An East African Classic -
Continued
1957 Chevrolet 1/2 Ton
Right Hand Drive Export
by Dennis
Schumacher
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 All the mechanical work was done myself,
farming out only the machine shop work on the engine. Engine, gearbox,
steering box, differential, and all other components were rebuilt. All brake
parts are nickel and cad plated. Some engine parts are cad plated or
chromed. Otherwise everything is original except the fuel tank, which I
relocated under the bed, in the original spare tire location. Some efforts
were unique in that the steering box is opposite to a left-hand model. This
created a problem in finding a right hand steering rod! Had the same problem
with the new wiring harness, which had to be modified to reach the right
side of the dashboard.
 The
truck was finished in July of 1995 and was put into the local car show,
which takes place once a year at the Nairobi Race Course. This is the
biggest car show in East Africa and the truck won 4th place. Since then
there have been a lot of refinements and I continue to work on it every
spare minute.
My pickup is a daily driver and I use it every week. My wife
uses it in her Interior Design Company and it is common to see her driving around Nairobi
with furniture piled high in the back! The kids love it too. It has a special place in the
family and is probably a throw back to my own childhood in West Africa when my father
owned a bright red 54 Chevy pickup! CTS
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