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 coupe 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 done well, and with that gorgeous bright red paint, the effect is both contemporary and timeless. Single-color Bel Airs are rather rare these days, but nobody will argue that it doesn't give the car a more serious look, even with the bright color 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 a few 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 tan leather interior, a beautiful 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 V-shaped top panels. Beautiful door panels were tailored to match, and you can see how ideal the red and tan color combination is with the window frames painted to match the body. The original dash is intact, with correct instruments and a shiny trim strip that spans the entire width. A/C has been added using discreet vents and an under-dash control unit, and that neat-looking shifter is a Lokar unit controlling a 700R4 4-speed automatic underneath. There's an AM/FM/cassette head unit in the dash, along with a set of auxiliary gauges underneath. Tan carpets tie it together nicely, while the trunk has been finished like a stocker, complete with rubber mat and jacking decal.

The engine is a 350 cubic inch ZZ4 crate motor fed by a 4-barrel carburetor that's famous for making prodigious torque. All the equipment was new when the car was built, so it starts instantly and idles well, but delivers a 355-horsepower punch. Block-hugging headers feed a custom dual exhaust system with glasspacks, and things like power steering and front disc brakes were added during the build. The chassis is quite tidy and clean, with nothing hidden by undercoating, and a 1000-mile-old 700R4 4-speed automatic makes highway cruising easy and surprisingly economical, especially with the 2.73 gears in the freshly-rebuilt Ford 9-inch rear. Classic 15-inch American Racing Torque Thrust wheels were given a high polish and then fitted with 215/65/15 front and 245/60/15 rear BFGoodrich radials.

With a professional built and lots of recent work on the mechanicals, this '55 Bel Air is a rod you can buy and drive with confidence. Call today!