once he returned from serving his country. Tom’s dad had other ideas. Being a talented golfer, he suggested Tom pursue the sport by joining the golf team at Southern California’s Orange Coast College. “I was reluctant to join the team because back then the hot rod guys were cool—the golfers not so much. Looking back, I’m glad I did because I was heading down a road full of bad decisions and playing golf curbed those choices and saved my life,” Tom confesses. “I wasn’t a particularly good student, but thankfully I was a decent golfer, which eventually led to a job as a golf instructor at Santa Ana Country Club in Newport Beach followed up as head golf instructor at Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier.”

Around 1988 Tom would drive by a mechanic’s lot in Whittier on his way to work every day and noticed a tarp covering a car with a familiar shape along with a partial taillight being visible—just enough so that Tom could tell it was a ’56 Chevy. Each day as he drove by for about a year, that dull taillight was more like a beacon of light, never failing to get his attention. Finally, Tom couldn’t take it any longer and stopped by the shop to inquire about the car. The owner told Tom he was just about to put it up for sale at the Pomona swap meet that next weekend. Not about to let it go, Tom offered him $800—tarp and all. Tom was back in the hot-rodding game!

The car had an engine, a beat-up interior, some of the original trim, and not much else, but it was enough. Tom sent the car to Alf Ebberoth in Sand City, California, for a full custom makeover. “Ebberoth and I came up with a plan that included building a car with a suspension system that would enable it to handle more like a late model and less like a classic.

For approximately three years Ebberoth and Tom spoke weekly to collaborate on the build direction and to come up with ideas on all the custom nuances that would be incorporated into the Bel Air. In 1990, Tom saw the car in person for the first time and was blown away by the outcome. With the ’56 on the road it received numerous show awards, magazine features, and took First Place in Car Craft magazine’s Real Street Eliminator competition.

The interior is a museum piece consisting of more one-off billet aluminum art: Woody Gilmore is responsible for the custom aluminum gauge panel and Dave Marasco created the custom-built pedals, the Nardi steering wheel’s horn button, and a plethora of other custom pieces throughout. Vic Kitchen laid out the black German square-weave carpet and black leather interior for a refined performance driving compartment. Recaro bucket seats replaced the stock bench, giving way for the center console that houses the electric window controls, a Panasonic head unit, and Hurst shifter.

We love the story of a once-rebellious teen who lived life in the fast lane yet was able to compose himself long enough to pursue a successful career in what society during the late ’60s considered a highly acceptable profession. Tom did just that, while at the same time never losing his edge as a lifelong hot rodder. Tom will tell you he may have slowed down a little with age, but he’s proof that you can put an 8-iron in the hands of a hot rodder, but he’ll never lose grip on the passion that comes with the sound and performance of a V-8–powered, bright yellow, ’56 Chevy Bel Air.

Bodywork and Paint: Chris Torrey
PAINT: PPG Fly Yellow
Grille: Stock
Front Bumper: One piece
Rear Bumper: One piece
Headlights: Marchal
Taillights: Stock
Plating: Sherm’s Custom Plating (Sacramento, CA)