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PHOTOGRAPHY BY John Jacksonor 20-plus years Texan Bob Garwood spent much of his behind-the-wheel time piloting a Super Late Model race car. However, by 2006, for “therapy and cost savings,” he opted to devote that seat time behind the wheel to hot rods, and has done so ever since.
Bob began his “off-track” adventure with a ’65 Buick Riviera he’d commissioned Mike Goldman Customs (Mike, Sherry, and Talbert Goldman) in Meridian, Mississippi, to build for him. It was because of the high level of craftsmanship and performance achieved that when it came time to embark on his ’55 Cameo project he’d acquired in 2012, well, the decision was already made as far as who would be responsible.
Once the performance-minded chassis was complete, Goldman Customs set its sights on the exterior modifications, most of which are not immediately evident to the casual observer. Starting from the front, the stock ’55 brightwork (grille, headlight bezels, and smoothed/filled bumper chromed by Jon Wright’s Custom Chrome Plating) was given a brushed finish; the slab sides of the Cameo were devoid of any trim; T-bird door handles were installed; the tailgate reworked and smoothed; and the rear bumper tucked, brushed, and accent painted in the center. In-house painter Don Bracken sprayed the Cameo using Axalta’s Cromax Porsche Blue, then added a satin panel on the smoothed hood and cowl for further accent.
