One of the fun things about writing this column is that from issue to issue, I never know exactly what I will encounter on a visit to Jim’s Classic Garage in Gig Harbor. This month is a great example.
In the shop was a ’66 Chevy Corvette — an American classic that every kid growing up in the heyday of America’s muscle car era yearned to own, or at least to get an opportunity to drive. This one was getting a brand-new 427-cubic-inch “crate motor” that was replacing the 509-cubic-inch, 850-horsepower big block that had a gaping hole in the oil pan where a rod went through it.
One cool thing about the 427 being dropped into the ‘Vette is that it features all the modern technology that brings it to well over 500 horses but it looks exactly like 427s did back in the day.
This one will be married to a six-speed out of a Camaro and will be back tearing up the road in no time.
Also sitting on the garage floor next to the ‘Vette was a 1924 Ford Model TT flatbed 1-ton truck with a wooden body. This is what’s known as a “true barn find,” meaning it was literally sitting in a barn on a working farm for years before it saw the light of day once again.
Owner Jim Sullivan bought the Model TT to do engine repairs, clean, detail and sell it.
Someone had taken great care of this jewel, as all the wood had been sanded and varnished to a degree that would make any wooden-boat owner proud. But it hadn’t run in years. Sullivan, of course, had it running and driving in no time.
While we were there, a customer brought in his black ’55 Chevy for some minor repairs. Under the hood was the classic ’55 upgrade — a 327. This thing was cherry, with a red rolled and pleated interior. It reminded us of one we owned back in the day — and wished we still did.
Jim’s Classic Garage does ground-up restorations of classic cars and trucks, hot rods and specialty vehicles, as well as repairs. Sullivan also buys and sells a wide variety of vehicles, so if you’re in the market to either buy or sell, give him a call at 206-406-1313 or visit jimsclassicgarage.com for a complete list of what is currently available.
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