AS FAR as lengthy builds go, Bill Sharkey’s ’55 Chev is right up there. He patiently toiled away on the car for 21 long years in his Dubbo panel shop until it was finally ready to be unveiled at Street Machine Summernats 30 as part of the Top 60 Elite Hall. When the covers were whipped off this stunning classically-styled orange and cream Chevy it was an instant hit with not only the Summernats crowd but the judges too. Bill took out the Top Custom Classic gong, plus the car was also a Meguiar’s Top Pick and a Top 20 Elite car.

Incredibly, Bill’s Chevy almost wasn’t finished in time to be unveiled at the Nats. Street Machine Editor Telfo stopped at Bill’s shop in Dubbo on the way to Canberra for Summernats on Wednesday and found the interior was out of the car and half the front end missing. Bill and his team worked tirelessly through Wednesday night and Thursday morning to have the car ready and just made it in time.

Bill was over the moon to have the car at Summernats and finally drive the first few meters in his ’55 Chevy. Despite having owned the car for over 20 years, it had never been driven! Now he can’t wait to get it on the road and clock up some miles.