Robert Klever enjoys showing off his 1958 Chevy.
Guthrie Center man has spent many days enjoying the car on the open road rather than keeping it in his garage.
By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times
Robert Klever of Guthrie Center has a car he has enjoyed for more than 20 years, and he has a good story to go along with it. He told of discovering the car for sale and said he was immediately interested.
“I bought it in 2003, after seeing it advertised in the Des Moines paper. It was in north central Missouri, so I went down and got it,” Klever said. “I bought it from a sheriff down there. It was pretty plain, but I’ve added a few extras to it. I had power steering put on it, and that made it a much better driving car.”
Because the car drives so well, Klever has spent many days enjoying it on the open road rather than keeping it in a garage.
The 1958 Chevy is a popular attraction at car shows.
When asked what attracted him to the 1958, Klever said it was similar to a car he had owned many years ago.
“When I first got out of the service, I bought a 1958 Bel Air two-door hard-top, and I drove that for 100,000 miles,” Klever said. “It was a good car; I wish I had it today.”
Since buying his car in 2003, Klever has participated in many car shows and cruises with it. He has taken it as far as Illinois for car events, and he enjoys chatting with other car enthusiasts, which has led to many friendships along the way. Although Klever has definitely enjoyed his car for the past 20 years, he is ready to pass it along to someone else.
“It’s time for me to sell it,” Klever said.
Klever told of an unexpected passenger who was with him the first time he drove the car. Although Klever had brought a trailer to transport his 1958 back home in 2003, he decided to drive it home and was fortunate that his guardian angel was apparently riding in the passenger seat.
“It’s a wonder I’m here today, because when I first bought it down there in Missouri and was driving it home, I was daydreaming, and I went right across a main highway. If there had been a truck coming, I wouldn’t be here now.”