Vehicle Description
Few cars command as much attention as this 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air
bubbletop conversion. 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. Beautifully restored, a
built 454 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 Bel Air, and this charcoal
gray hardtop is fantastic. The reflection is a mile deep and the
looooong sides are very straight. The paint is a few years old but
holds up under scrutiny with only a few marks from being driven',
because, after all, that's what this sucker was built to do. Even
though it's not the top-of-the-line Impala, there's a ton of bright
work here, including the stainless trim around the greenhouse, long
side spears, and trunk garnish moldings that really dress it up,
and all if it was recently restored to a very high standard. This
car just glitters. Bumpers are stock, though with their anodized
aluminum inserts they looked custom when brand new. Heck, they even
resisted the urge to stick a pair of antennas on the rear deck,
perhaps hoping to keep the Bel Air's somewhat sleeper vibe.
On first glance it's easy to see that everything inside the
gorgeous red interior is new. Your second glance impresses you with
the execution: From carpet to headliner you won't find much to
complain about. Sit down and realize that the upholstery is very
much the way it was back in 1962, with beautiful stitching a shiny
button inserts on the seat backs. The stock steering column and
wheel are really the only way to go here, and it includes
performance goodies like auxiliary gauges under the dash and that
all-important 4-speed shifter with cue ball knob. There's also a
period under-dash A/C unit that's complete, although it needs to be
serviced. Like the exterior trim, the center console's chrome was
recently re-plated and likely looks better than new today. The
carpet is new, done up with a proper heel pad and you'll note this
is a radio delete car, suggesting that someone was taking their
performance seriously. The massive trunk is correctly finished with
a full mat set, plus a full-sized spare up on its own shelf.
The visual appeal of a big block V8 simply can't be overstated.
This 454 is no junkyard special, either: this one was built to run
and it does so with genuine authority. It's got a few modern
touches, including the serpentine accessory drive and modern
accessories, but nobody will complain about the increased
reliability. There's a big 4-barrel carburetor on top of the
Edelbrock manifold and the A/C uses modern hardware and has been
converted to use R134a refrigerant. It cackles and snarls through a
fresh dual exhaust system with mellow-sounding mufflers and it's
been fitted with 4-wheel disc brakes, a nice upgrade that looks
great through the spokes of the oversized wheels. The chassis is
ultra-clean and sanitary, but not so perfect that you're afraid to
drive it, and the only other modification is a set of lowering
springs that give this Chevy its wicked stance. Oversized chrome
Torque Thrust wheels carry fresh 225/40/18 performance radials.
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, so call before it's gone!