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 one considers classics like this
incredible Bel Air, a car that backs seven liters of proven LS
power with a sweet Art Morrison chassis and custom leather
upholstery that was installed by stitch pro Steve Holcomb. It's
pretty evident that the goal of this Chevy's build was to create
one of the coolest cruisers on the road. And, judging by initial
reaction, that mission was certainly accomplished. Searching for a
sizzling custom that mixes fully sorted mechanicals with great
aesthetics? Congratulations, you've found your next collector
car!
BEL AIR BLISS
Sealed in superb black two-stage, this slick Bel Air rolls on the
right side of rad thanks to 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 is 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 smooth bumper traces a polished grille,
pristine parking lamps and a bright Chevrolet crest. At the top of
that grille, modern headlights center a nosed hood under polished
Speer Bullet Spoons and stainless-trimmed glass that's seated
between polished wipers and a tight cloth top. At the base of that
glass, factory mirrors reflect polished rockers, factory door
handles and ornate Speed Spears that fly flowing "Bel Air" scripts
behind crisp 210 fender louvers. And at the back of the car, a
second smooth bumper frames a decked trunk between bright LED tail
lamps.
L S SEVEN
Twisting 505 SAE-certified horsepower into 470 lb./ft. of torque,
the lightweight LS7 V8 rumbling between this classic's sinuous
fenders is a 21st century testament to the bowtie division's
enduring small block. Founded in GM's very successful C6 racing
program, the brutal mill utilizes a forged crank, titanium rods and
hypereutectic pistons to flat out whip pretty much anything with
four wheels. At the front of the block, a polished air tube funnels
a perfect amount of oxygen between a front-mount filter element and
a GM-supplied throttle body. That wind mixes with fuel in a
composite intake, on its way to CNC-ported cylinder heads that are
finished with lightweight titanium valves. Those valves get bumped
by a GM hydraulic roller cam that helps create stout 11 to 1
compression. Immediately following combustion, spent gases roar
through long-tube headers. Charge comes courtesy of a polished
alternator that, along with a polished AC compressor, spins a
polished serpentine drive. A polished PRC radiator joins dual SPAL
puller fans to decorate an aftermarket support. And detailing is on
point, with items like stainless fluid lines, Wilwood brake
components, a billet hood latch and billet Eddie Motorsports hood
supports supplementing fast function with solid form.
THE ART OF CLASSIC CRUISING
At the bottom of this slick Chevy, the pro-touring theme continues
with crisp floors that are bolted to a powder-coated Art Morrison
chassis. That chassis trades GM's traditional 'glide ride'
suspension for a whole new setup that plants adjustable
coil-over-shocks inside tubular control arms and a 4-link
rear-clip. That hardware is led by power rack-and-pinion steering.
The quick-spinning small block twists torque to a reliable 4L80E
4-speed, which spins a braced Ford 9-inch axle. Braking is provided
by bright Wilwood calipers, which clamp four and six pistons around
a quartet of drilled and slotted rotors. Exhaust is handled by
large-diameter tubes and throaty Magnaflow mufflers. Power meets
the pavement through slick Schott Mach V EXLs, which turn 225/35R18
Nankangs in front of 265/35R20 Yokohamas. And everything, from this
Bel Air's braided brake lines to its stainless fuel tank, is solid,
sorted and ready to roll.
LIGHTS, LEATHER, CRUISING...
Pop the doors and you'll find a custom, LED-lit interior that was
installed by Steve Holcomb of Pro Auto Custom Interiors. Front and
center, a quartet of chrome-piped buckets features power adjustment
for the car's driver and front passenger. In front of those seats,
a layered dash frames clean Classic Instruments telemetry above
hardware for Vintage Air conditioning. At the base of that dash, a
custom, full-length console centers a short Lokar shifter between
stainless cupholders, switches for the car's top and power windows,
and Dual touchscreen audio. Beneath that console, crisp California
carpet bridges the gap between billet-trimmed side panels. And the
driver spins a billet, half-wrapped steering wheel around a
polished, tilting column.
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!
HIGHLIGHTS
World class Bel Air pro-tourer that's the product of a detailed,
ground-up build
7.0 liter GM LS7 V8
GM 4L80E 4-speed automatic transmission
Reinforced Ford 9-inch rear axle
Modern air conditioning
Power rack-and-pinion steering
Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
Art Morrison chassis and suspension
Custom, LED-lit leather interior by Steve Holcomb of Pro Auto
Custom Interiors
18 and 20-inch Schott Mach V EXL wheels
Dual touchscreen audio with Bluetooth capability
All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point
inspection
We can ship your new classic anywhere in the world
