In a previous article, we introduced you to one of our Staff Picks from the Edelbrock Group Spring Cruise-In, a 1968 Nova with some Pump Gas Drags provenance owned by Justin Hawkins of Selmer, Tennessee. Today, we present our second Staff Pick — this sweet little cruiser, a 1954 Chevrolet Handyman Woodie Wagon owned by Mike and Redonna Allen of Crawfordsville, Arkansas. It’s a perfect example of “sometimes less is more” — tasteful, subtle elegance, if you will.
Mike’s Chevy Handyman isn’t gaudy, it isn’t ostentatious, and it probably won’t win too many drag races. However, it will do two things — it will stop you in your tracks, and it will make you smile. A ‘54 Handyman is one of those vehicles you just don’t see very often. The majority left are living out their golden years as patinaed rat rods due to scarcity of parts. But this one is far from a rust bucket.
The Backstory
Mike has been into cars his whole life. Like many of us, his dad passed down that magically mutated gene that makes us like metal that rolls on wheels. He’s had several rides through the years — some bought and some built. However, the last vehicle crafted by his hands, a 1950 Chevy pickup, led him to this Handyman.
Mike put much time and effort into the truck, dropping in an LS for all the reasons people do, like quick startup and driving it anywhere, anytime. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way for him. Instead of enjoying the truck and being able to drive it whenever he wanted, he found himself stuck in the garage working on it.
“I had a lot of problems with the computer,” Mike says. “It was frustrating; I had put a lot of money and sweat into the restoration, and it just became a money pit.”
Mike works as a sheriff in Crittendon County, where he lives, so he’s pretty busy. He was done fooling with the pickup. He just wanted something reliable that he could easily hop in and go, which got him thinking about the Handyman.
Finding the Handyman
On one occasion, when his truck was running reliably, he took it to a show and saw this exact Handyman. The owner was from Missouri. He purchased the car from the shop that restored it in Long Island, New York. Now, a couple of years removed, Mike somehow managed to track the guy down, only to find out he traded it to a guy in Dexter, Missouri. Lucky for Mike, he still had his contact information.
Mike called up the new owner, and they verbally agreed on a trade for the truck plus some cash. So, Mike loaded the truck on his trailer and started the journey north to Missouri. As he crossed the border, his phone rang. It was the owner of the Handyman telling him that he would need $5,000 more than they agreed.
Whether he thought he was giving Mike too good of a deal or got cold feet on selling and thought the extra $5k would scare him off, it did not. Actually, it shook him a little, but a call back home to Redonna kept him pointed northward. She witnessed his frustrations with the truck and simply said, “Whatever it costs, don’t bring that truck back home!”
Enjoying the Handyman
With Redonna’s support, Mike completed the trip to Dexter, bought the car, and returned to Crawfordsville with a new-to-him Handyman wagon. Mike says, “I’ve learned it’s better to buy one that someone else built. You’ll never get your money back from one you build yourself.” Some people might not wholeheartedly agree with that theory, but one thing is for sure — you will never get the time back!
Mike hasn’t regretted his decision for one minute. He and Redonna are busy putting the miles on the Handyman and enjoying showing off at car shows and cruise-ins around the Mid-South. In fact, the Allens won Best In Show at the first large local show they took it to, the American Hot Rodders Show in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
A Little About The Car
Apart from being a rarely seen car model, this little Handyman has everything going for it. But why, you ask? Well, here are a few highlights.
Paint
Well, the first thing that catches your eye is the unusual color. It looks like a kid got a little overzealous with the chocolate in his milk before his mom stopped him, and it’s awesome. It’s hard to make a brown car look cool, yet it fits perfectly on this ‘54.
Stance
The second thing is the wheels and stance. The unmodified body sits low with a slight rake toward the nose. However, it still manages to tuck 20-inch-rear and 18-inch-front Billet Specialties Legacy wheels adorned with knockoffs. The billet shines just as bright as the chrome trim.
Trim
Speaking of trim, as you get closer to this “Woodie,” you’ll notice that the wood isn’t wood at all. Yes, it is painted faux wood. It is expertly executed—right down to the “cracked glue” between the “wood slats,” which gives it a slightly aged look. The vintage visor completes the period look of the Handyman, giving it just enough of a “work” look.
Powertrain
Another thing that cranks up the cool factor is the engine. LS right? Wrong! Mike wouldn’t have bought it if it had an LS after his troubles with the pickup. Instead, he was delighted to return to old school — real old school — the Handyman sports a 292ci straight-six backed by a 700R4 transmission! An Edelbrock Performer Series four-barrel carb, an aluminum radiator, power steering, and Vintage Air are the only noticeable upgrades in the engine bay.
Interior
The brown and tan theme from the outside tastefully continues in the interior, and the leather seats are just as comfortable as they look. The dash shows off the characteristic chrome of the ‘50s, complete with a retro column-mounted tachometer and a Sun “EconoMeter” where the clock resided from the factory. Modern amenities include the Vintage Air controller, a Kenwood head unit, and cruise control, which helps the Handyman be a comfortable long-hauler. The Impala steering wheel mounted on a polished aluminum column ties everything together from the driver’s seat, while the vintage suitcases in the rear complete the ‘50s vibe.
Conclusion
Mike and Redonna have been racking up the miles and soaking up the accolades since they bought the Handyman and haven’t had a single regret about trading the truck. Mike has no plans to change anything on the wagon except the miles on the odometer. He loved this car from the minute he saw it.
From us at EGN, thank you, Mike and Redonna, for bringing your gorgeous ‘54 Chevy Handyman to the Edelbrock Spring Cruise-In! We all dig it!
