Vehicle Description
Over the past few years, many of the world's finest tri-fives have
graced our RK Motors Charlotte showroom. According to sales,
'55-'57 resto-mods are often considered our best offerings. And
it's easy to see why when something like this incredible Bel Air, a
car that backs proven Vortec power with an upgraded drivetrain and
custom leather upholstery, is casting bright glares in our sedate
photo booth. It's pretty evident that the goal of this Chevy's
build was to create one of the coolest cruisers on the strip. And,
judging by initial reaction, that mission was certainly
accomplished! If you're searching for a sizzling custom that mixes
fully sorted mechanicals with great aesthetics, you've found your
next classic.
BODYWORK/TRIM
Sealed in a superb combination of Charcoal Gray and Brickhouse Red
2-stage, this slick Bel Air is the beneficiary of an extensive,
ground-up restoration. Naturally, the pros who massaged this
sedan's timeless body paid plenty of attention to the fundamentals,
but their primary focus was creating the most perfect surfacing
possible. That surfacing is founded on solid panels that are
impressively flat. As expected, those straight pieces ensure fit
and finish that's significantly above '50s factory fodder. And
today, this Chevy rolls as a first-rate classic that mixes polished
tradition with rich customization!
Not surprisingly, this sedan's sophisticated pigment creates a
fabulous foundation for a select array of mirrored bolt-ons. At the
front of the car, a guarded bumper traces a polished grille,
pristine parking lamps and chrome-trimmed halogen headlights. At
the top of that grille, a sculpted hood centers a polished
'jetbird' between a bright crest and lightly tinted glass that's
seated behind polished frames and polished windshield wipers. At
the base of that glass, factory door handles float small nail
guards above classy "Bel Air" scripts, ornate 'speed spears' and
polished rocker shields. And at the back of the car, a second
guarded bumper frames factory tail lamps and a second bright
crest.
ENGINE
Work this tri-five's billet Eddie Motorsports hood supports and
you'll find 6.2 liters of tough Vortec small block that's good for
over 400 horsepower. Straight from the factory, that proven mill
combines a sturdy aluminum block with lightweight aluminum heads,
coil-near-plug ignition and aluminum flat top pistons to create
razor-sharp throttle response and a torque band that's as wide as
Texas! At the front of the engine, a remote air cleaner traces a
reusable filter element. Billet Specialties Tru Trac serpentine
components spin an Edelbrock water pump between a polished AC
compressor and a polished Powermaster alternator. Behind those
ancillaries, a billet throttle body feeds a custom sheetmetal
intake, which is bolted down over quality GM internals. High-octane
fossils, provided by GM electronic fuel injection, get fired by
requisite AC Delco plug wires. Spent gases roar through shielded
factory manifolds. And cooling comes courtesy of a polished
aluminum radiator that's paired with a polished expansion tank and
two electric puller fans. Aesthetically, the Cast Silver mill and
its assortment of bright accessories seem right at home inside
their smooth, body-matched frame. And details, like braided hoses,
a billet CBM oil cap, stainless-trimmed AFI horns, and polished and
painted coil covers, ensure this Chevy walks a fine line between
looks and performance.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Not surprisingly, the bottom of this show worthy bowtie continues
the theme of pairing proven hardware with enhanced technology.
Behind the awesome engine, a modern GM 6L80 6-speed spins a
body-matched driveshaft, which twists a proven Ford 9-inch axle.
Turns come courtesy of power rack-and-pinion steering. Speed gets
scrubbed by power-assisted calipers, which milk a polished booster
to cinch four drilled and slotted rotors. Large-diameter exhaust
feeds throaty Magnaflow mufflers and polished stainless tips. The
car's Satin Black floors hover on a Gloss Black frame, which rides
a factory suspension that's augmented with tubular control arms.
And all that hardware rolls on sweet Billet Specialties wheels,
which spin 225/45ZR18 Nitto NT555 Extreme ZRs in front of
275/40ZR18 Nitto NT555 Extreme ZRs.
INTERIOR
Between the doors, a custom leather interior creates the perfect
contrast for Brickhouse Red paint that's been slinked across the
car's dash and window frames. Front and center, a quartet of
French-stitched buckets mixes modern lap belts with power
adjustment for the car's driver and front passenger. In front of
those seats, a stylish dash wraps bowtie-stamped stainless around
direct-fit audio, Vintage Air climate control and clean Dakota
Digital VHX telemetry. At the base of that dash, a custom,
full-length console centers a small shifter between stainless
cupholders and contoured courtesy lamps. Beneath that console,
like-new carpet bridges the gap between custom side panels, which
back billet handles with fluid power windows. Opposite that rug, a
leather headliner frames a polished mirror. The driver spins a
half-wrapped Billet Specialties steering wheel around a polished
and tilting column. And behind the passengers, a custom-upholstered
trunk hides a quality JL Audio amplifier that kicks crisp Pioneer
speakers.
Wrapped in a detailed, frame-off restoration that would probably
take a second mortgage to duplicate, this Chevy rolls on the right
side of impressive. It's a highly desirable tri-five that's been
carefully fitted with all the right stuff to be one seriously cool
cruiser. If you're dreaming of the perfect blend of lavish '50s
style and modern, reliable performance, you've found the ultimate
classic!
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration that's logged
only 69 miles
6.2 liter Vortec V8 / Over 400 horsepower
GM 6L80 6-speed automatic transmission
Modern air conditioning
Custom leather interior / Modern audio
Power rack-and-pinion steering / 4-wheel power disc brakes
Ford 9-inch rear axle
18-inch Billet Specialties wheels
Brickhouse Red and Charcoal Gray paint
Upgraded suspension
