1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

Description

Cool resto-mods don't turn out this cool without a lot of planning and a lot of effort. Featuring brilliant red paint, a stout crate motor, and a sumptuous interior, this 1955 Chevy Bel Air is the perfect cruiser to take on a cross-country jaunt this summer, and will knock 'em dead at the local cruise night.

Building a cool Shoebox is easy, but making it look unique without radical alterations is a trick in itself, one that the guys who built this 2-door seem to have mastered. Factory sheetmetal and correct detailing give this '55 an honest look that will earn both respect and admiration on the street, because everyone digs the '50s. Bodywork is extremely well done, and with that gorgeous bright red paint, the effect is both contemporary and timeless. Two-tone Bel Airs are timeless, and nobody will argue that it doesn't give the car a more appropriate look, especially with the bright colors and all that chrome. During the rebuild, all the original trim was straightened, polished, and buffed to a spectacular shine, and all the chrome was restored. Although the build is about ten years old and shows a few very minor signs of use, there really is no downside to any Shoebox Chevy when it's put together this well. And while it's not exactly a sleeper, this sweet little Chevy has all the right moves.

Perfectly complimenting the bright exterior is a wonderful gray vinyl interior, a subdued combination that would look right at home in a much more expensive vehicle. The original bench has been stitched in period patterns, with wide pleats and matching top panels that mirror each other. Stylish door panels were tailored to match, and they worked hard to make it look OEM, with gray paint on the dash, window moldings, and steering column. The original dash is intact, with modern instruments (including a column-mounted tach) and a shiny trim strip that spans the entire width. A/C has been added using an under-dash unit, and yes, that's a 4-speed manual transmission with a Hurst shifter. Entertainment comes from an AM/FM stereo radio with a CD changer hidden out of sight. The carpets are a little aged and soiled, but that's one of the few demerits in a very nicely done driver's compartment. Even the carpet is neatly trimmed and includes a custom bulkhead that hides the working parts of the stereo system.

The engine is a 383 cubic inch stroker motor that's famous for making prodigious torque. It's fed by a Holley Dominator 4-barrel carburetor on an aluminum intake manifold and there's a bit of a cam inside, so it sounds suitably muscular. All the equipment was new when the car was built, so it starts instantly and idles well, but delivers a rather substantial big horsepower punch. Block-hugging long-tube headers feed a custom dual exhaust system with performance mufflers, and things like power steering and front disc brakes were added when the front end from a late-model Buick was swapped in. The chassis is quite tidy and clean, with nothing hidden by undercoating, and with 3.56 gears out back, it's punchy around town but cruises at highway speeds without a lot of drama. Chrome Rally wheels were given a high polish and then fitted with fat blackwall radials so your eye isn't distracted from the gorgeous paint.

With a quality build and all the creature comforts, this '55 Bel Air is a cruiser you can buy affordably and drive with confidence. Call today!