1956: That was a very good year By Bob McDonnell The Surveyor Back in 1959, Jerry Maxner, the then 18-year-old, owned a ’56 Chevrolet. Actually, to be correct, he and his mother shared ownership of the vehicle. During the day, the Chevy allowed Maxner’s mom to get around Rapid City, S.D., including delivering Avon products. Evenings and weekends, Maxner possessed the car for dates, cruising, and an occasional drag race. The ’56 Chevy remained in the family until 1966 when Maxner drove it to California. He sold it there and immediately missed the car. In 2000, after moving to Colorado, Maxner found an auto auction specializing in older-model cars. Attending the auction, he spotted a ’56 Chevy Bel Air for sale. Maxner liked the car, but it was a four-door, not the two-door style that he wanted. After checking the car four times before the sale, the draw of a ’56 proved too strong. As Maxner remembers it, he and another man engaged in a battle for the car. The bidding jumped from $3,000 to $4,000, and finally $6,000. The other man dropped out, and Maxner has his ’56 Chevy again. Later, Maxner learned that the bidding frenzy resulted from the fact that the car was a four-door hardtop. He discovered that this was the first year for a four-door hardtop. Not many of this model still exist. This fact helped alleviate Maxner’s buyer’s remorse. In 12 years of attending car shows, Maxner remembers seeing only three similar cars, reenforcing the rarity and popularity of the car. Maxner said that over the years, while attending car shows, he’s often returned to find business cards on his car from prospective buyers.
© Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
May 29, 2014
Now the car is Maxner’s pride and joy. The Chevy sports a rebuilt 350 cubic inch engine, new wiring, disc brakes, new transmission, and a paint job. A 10disk audio player hides in the trunk, so the interior looks original, right down to the repainted dash and windowsills. Four speakers in the front and back blast out music as Maxner drives his toy. Maxner’s car is not one of those that only sees the light of day at car shows. Although it is in great shape, car show judges find every little imperfection. Maxner prefers a car made for everyday use. His ’56 Chevy did win one contest — Best of Show at the Loveland A & W in 2002. On any given summer week, Berthoud residents get a chance to see Maxner’s gem as he drives around town. He also attends local cruise nights. In colder weather, the car and Maxner venture out monthly. Few people know that the car has no heater, so this limits winter cruising. Berthoud residents will have a chance to see the ’56 Chevy soon. On June 7, Maxner plans do his annual drive of the blue-and-white car in the Berthoud Day Parade. When not on the road, the car sits in Maxner’s garage at his home near downtown Berthoud. Asked about the car’s future, Maxner says, “I’ll die with it.” He does acknowledge that his son David will keep the car in the Maxner family someday.
Photo by Bob McDonnell
Jerry Maxner’s blue and white ‘56 Chevy hardtop catches the eye of many when he takes it for a drive along Mountain Avenue.