From welding splatter to glitter paint – two brothers, two classics, one passion

There are those brothers who put each other to the test. And there are the Bouwhuis Brothers – Gert and Bert – who are more likely to ignite each other with a spark of gasoline and rust. One tapped a 1968 Chevrolet Impala upside down in Canada, the other felt it necessary to 1953 GMC Pickup To bring it to the Netherlands. And then the fun begins: welding, cursing, laughing, searching, and more searching. Because, as Gert dryly observes: "When restoring, searching online takes just as much time as tinkering."

Photography: Max de Krijger

The Impala: white, rust and seven layers of gloss

It all started with Gert, who wasn't just visiting family in Canada but also caught the old American bug. The white Impala he found there seemed pristine, until he discovered the rust at home. "There was so much filler in it that I thought, 'What have I bought?'" he says with a grin. New fenders cost five thousand dollars? So, I'll just weld them myself.

Night after night, he worked with a welder and flashlight, spot by spot, until the holes were gone. Then the car went to the painter: seven coats of metallic paint, not a RAL color, but are Color. And let's be honest: the result is stunning. Wide, low, glossy… an Americana that screams for the boulevard and sunset.

But Gert didn't keep it "as it should be." The trim strips disappeared, the rear axle was widened, and the rims grew to 22 inches in the rear and 18 inches in the front. The 300 hp under the hood makes up for everything. And yes, it's a bit more fuel-efficient now, from 4 liters to 5 liters. Small gain, big pleasure.

The GMC: tough steel with holes

Bert saw that and thought: I want that tooHe obtained a loan through an intermediary. 1953 GMC Pickup to the Netherlands. When it arrived, they were shocked. "We knew right away: this is going to be a thing." The engine ran fine, but the rest was… difficult to ventilate. Holes everywhere. Luckily, it was made of thick steel, so with a little welding it could be salvaged. And that had to be fast: the pickup had to be ready for inspection within six months… they had a wedding planned.

Every evening, every Saturday, tinkering. Brakes, wiring, welding, new wheel caps. His sons (both in construction) replaced the wooden cargo bed with beautiful old wood, much better than the pine they had back then. The running boards were given a shine, the mirrors a new lease on life. And behind the windshield? A gun rack with replica rifles. "It was already there," Bert says, laughing. "From the previous owner, probably a deer hunter."

Two brothers, two stories, one spark

What Gert and Bert share is that old-fashioned feeling of do it yourselfNot a restoration company, not a trailer queen, but bringing an old piece of America back to life with their own hands. Their earthmoving business helps with that, and they have plenty of experience with wrenching. And when you hear them together, you can sense the rivalry with a wink. Bert: "The GMC passed the first inspection." To which Gert dryly replies: "Yeah, but mine has seven coats of paint."

They sometimes ride together, more often with their partners beside them. And selling? No way. "You build a bond," says Gert. And then, almost casually: "A pickup truck like that looks really nice too. Maybe in about five years..." You can already hear the welding splatter crackling.

De 1953 GMC Pickup and the 1968 Chevrolet Impala The Bouwhuis Brothers are more than just cars, they're stories on wheels. Stories of patience, humor, and a little stubbornness.