Build Update: March Performance’s ’57 Chevy Drop Top

IMG_5318-webBack in March 2016, we let you guys know that a great project for March Performance that had just gotten underway at North Port Auto Body in Florida. That article showed the very humble beginnings of Kim March’s dream car. Back then, Russ Crump of NPAB had this to say, “It would have been easier and less expensive to start with a newly-stamped body. But car owner, Kim March, was adamant about saving an original classic” We asked Kim about that, and he told us, “When deciding on how to build this car, I wanted it to be the real thing, not a duplicate. I guess it is all in my mind, but it makes me feel good, and isn’t that what our cars all about?”

1957-chevy-convertible-rust

Our last visit saw the car with some of the bodywork completed, and the shell resting on the Art Morrison chassis. There was never any doubt that the ’57 would be a truly-custom Pro Touring-style build with custom paint, interior, big brakes, and an LS7 engine showing off March’s pulleys, backed by a paddle-shifted TCI six-speed automatic transmission.

The Art Morrison chassis is painted and assembled.

The start of the project necessitated replacement of both quarter-panels, and it didn’t stop there. The floors needed to be replaced, but a stock floor would not be sufficient. To accommodate the planned interior mods, the floors would need to be a lot “smoother” than they were from the factory, so an entirely new floor was fabricated out of sheetmetal.

Once the chassis was painted, the repaired body was put in place one last time before going to the paint booth.

According to Russ at North Port, the frame has been painted and fully assembled, and the body is being fitted one last time before it goes to paint. The process of rebuilding a car to this SEMA-worthy caliber is an arduous and time involved process, but we’re sure that the end result of this build for March Performance will be not only stunning, but as functional as any classic we’ve come across. Stay tuned for more updates as we get them.

IMG_9914

Almost ready for paint.

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About the author

Randy Bolig

Randy Bolig has been working on cars and has been involved in the hobby ever since he bought his first car when he was only 14 years old. His passion for performance got him noticed by many locals, and he began helping them modify their vehicles.
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