1962 Chevrolet Bel Air

Description

Few cars command as much attention as a '62 Bel Air bubbletop. The proportions are spot on, the roof looks like it was pilfered from George Jetson, and when they're dropped they sit as well as anything ever built. Frame off restored, a professionally built 409 under the hood, a four speed in the tunnel, and an awesome stance set this car apart even further.

You'll never go wrong with a well-done black car, and this one is fantastic. The reflection is a mile deep and the looooong sides are very straight. The cowl hood is in-your-face tall, but this big Chevy carries it like few can. Stainless trim remains around the greenhouse, but the long side spears and trunk garnish moldings were shaved to make this car even more sinister. Bumpers are stock, though with their anodized aluminum inserts they looked custom when brand new. New emblems are in all of their proper places, and the grille and headlight bezels look NOS.

On first glance it's easy to see that everything inside is new. Your second glance impresses you with the execution: From carpet to headliner you won't find flaws. Sit down and realize that the vinyl seat upholstery was swapped out for soft leather...a nice touch. You'll hold on to a billet and leather steering wheel with your left hand, adjusted how you like it thanks to the billet tilt column. A classic pencil-thin chrome shifter takes to your right hand like an old friend. Oil pressure and water temperature gauges hang just left of the column, mounted in an old school chrome pod. The carpet is new, done up in red and black speckles. There's no radio, but that's best explained by looking under the hood.

The visual appeal of a dual quad 409 with Offy valve covers simply can't be overstated. It's no junkyard special, either: The 409 experts at Lamar Walden Automotive balanced, blueprinted and built it to run. An original 409 block was stuffed with a forged crank, forged pistons and weight matched rods. Twin Edelbrock carbs live on an original GM dual quad manifold, an MSD distributor lights the fires, and a big aluminum radiator cools the temps. A Muncie close ratio M21 box channels power through a blowproof scattershield. Underneath you'll find a full Air Ride suspension on the freshly restored chassis. Just about everything under here is black as well, though it's for ease of maintenance rather than show looks. New bushings are in their places, and disc brakes are now up front to reign in the newfound power and a new fuel tank and lines keep the supply clean. The trunk holds the solenoids, pump and tank for the suspension, though there's still room for all your gear. A dual exhaust system uses Flowmaster mufflers and massive 3" pipes, exiting just in front of the rear wheels. See what we mean by not needing a radio-this car comes with its own soundtrack! Coy's Wheels, 18's up front and 20's out back, hold new Nitto radials, 235/40 and 255/30, respectively.

We see a lot of great cars, and this one's a favorite of a bunch of guys around here. The looks, the engine and the sound make this Bel Air car show royalty-call before it's gone!