Member’s Feature - 1958 Chevrolet Yeoman
Bob & Sherry Reid, Member #3
Truro, Nova Scotia
by Gary Porter		 Life is short,
Cruise before you lose
Those who regularly read Hot Rod and Car Craft or other car magazines, are familiar with the term “dare to be different”. This is when a less than mainstream vehicle is used to create a pro streeter, resto-rod, resto-mod, pro-touring, etc. One of the difficulties taking the road less traveled can be finding parts unique to that vehicle, be they used, NOS or reproduction. However when finished, such vehicle truly stands out from the more common ‘69 Camaros or ‘55 Chevs that you are bound to see in numbers at any car gathering.
Bob and Sherry Reid dared to be different with this 1958 Chevrolet Yeoman two door station wagon. Originally a California car, this ‘58 found it’s way to Ontario where the owner at the time started rebuilding it. As often happens, the owner decided to sell it before it was finished. Bob then purchased it in 2003 as a “work in progress” and had it shipped to Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, some of the work that was already done wasn’t to Bob’s satisfaction. Making sure everything was just right stretched the build time to one and a half years. However during this time, the body underwent a rotisserie rebuild and was treated to new quarters, before being coated in ‘69 Camaro hugger orange acrylic enamel.

The subtle Yeoman body maintains all of the stock trim. The subtle theme is continued with matching orange 15 inch rally wheels sporting trim rings in front and the uncommon taxi caps all around. G.M. disc brakes are found on the front while 11" x 2" drums are found on the rear. Bob credits Auto City Classics in Minnesota for most of the parts needed to complete the ‘58
The original 283 and powerglide have been replaced with a 450 horse, 502 cubic inch big block Chevrolet crate motor bolted to a built 400 turbo. Instead of the usual chrome valve covers, air cleaner and other under hood items, Bob chose orange and black paint and bare aluminum pars to create a very sanitary engine compartment. Making sure that all the 450 horse power can reliably make it to the pavement is a nine inch Ford rear end carrying a set of highway friendly 3.00 gears.
Under car upgrades include front and rear anti-sway bars, a 605 steering box and a coil cut of each spring to give the car that just right stance. Mike Chapman of Chapman’s upholstery in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia. stitched up the contrasting grey interior in tweed and vinyl.

The car was first shown at the Lobster Shanty in P.E.I. as just the Be Cool radiator which was custom built for Bob and Sherry’s ‘58 in Ontario. Since then it has picked up numerous awards including a first at Super Chevy at Epping New Hampshire, a top 25 in Moncton, New Brunswick and a Top 50 in Adirondack, New York, all in 2006.
Just in case the is any question about Bob’s brand loyalty, he is one of the remaining three of the original 17 members of the Classic Chevy Club of Nova Scotia, his garage also is home to a ‘64 409 Bel Air and ‘66 big block Chevrolet and he sports a tattoo of a 327 emblem on his arm. That’s commitment!