Classic recollections: 1957 Chevrolet 210, Phil Cajda, Des Plaines
Most Midwest classic car owners prefer to look in other regions of the country before plunking down their hard earned cash for a vehicle. Cruel winters and perpetual moisture make buying solid Detroit steel from the Heartland a real challenge.
But for Phil Cajda, there were no qualms about purchasing his 1957 Chevrolet 210, despite it residing in snowy Chicago ever since it rolled off the nearby Janesville, Wis., assembly line.
The Des Plaines resident first met its one and only owner in '72 around the halls of their employer, the Stewart-Warner Corp.
Cajda and his colleague, a widow whose husband was killed in World War II, formed a 30-year friendship as the military wife bravely soldiered on alone, choosing to remain independent at her residence mere blocks from Wrigley Field. No matter how difficult it became, she was always sure to take great care of her greatly cherished finned four-door.
She had purchased the demure 210 from River North dealership, Clark-Maple Chevrolet Co., on July 26, 1957. She traded in her '37 Buick and only opted for the Powerglide transmission and deluxe heater, bringing the grand total to $2,667.
“She was diligent in keeping every receipt, repair bill, the invoice, the owners manual and even the warranty card, all of which she passed on to me. The car was always tucked safely away in her garage, out of the elements,” Cajda says.
Knowing the extensive documentation and the meticulous condition of the rarely driven black beauty, he first made an offer in the early 1980s. Rebuffed, it wasn't until 1996 before the Mrs. was ready to part with the beloved car she drove off the dealer lot when Dwight D. Eisenhower was still president.
While the mechanics and bodywork were as sound as Ike's fiscal policy, even gently used classics can still wear and need attention. Several minor dents (small reminders of its bustling city street past) were quickly remedied and the faded four-decade old paint was stripped and a glossy coat of factory Oynx Black was sprayed on.
The interior was redone in its classy charcoal cloth and ivory vinyl fabric two-tone scheme. Underhood, the reliable Blue Flame inline 6 cylinder still resides; the 140 horses provide adequate power for Cajda to happily motor about.
“Even without power steering or brakes, nothing can beat the joy of driving an older car!” he says.
“I was trusted with her pride and joy — its as close to me as a dear relative's car. In 54 years its only called two garages home and that's not going to change anytime soon.”