1938 Chevy Master Coupe - Street Rodder

Growing up in a small south Ohio town exposed Danny Bolender to a surprising amount of street rod activity. Danny recalls several street rods being driven on a daily basis in his hometown, his favorite being a primered gasser-style '38 Chevy coupe running a 283 backed by a four-speed. The car was owned by Galen Waits, whose father owned the local gas station. A few years later, Galen's father sold the station to another local street rodder who owned a '39 Chevy, and whose station always attracted half a dozen street rods in the evening. These images were burned into Danny's psyche, and that primered '38 coupe would remain his favorite for years.

By the early '90s, Danny and his wife, Monica, had owned numerous cars, including a few late-'30s/early '40s Chevys. Then they spotted a '38 Chevy Master coupe for sale at the 1994 Street Rod Nationals in Louisville. At the time, the car was running a 350ci Chevy truck motor, stock front axle, maroon lacquer paint, and the original mohair interior. The owner, John Thompson, had purchased the car from the original owner, his neighbor, who had kept a detailed record of all the maintenance ever performed. The last entry in the logbook was in 1962, when the car received a new battery, oil, and a grease change with the odometer showing 48,563 miles. John had purchased the car from his elderly neighbor in the '80s with the intention of restoring it. After finding the original engine block cracked, he decided to install a Chevy V-8 and give the coupe a fresh coat of paint. The Bolenders decided this was all they needed to hear, and by the end of the weekend they became the '38 Chevy's third owners.Danny gradually began updating the car in the following years, and he recently disassembled the entire car and sent it to Jeff Moore and Bruce Carter to be repainted. While the bodywork was being completed, a new ZZ4 Chevy engine was installed in the stock frame along with disc brakes and a TH400 trans. After the car was painted, it was sent over to Otis Pierson in Five Mile, Ohio, to receive new leather interior. Billet Specialties wheels from Danny's Rod Shop finished off the street rod transformation.

Danny's a local in the Cincy street rod scene surrounding the Cincinnati, Ohio, area, and he reports that his little Chevy coupe turns mid-13s at the local drags. He also notes that it's a family affair, with his brother, son, nephew, and even the in-laws getting involved with street rods of their own. And of course his wife, Monica, doesn't let the boys have all the fun, as she's got a '66 Corvette convertible to show those guys just who's boss!