’61 Chevy Parkwood

When you think of a ’60s station wagon, you probably think of your dad sitting behind the ship-size steering wheel with your mom next to him as he maneuvered the massive barge down the road while you and your siblings sat in the back seat playing grab-ass on your way to another family-favorite summer vacation spot. Who would have thought that those ol’ station wagons would be more popular today than they were back then? Throughout the years, station wagons have become a cool ride for a lot of folks deep into custom car culture.

Robin Greenhagen from Smithville, Missouri, was brought up around cool cars because his father Robin Sr. was an auto mechanic. Throughout the years Robin has built many custom cars and trucks. At one point he bought an existing body shop that came with Mike Mclin (manager, body) and sons Michael (paint, fabrication, interior) and Chris (mechanical, wiring, bodywork). They decided to eliminate the body collision aspect of the business and devote all of their talents to 1955-72 muscle cars and resto-mods. After painter Michael lost interest in his personal station wagon project, Robin decided to buy it from him. They exchanged cash for the pink slip and Robin and the crew continued to finish this unique custom ’61 Chevy Parkwood (nine-passenger) station wagon.

Robin has put more than 10,000 miles on the ol’ wagon in the last two years, including trips to North Dakota; Springfield, Missouri; and numerous cruises and shows.”

An Air Ride Technologies pneumatic suspension is responsible for a comfortable ride and tucking the Boss 383 wheels in Nitto 555 rubber deep into the wheel wells. Power comes from a built 2004 Corvette LS1 engine backed up to a 4L80E automatic transmission. The black and blue low slung long roof cruiser with its lowered stance exaggerates its clean latitude body lines that are accented by brushed stainless and aluminum molding trim, door handles, grille, headlight and taillight bezels, and front and rear bumpers. The factory-style two-tone blue and turquoise interior features three-row seating with the way-back seat reversed for unique “where we’ve been” viewing. The audio iPod system delivers great sounds.

Robin has put more than 10,000 miles on the ol’ wagon in the last two years, including trips to North Dakota; Springfield, Missouri; and numerous cruises and shows. Unfortunately, Robin’s dad has passed away since the build, but you know he’s riding shotgun in spirit during every road trip.

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SPECS

OWNER: Robin Greenhagen Smithville, Missouri

BUILDER: Robin Greenhagen Jr., Robin Greenhagen Sr., Mike Mclin Sr., Michael Mclin Jr. and Chris Mclin

YEAR: 1961
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Parkwood (nine-passenger) station wagon

FRAME: Stock
Front suspension: Air Ride Technologies
Control arms: Ride Tech
Spindles: Ride Tech 2-inch dropped
Shocks: Ride Tech
Airbags: Ride Tech bellows-style ’bags

REAR SUSPENSION:

Housing: GM
Gear ratio: 4:10 with Posi-Unit
Suspension: 4-link
Shocks: Ride Tech
Airbags: Ride Tech

BRAKES:

Front: CPP 13-inch rotors with four-piston calipers
Rear: CPP 12-inch rotors with four-piston calipers

WHEELS:

Front: Boss 338 18 x 7 (black spokes)
Rear: Boss 338 20 x 9  (black spokes)

TIRES:

Front: Nitto 555, 225/40ZR-18
Rear: Nitto 555, 245/40ZR-20

ENGINE:

Year: 2004
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Corvette LS1 5.7L 345 ci
Horsepower: 400 hp
Block: Aluminum
Cylinder heads: Aluminum
Fuel delivery: Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)
Headers: Street Performance
Exhaust: 2 ½-inch seamless stainless
Mufflers: Magnaflow
Pulleys: Concept One

TRANSMISSION: GM 2004 4L80E four-speed automatic

BODY MODS: By The RestoMod Store, Independence, MO
Exhaust: Exits through portholes in the rear rocker panels
Front: Rear bumpers and molding trim pieces painted like brushed aluminum
Paint: DuPont Jet Black with DuPont custom blue roof

INTERIOR: By The RestoMod Store, Independence, MO
Seats: Custom two-tone, light blue/turquoise
Door panels: Light blue with turquoise inserts
Headliner: Turquoise
Carpet: Tuxedo turquoise/black

AUDIO SYSTEM: JL iPod accessible
Amp: JL Audio Amp with iPod interface
Speakers: JL 6-inch in front kick-panels, JL 8-inch in rear side panels

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