Terry and Lisa Schultz of Bryan, Ohio had always had an affinity for old cars. They got into the hobby with their purchase of a 1972 Vette and thoroughly enjoyed restoring and driving that car. However, when a good friend, Larry Byroads, who owned a candy apple red ’56 2-door post Chevy , passed away after losing his battle with cancer, Terry and Lisa decided they would find a ’56 to restore as a remembrance of him.

            

Now the search was on to find just the right ’56 for this memorial project. It took two years of traveling to car shows, scouring magazine and newspaper ads, but Terry and Lisa finally found a ’56 in Toronto, Canada via the Internet. The owner had purchased the car with a plan to restore it. But, as often happens with project cars, a few years went by and he lost interest in the project and decided to sell the car. Based solely on the seller’s description and the photos he sent via email, Terry and Lisa bought the car and made the trek to Toronto from Ohio to pick it up.
 
After trailering the car back home and taking more time to inspect it, Terry found that there was more damage than was immediately apparent at the time of inspection while they were in Canada. He discovered hidden rust damage and plenty of body filler under the rapidly deteriorating paint. The car didn’t run when they bought it, but they knew that at the time. However, none of these faults were a problem because this was to be a labor of love in honor of their friend’s memory.
 
During the next four years, Terry spent most of his spare time restoring the car. Taking the body off the frame and repairing it took all of the first winter. He stripped the entire car body and frame and had the body repainted by a friend, Doug Baker. Terry repainted the frame himself. Next came the installation of a new drivetrain with help from a friend, Jim Stewart; a 350ci 300hp engine with Edelbrock 650 carburetor and custom made air cleaner setup was hooked up to a TH700R4 transmission sending power to a 3.73 rear end. The bumpers were rechromed and Terry polished all of the stainless steel trim while the body work was being done. A new interior was installed by Terry’s high school chum, Tim Weber of Maumee Trim in Defiance, OH. Terry handled the dash work himself. Terry said of the completed car, “I know Larry would love this car.”
 
Terry and Lisa’s first cruise in the completed car was quite emotional. Lisa said of the experience, “Every time I get in the car I think of Larry. I can’t think of a better way to remember a dear friend.”