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Perry's Auto biography -- Perry bought his first car in 1962 for $350. It was a ’55 Chevy post with a 283 and automatic transmission. In 1963, he moved on to a 1958 Chevy Impala for $850. Then in keeping with a different car every year, In 1964, he bought a 1961 Pontiac Bonneville for about $1600. He drove this one 4 or 5 years -- during this time he did 4 years in the US Air Force, got married, started his electrical apprenticeship, and had a couple of kids. Needless to say though this time he became a family man and thoughts of fast/exciting cars went by the wayside. What was needed then was basic transportation; a work truck and station wagons. After raising three kids and moving around a little bit, Perry finally got into hot rodding – well kinda. He begged and pleaded with his wife about getting a hot rod. That led to a Father’s Day gift of a ’51 Chevy Sedan Delivery. They found it in 1993 behind a small bar and grill in Kettle Falls, Washington just north of Spokane. He joined the Cruisers of Colville car club in Washington and after a number of years of trading labor and doing the things he could, he got it running. It was not complete, a truly a work-in-progress, under construction rod. After moving to Portland, Perry joined the Route 26 Cruisers and wanting to do some of the work on his rod, he enrolled in the night automotive body class at Clackamas Community College. After attending the course on and off for several years, he conceded that his bodyman and mechanics skills were slow in developing. Besides, he discovered age was catching up with him and it was harder to get ‘in, around, and under’. The decision was made to sell sedan delivery. Time went by, then about a year ago while Perry and his wife JoAnn attended the Portland Transmission Annual Car Show, they saw the 1957 Chevy pickup. It was at the far end of one of the street, and believe it or not, it was for sale. It was love at first sight (at least for Perry). He had a couple rodding buddies look it over and got a big ‘thumbs up’. Well, again came the begging and pleading, with a lot of promises, as they became the proud owners of this beauty. Its powered by a 350 Chev motor with a 350 transmission. Perry had the front suspension changed from dropped-axel to mustang II setup, added a radio, and then some pin striping; at which time they named her “the jester”. The additions and changes seem never ending … they love the truck. They have also joined Trick’n Racy Cars. |
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