Parke Bishop, Jr.’s 1953 Chevy 150 Sedan is a prime example on how to put a modern twist on a classic car and make it a standout in both arenas.

Featuring an array of both custom and aftermarket parts this “cinnamon and ginger” show-stopper stands somewhere in the middle of retro and recent, and the industry has taken notice; the car was one of seven finalists competing for the 2008 Goodguys Custom Rod of the Year award and has been featured on the show circuit.

The spicy sedan, which Bishop originally purchased for $500, features a stock Chevy chassis, custom cross-members and a Heidt’s front end and Currie 9” rearend.

A 1969 Chevy 250 cid, six-cylinder engine sits under the hood, along with a custom-made intake manifold with six Hilborn injector stacks and a complementing exhaust system, both of which were made from stainless steel at BareBones Restyling. According to Bishop, the car dyno’d at 420 horsepower.

The interior is where the car really dips into the late-model parts catalog. It features seats from a 2001 Saturn and a 2001 Chrysler, rocker-mounted turn signals from a late-model Volvo and a Kenwood head unit with AudioBahn speakers that totals 4,400 watts. However, a leather and vinyl interior, along with a custom aluminum console and nostalgic Mooneyes instruments help the car to maintain a classic look. One of Bishop’s main concerns with the build was to not fill the car up with modifications that would detract from the factory lines on the car. He did, however, want to make it stand out in a crowd of cookie-cutter classics.

Other unique features of the car include a pancake and section hood and the installation of aftermarket Mercedes headlights and custom vacuum-formed taillight lenses, just to name a few.

Bishop’s shop was called BareBones Restyling until he recently joined up with longtime friend Derek White to become Street Vizions. The two, along with Bill Winn and Doug Barry, completed the car in two years to be featured at a booth for the 2007 SEMA Show. Two days before the car was scheduled to be picked up for transport to the show, the exhibitor pulled out, leaving Bishop and his car without a place to be displayed. Bishop and friend Dave Tucci of Tucci’s Hot Rods went to work, finding a spot at the Buckaroo Communications booth to show the car. It ended up being a fan favorite, making the exhausting build worth the work. The car continues to shine at car shows, and Bishop is proud to have made his dream of a past/present car a reality.

Stat Sheet

Car: 1953 Chevy 150 Sedan

Owner: Parke and Marge Bishop

Location: Elverson, Pennsylvania

Builder: Parke Bishop, Jr. formerly of BareBones Restyling, and Derek White (who joined with Bishop to form Street Vizions, which is now located in Elverson, Pennsylvania). Other members of the build team are Doug Barry and Bill Winn.

Shop Phone: (610) 469-9763

Interior: Leather and vinyl were used to create the beige and black interior, which was done by R.P. Interiors in Horseheads, New York. The car features a custom aluminum console by BareBones Restyling, instruments by Mooneyes and late-model seats from a 2001 Saturn and a 2001 Chrysler.

Powertrain: The 1969 Chevy 250 cid engine features Keith Black pistons and stock rods, crankshaft and heads. Other engine modifications include a custom intake manifold with six Hilborn injector stacks and an exhaust manifold, both of which were done by BareBones Restyling with the help of Doug Barry.

Body & Frame: The car features a stock Chevy chassis, Heidt’s Mustang II front end, custom crossmembers made by BareBones Restyling and a Currie 9” Ford rearend.

Tires: Toyo Tires’ Proxes T1R (Front) 225/45ZR17, (Rear) 225/45ZR18

Wheels: Colorado Custom wheels in “Salt Flat” design. (Front) 17 x 7, (Rear) 18 x 8

Paint: Painted by Street Vizions (formerly of China Grove, North Carolina) using DuPont Hot Hues’ “Sinful Cinnamon” and “Ginger Bronze.”

Other Features: Bishop’s ’53 Chevy Sedan also features 300 Series Mercedes Euro-style lighting and custom vacuum-formed taillight lenses. Both bumpers and the grille have a brushed-nickel finish done by Advanced Plating. The car also has a 4,400 watt stereo.

Tags: Award Winners, Car of the Month, Cool Cars, Custom Engines, Customizers, East Coast shops, Goodguys, Safety upgrades