BOULEVARD ACES CAR CLUB FRED GARCIAS 1955 CHEVY BELAIR CONVERTIBLE FROM DALLAS, TEXAS.

Fred and Rosa went all out to bring their '55 Bel Air back to factory specs.

We take a trip down memory lane to when gas was less than 50 cents a gallon and the classic cars that we now love were priced at just a few thousand dollars new off of the showroom floor. We're talking about one of the nicest collector cars of the era, the '55 Chevy Bel Air. Well, the lucky owners of this beautiful '55 Bel Air convertible are Fred and Rosa Garcia of Dallas, Texas. This lowriding couple represent Boulevard Aces C.C. and work hard at their shop, Total Metal Products, manufacturing metal parts.

It's at the shop that the story begins. Once Fred found the '55, he decided to take it apart and reconstruct it to factory specifications. Fred and Rosa spent the next two years on a journey to make their ragtop perfect. The car was taken apart and Fred reconstructed the engine and tranny. The body was also prepared by Fred with a little help from one of his workers who welded over some of the damage that the car had sustained.

When the ride was ready, it was painted with the original Gypsy Red color by Fred himself. The '55 was then taken to Isaac Hernandez at Custom Upholstery in Dallas, who reupholstered it with two-tone vinyl and also added a vinyl convertible top. Fred took the old rusted and abused chrome pieces and brought them back to life with a little TLC ("total lowrider care"). Now the car's ornaments are shinier than a mirror in the sun. Fred was even able to find a couple of hard-to-find parts for his '55, including a Continental kit, and was also fortunate enough to find a motorized convertible top.

Fred would like to thank his wife and all of the people who supported and helped out with "The Wanderer," especially Jose Valdez, Andrew Butler, Tony Velasquez and the Show Team crew all-stars for setting up the car at shows. Fred's goals are simple; one of them is to build cherry cars and one day win Sweepstakes at the Lowrider Magazine Las Vegas Super Show. So keep an eye out for the cars that Fred still has to build when the time comes.

Location: Gulf gas station, Hillsboro, TexasGeorge Herring restored this old gas station in Hillsboro, Texas, and uses it as his real state office. Though you can't get gas here (not at the prices shown on the signs) or have your car serviced, George does like to help tourists find their way around Texas. So the next time that you take a roadtrip south of Dallas on the 35 towards Waco, be sure to stop in at this unique restored gas station and check out the collection of vintage goods that George has for sale.