Vehicle Description
Cars like this 1955 Chevy Bel Air Restomod require two things to be
executed correctly: time and money. The more of one you have, the
less of the other you need, but there's no way around it, a car
this nice requires a serious investment of both. Packing a
beautifully detailed and modern Vortec V8 and 4L60E automatic
transmission under the hood, and a wicked two-tone color scheme,
this is a car that everyone can appreciate. Fast, reliable, and
gorgeous, it's everything the original designers wanted the 1955
Chevy to be, and with less than 500 miles on the drivetrain build,
it's ready to dominate for years to come.
The two-tone paint job on this Bel Air accomplishes a mighty feat
in that it manages to look both en vogue and period-correct at the
same time, although it uses modern materials to give it a sparkling
contrast. Maroon and silver is a combination that would have looked
right at home on the streets of 1955, although there was no such
thing as a paint job that looked this good back then. The bodywork
is straight enough that the glossy paint shows beautifully when
it's cruising down the road, and the car fits together very well,
the result of all that time and money. Although not the original
colors, the Maroon and Silver contrast perfectly on the Tri-5
livery, and it's no wonder that this particular color combination
is beloved in the restomod world. If you're looking for a
great-looking driver with killer curb appeal, then you've certainly
found the driver for you. All the original-style Bel Air trim is
intact, which also means someone spent enough cash
restoring/replacing it to put a kid through college. Well,
Community College at least. Detailing is crisp, and other than some
light scratching that could be easily buffed out, there are
virtually zero flaws in the brightwork. In person this '55 is just
impossible to ignore.
The interior was restored with an eye toward form and function, and
the result is an ultra-comfortable cabin that matches the color
scheme of the exterior. The split-bench seat up front wears
two-tone cloth seat covers for an update on the '50s vibe and the
ornate door panels were stitched to match. Matching deep red
carpets show expert binding work and the headliner overhead was
neatly installed for a taut look and feel. You'll note the matching
painted dash is quite stock and totally dazzling, with the original
gauges replaced by nice-looking digital-analog dials. Sharp-eyed
viewers will spot the A/C vents under the dash, which are effective
without changing the character of the interior, and the system
utilizes R134a refrigerant and is blowing ice cold. There is a
Retro-Sound AM/FM/Bluetooth radio, and there was no cutting to
install it properly in the center of the dash. Additional options
include power windows and locks, a tilt wheel with a stock steering
wheel attached, and a middle console with a couple of cup holders
just ahead of the front bench. The bench in the rear looks like
it's barely been used, and out back the trunk was restored with a
rubber mat and has plenty of room for your next Power Tour
adventure.
Power comes from a well-dressed LS V8 Vortec motor which our seller
reports is a 5.3L pulled from a 2004 Tahoe, and was then rebuilt
this year and less than 500 miles ago. Professionally installed
along with the automatic transmission (which was also rebuilt 500
miles ago), it was so neatly done that it practically looks and
acts like the factory put it there. Modern amenities include
factory fuel injection, so it starts and idles like your daily
driver and actually pulls down decent fuel economy on the open
road. Wiring (brand new harness from American Wiring) and plumbing
is neatly installed and with a big aluminum radiator up front,
keeping things cool is no big deal. Underneath there's a
slick-shifting 4L60E automatic transmission from the same Tahoe, a
nice upgrade over the original 2-speed PowerGlide, and it spins a
heavy-duty rear end that was pulled from the same donor vehicle.
Long-tube headers feed a mellow-sounding H-pipe dual exhaust system
with Flowmaster mufflers while the suspension and brakes have been
fully upgraded with power disc brakes at both ends and power
steering up front. It rides on a set of flashy 5-spoke chrome
wheels with 17-inch Michelin radials all around.
It's rare to see cars this dialed-in and ready for the road, and
when one like this shows up at a cruise night or car show, it's
obvious where the big money and time was spent. From the handsome
paint and bodywork to the rumbling fuel-injected V8 under the hood,
it's a car that will delight you every time you see it in the
garage or climb behind the wheel, which is what this hobby is all
about. Call today!