Vehicle Description
SUMMARY
Frame-off, rotisserie build completed in early 2016 / Build
completed by the RKM Performance Center
6.2 liter Chevrolet Performance LS376/525 V8 / 525 horsepower
GM 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission / Limited-slip differential
/ 3.73 gears
Custom genuine leather interior / Vintage Air conditioning / Modern
audio
Custom PPG Jade Metallic and Mercedes-Benz Silver paint
Art Morrison chassis / Fourth generation Corvette suspension
Power rack-and-pinion steering / 4-wheel power disc brakes
18 and 20-inch Billet Specialties wheels
Custom Kooks exhaust
Sale includes restoration photos and restoration receipts
As the old saying goes: in life, only three things are guaranteed -
death, taxes and Bel Airs at classic car events. At least, that's
how the saying goes in OUR octane-fueled world. Of course, that
list is a little unfair to tri-fives because, unlike death and
taxes, old school Chevys are a lot of fun. And this RKM-built
sedan, with its massaged LS3, incredible aesthetics and thoroughly
modern mechanicals, blends an array of custom, driver-friendly
attributes into a pro-touring package that virtually anyone can
enjoy!
HISTORY/BUILD
Sure, this killer combination of green and silver wasn't on the
Chevy color chart back in 1955, but it certainly looks the part on
this awesome Bel Air. These cars lend themselves to classic 2-tone
better than anything in the hobby, and this hardtop's remarkable
combination of Jade Metallic and Mercedes-Benz Silver certainly
freshens up a timeless hot rod paint scheme. Interestingly, that
scheme, and the car it's sealed to, came about through quite a bit
of observation and planning. For starters, this Chevy's present
owner purchased a clean classic
http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/sold/1955%20Chevrolet%20Bel%20Air/134437
from our RK Motors Charlotte inventory page. Then he cited a second
Bel Air
http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/sold/1955%20Chevrolet%20Bel%20Air/134398
from our sold inventory page, that he loved the appearance of.
Finally, he contracted the pros at our own RKM Performance Center
to combine solid metal and lofty vision into an incredible,
6-figure pro-tourer.
The build began when the car was fully disassembled, mounted to a
rotisserie and completely soda-blasted of its predictable Candy Red
pigment. As we assumed, all steel was solid with the exception of
the hood, which was replaced by a high quality reproduction piece.
After some epoxy, a bit of primer and hours of blocking, the scene
was set for wet-looking PPG 2-stage. But, as you probably noticed,
the car that inspired this Bel Air's paint scheme actually had a
Champagne Metallic base. Well, everyone seemed to agree that
Mercedes-Benz Silver was a bit fresher looking. And as for the
Jade, it was lifted directly from the muse with one exception: Fab
Manager Darell Johnston mixed in copious gold flake to make it
REALLY pop. The build was completed in early 2016, just in time for
the car's owner to enjoy a full season of cruising. And, as you can
tell from our high resolution photography, the RKM Performance
Center's level of expertise pretty much speaks for itself.
Despite a relatively custom appearance, this bowtie's finishing
pieces look so natural they could be mistaken for factory-spec. At
the front of the car, a guarded bumper rides beneath a polished
grille, clear parking lamps and bright halogen headlights. At the
top of that grille, a peaked hood hangs an ornate Chevrolet crest
opposite smoked glass that's founded in polished stainless and
cleared by electric wipers. At the base of that post greenhouse,
chrome door handles and classy Bel Air emblems dodge a polished
driver's mirror and traditional trim spears. And at the back of
that trim, retro blue-dot tail lamps illuminate polished exhaust
tips, a second Chevrolet crest and a second guarded bumper.
ENGINE
Glance under this Chevy's domed hood and you'll find a gorgeous
Chevrolet Performance LS376/525 that's been built, polished and
tweaked to 10.7 to 1 compression and a stout 525 horsepower! At the
top of the block, custom cold air components funnel wind in to a
proven GM throttle body, which feeds a lightweight GM intake. That
air meets spark in rectangular-port L92-style heads, which hide
high-rate springs under polished Holley valve covers. A nodular
crank, powdered connecting rods and hypereutectic pistons compress
that volatile union. A racing-inspired ASA cam maximizes intake
efficiency through better breathing. Speaking of breathing, the
smooth mill funnels spent gases through ceramic-coated Sanderson
headers. There's a polished Be Cool radiator that's slid between a
polished condenser and spry puller fans. Modern serpentine
components spin a rebuilt alternator beside a GM water pump.
Quality ancillaries abound, including fresh AC Delco plug wires, a
proven Wilwood master cylinder and polished Eddie Motorsports hood
supports. And the car's smooth, Mercedes Silver engine bay is
detailed with niceties like trick dipsticks, custom fuel rail
covers, a polished expansion tank and a Mercedes Silver intake
shroud.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Structurally, the '55 Chevrolet is an extremely versatile platform
that can accept a wide variety of enhancements. And one look under
this Bel Air provides a glimpse of how major modification can make
a major difference. A full Art Morrison chassis rolls on a fourth
generation Corvette suspension that's supplemented with adjustable
coil-over-shocks. Behind the hot small block, a 3,000 RPM stall
converter kicks a GM-supplied 4L60E 4-speed, which easily torques a
limited-slip differential and big, 3.73 gears. At the front of the
car, aluminum control arms frame power rack-and-pinion steering.
Stops come courtesy of Baer and Corvette calipers, which utilize
hydroboost assist to squeeze drilled and slotted rotors. An
official soundtrack is composed by $2,350 worth of custom exhaust,
installed by Kooks of Statesville, North Carolina, which wraps
stainless, Mandrel-bent pipes around beefy mufflers. Grip is
provided by stylish Billet Specialties blades, which spin
235/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports in front of 275/35ZR20
Michelin Pilot Super Sports. And everything, from the car's
finished floors to its fresh fuel tank, is purpose-built to tackle
the asphalt.
INTERIOR
Between the doors, traditional '50s style is augmented with $16,500
worth of custom leather that was installed by Chuck's Hot Rod
Interiors of Mooresville, North Carolina. The car's gray and green
seats, firm buckets that were sourced from a 2011 Camaro, feature
power operation for both the driver and front passenger. In front
of those thrones, a leather-capped dash dresses Dakota Digital
telemetry and Vintage Air Gen III climate control in bowtie-branded
stainless. Below that dash, a custom, full-length console anchors a
short Lokar shifter between chrome power window switches and
Pioneer touchscreen audio. Beneath that island, clean Daytona
Carpet floats piped and color-keyed floor mats between stylized
foot pedals and thorough Dynamat insulation. Opposite that rug, a
German Wool headliner frames a polished mirror and custom dome
lamp. In front of the driver, a small diameter steering wheel laps
a tilting Ididit column. At the sides of the passengers, custom
door panels hang sculpted grabs beneath billet handles and
color-keyed frames. And behind the cockpit, a custom-upholstered
trunk hides a built-in battery tender beside $2,100 worth of sound
equipment that includes a JL Audio amp, JL Audio speakers, a hidden
antenna and a JL Audio su...for more information please contact the
seller.