Vehicle Description
Packing a powerful 454 V8 and Richmond 6-speed gearbox, an upgraded
suspension, and a bespoke leather interior - all wrapped up in a
gorgeous Shoreline Beige over Gypsy Red finish that's got us all
hot-and-bothered in the showroom. Fast, reliable, and drop-dead
beautiful, it's everything the original designers would've wanted
the 1955 Chevy to be if they had the benefit of modern
technology.
A Shoreline Beige top, Gypsy Red bottom, and loads of shiny chrome
is a combination that would have looked right at home on the
streets of 1955, although no paint job looked this darn good way
back then. The bodywork is straight, the glossy, strong
driver-quality paint presents beautifully, and the car fits
together very well - the result of all that time and money spent
during Bel Air's comprehensive restoration. We all love that the
builders returned with the original two-tone colors rather than
opting for a modern shade incongruous with this vintage, and
because the build was just completed in 2020, everything still
looks fresh. Overall, the finish is sleek and presents well, the
sheet metal is straight, the gaps are good, and the curb appeal is
off-the-charts. All the chrome and trim are new or restored and
glisten under our lights, meaning someone spent enough cash
restoring it to put a kid through college. All that Bel Air profile
bling provides the perfect shiny contrast as an official line of
distinction between the two colors. All-new tinted glass was
installed for a clear view of the road ahead when you take this
beauty out for the next Hot Rod Power Tour. Do not worry about
inclement weather, either. Rain Gear wipers were installed to keep
the car updated, fresh, and functional.
Inside, the stunning Beige-and-Red leather bucket seat interior was
incredibly well done and offers supreme comfort and loads of modern
conveniences. Supple yet firm custom leather upholstery covers both
the power front bucket seats and rear bench alike, featuring ornate
stitchwork and classically styled patterns that look both vintage
and modern simultaneously. The flanking door panels were finished
to match and feature shiny chrome accents and hardware, showing off
an artist's touch that makes the cabin feel extremely elegant. At
the same time, the bright red carpets that cover the floors are the
proper cut-and-pile for the era and nicely insulate the cabin from
the outside world with the help of custom Bel Air floormats. Up
top, the headliner was finished immediately, complete with slats
that take a lot of skill to install correctly. Even the 'minor'
parts of the cabin, like the kick panels and rear package tray,
were installed with great detail, proving that nothing was
overlooked in this comprehensive build. The original dash was
finished back-to-stock, with a gorgeous, engine-turned aluminum
center strip that pops out against the red paint. Although the
factory gauge bezel is still in its stock position, it's now filled
with a full array of Dakota Digital instruments that keep a closer
eye on the upgraded drivetrain. A thin, wood-rimmed steering wheel
warms things up a bit inside - mounted atop a tilt column that
provides more room for the driver - and it's a perfect complement
to the 'Long' shifter that splits the seats and practically taunts
the driver to go bang through some gears with great aplomb. A
removable center console adds storage, seatbelts up front add a
modicum of safety and a modern Vintage Air R134a A/C system was
discreetly installed, keeping the cabin nice and cool. Everything
was finished to a high level and still feels incredibly fresh with
only a couple of years on the build, including the spacious trunk
out back painted to mirror the exterior and protected with matching
red carpets. Much money was spent on this well-optioned, upscale
leather interior, which shows as it's dialed in.
Huge power comes from a beautifully dressed 454 V8 big block crate
engine that was dropped into the highly detailed engine bay, and
because the work was professionally done, it looks like it always
belonged. According to the VIN, this Bel Air was born with a V8,
but back then, nobody could even conceive of the brute force of a
7.4L H.O. Today, it practically powers this Tri-5 into another
dimension. Topped with a Tri-Power carburetor setup composed of NOS
1968 2-barrels mounted atop a GM Winters aluminum intake, it's
rated at 425HP and a towering 500 lb-ft of torque. However, it
still runs on premium with 118cc combustion chambers and a modest
8.75:1 compression ratio. Internals include a steel roller
camshaft, forged pistons, a forged crank, and a roller timing chain
(to name a few). At the same time, the HEI distributor,
block-hugging headers, and a giant Griffin aluminum radiator are
all part of the show. Underneath, there's a quick-shifting Richmond
6-speed manual gearbox that handles all the added power, and it
spins a heavy-duty rear end filled with an Eaton posi unit with a
3.55 gear ratio. A Flowmaster dual exhaust system sounds fantastic.
The front end was upgraded and dropped 2 inches due to a custom
front clip by RB's Automotive based out of Edmonds, WA, utilizing
g-body pieces, and features a front sway bar, newer shocks all
around, and the improved maneuverability of power steering and
front disc brakes. To finish the custom look, it rides on a killer
set of polished 17-inch Torque Thrust wheels wrapped with 245/45/17
front and 255/50/17 rear Nitto radials.
It's rare to see Tri-5s this nice, and when one like this shows up
at a cruise night or car show, it's obvious where big money was
spent. Call today!