Staff writer

David Cornish spent three years and “a ton of money” restoring a rusty and weathered 1949 Chevrolet Coupe into a beautiful white road car he showed off Sunday at Peabody’s Sunday Cruise.

“She literally came out of a pasture outside Augusta,” Cornish said.

The Whitewater resident installed a new engine, new seats, new transmission, new everything into the car. Some of the parts are from 1940s-era Chevrolets, and some parts are simply new.

He bought parts all over the place, from car club members, sellers in the Kansas City area, and online sellers, and replaced everything about the car except the shell. A shiny white coat of paint was the perfect finishing touch to make the car an eye-catcher.

“That was pretty massive work,” Cornish said proudly.

The car originally had no back seat because it was a salesman’s car instead of a family car, Cornish said.

Now its inviting-looking leather front and back seats make you want to settle in, sit back, and enjoy Cornish’s ride.

He heard about the Peabody car show through an online announcement and drove the coupe for its first appearance at Peabody Sunday morning.

“This is actually the first time I’ve brought a car over here, but this is a real neat show,” Cornish said.