’55 Heaven

To say that John Burndred likes 1955 Chevs is a bit like saying the Pope is a bit religious. The simple statement does not reflect the lifetime of commitment each has for his chosen passion. John’s obsession started in his teens with him finally acquiring his first ’55 at the age of 18; more than 40 years later, it is the same blue and white ’55 on the hoist in the Burndreds’ workshop. That ’55 was John’s dream car and was used when he married the love of his life, Teresa. It broke their hearts when they had to sell it to buy their first home, and they were heartbroken a second time when the new owner crashed it in the Karangahake Gorge shortly afterwards. A couple of years later, with the mortgage starting to get under control, John and Teresa bought the wreck, rebuilt it, and it has not left their hands since.

That’s not to say it hasn’t evolved during their ownership. It’s now powered by a healthy 327 topped