Why this Biscayne takes the Biscuit

Take my word. You’ve a better chance at getting hold of one of Picasso's chef d’œuvres  than this car. It’s that rare. Made in the US by General Motors, it’s probably the only RIGHT HAND DRIVE 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne this side of the world . Old it is, writes ERIC MWENI, but start the engine and it’s like a rottweiler on a fraying leash!

Down Memory Lane

The car is owned by Dr. Muiruri Gichuiya. He acquired it in 1998. Driving in Industrial Area, he noticed a relic covered in rust and dust. “The classic car instantly caught my eye,” he recalls. He toyed with the fantasy of owning it, but didn’t give it much thought at the time. “But after spotting it car on several occasions when I used this road, I got real interest in owning it. I started visualising how I would restore it. I love cars.” But when he finally decided to buy it, another enthusiast had beaten him to writing the cheque. No problem. His love for the Biscayne had been steeled, and he embarked on a pursuit of tracking the owner. “We finally met, became good friends and I eventually acquired it.”

The Sweat and Tears
Of course, 40 years on the road had a toll on this car that seems to have been inspired by a belly dancer. She had a lot of road tales to tell   overworked nights, abusive men, sleepless days… and warts to prove it. Dr. Macharia had a prescription. “The paintwork, upholstery, rims and engine needed an overhaul. No. It wasn’t expensive per se but very time consuming. It took me about one year of hard work to put it back on the road.

The Inside Story

A horizontal view of this car several metres away and you cannot tell the front from the back. Ok, between the rear and front windscreens in a normal saloon, which one is curvier? The rear one, of course. Well, with the Biscayne, it’s the other way round. And then, it’s big. Very big. It is five metres long, one-and-a half metres wide and two tonnes heavy. Viewed from the back, its long tail wings spread out like an amphibian kind, their slanting edges like mascara over the oval taillights. The boot is so big you can swing a dinosaur. Its 3860CC engine has simple straight six carburettor lay-out. This churns out 240kW (320hp) of power. Consider that the new Range Rover TD V8 manages only 200kW @4,000 rpm. “You don’t have to keep up and downshifting the three-speed gearbox,” says Dr. Muiruri. “You can take off on second gear and just interchange with the third. The car is pretty fast too though I don’t push it to the limits due to the obvious risks.”  This is a land yatch if the looks and interior comfort are any yardsticks. Its no-frills interior boasts of two comfortable bench seats, while the dashboard is adorned with its original     oil, temperature, speedometer (maximum speed 120kph), gasoline and clock dials. Most of the interior and exterior parts of this car are original, the only modifications being the upholstery and front mould.

Classic Exploits

As I learnt, driving this car requires more than just regular skill. It requires experienced hands. But it was fun to give it a go and the smell of classic interior, the manual steering wheel and the sheer immensity of the car made it memorable. “This car attracts a lot of attention, just driving it around,” says Dr. He once went with it to a village in Gatundu, Central Province, and it was as if a UMO (Unidentified Moving Object) hand landed. Well, no insurance company can issue a Comprehensive cover for this car and he has to make do with Third Party.  This limits his movements with the car. But for those looking for a memorable bridal car, this Chevy is available.

The Love Contract

“Yes, I can sell it to the right buyer for the right price,” says Dr. “I feel that this vehicle is due for a generational change in ownership.” He reckons that a younger car enthusiast (he is 41) will have the physical and financial muscle to give this car that final touch that’ll put it at par with its Concours d’Elegance-winning contemporaries.