DRiVE! Magazine Project Surf Wagon

09/04/2025

Update on Project Surf Wagon:
We recruited our friend Matthew Owings of Gasser Matt Performance for his great knowledge in hot rods, classics and especially electrical wiring. On this day, we wired up the spark plugs with a new set of Taylor wires and connected them up to a new MSD Street Fire electronic distributor. With the help of a new chrome distributor holder kit from the local O'Reilly, we dropped it into the small block Chevy.
Moving in to the dash, we installed the AutoMeter Products, Inc. "Custom Shop" instrument set into this slick instrument bezel from Hampton Engineering. With Matt's help, the assembly went smoothly and the wiring was routed and prepped to go into the dashboard.
Stay tuned for more as it happens. 👍

08/24/2025

03/23/2025

Messing around with some A1 images this morning...I told it to make the 57 Chevy Surf Wagon into a boxed 1:24 scale model kit. Here's what it gave me 👇

09/17/2024

Touching on some dress-up shiny stuff on the project '57.
Today, we installed the chrome hood Vee from Danchuk Manufacturing, and the chrome hood bar from Trim Parts, Inc.
Both pieces are USA made, come with fasteners, and fit just like the originals. 👍

08/16/2024

Holy Flying Bus, Batman!

03/20/2024

In this edition, we are installing the new windshield and all related exterior trim. With a brand new windshield from JRD International of Montclair, CA, and a new rubber seal from Steele Rubber, Inc. we called on a local professional to handle the actual installation. With over 5000 cars on the books, we called Paul's Auto Glass. Paul and his son had it installed in under an hour.
The upper trim goes in WITH the windshield and the seal, so the remaining lower trim was left up to us. All 5 of the lower trim pieces were still intact, but with the typical rusty hardware. So, we hit up ebay motors and scored an Ol'55 hardware set from trusted seller I-5 Classic Chevy. It was somewhat of a puzzle, but we managed to get it all back in order again with a bit of patience and attention to detail.
What a difference to see this car with the front glass in!
Thanks for following along.
-Kw

10/02/2023

Project Surf Wagon will proudly be using AutoMeter products, ordered from the AutoMeter Custom Shop! https://fb.watch/nqKQFPO-88/?mibextid=CDWPTG

08/05/2023

1957 Chevies rolling down the assembly line. ❤️

08/14/2022

I'm sitting down to place an order for a full factory interior set for my 57 wagon, just to find out that Danchuk has gone out of business as of March 11, 2022. 🤔

11/28/2021

Drive! Magazine Surf Wagon is proudly sponsored by Steele Rubber Products.

10/28/2021

This man was a huge inspiration and invaluable technical advisor for Project Surf Wagon, and we lost him to cancer last week. He was a mentor, friend to many and the best mechanic I ever met.
I will continue to build this car to completion and drive it proudly in your honor some day.
You will be greatly missed, Dad.
Rest in paradise, Len Williams of Len's Performance Automotive.
-Kevin

08/15/2021

This '57 Bel Air 4 door wagon was spotted at this year's Tri-5 show in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Notice the rear side doors feature the beltline dip, only used on the sedans in 57. You saw it here first on project surf wagon. Kudos to this owner for getting their car project completed. Beautiful job.