Vehicle Description
SUMMARY
5.7 liter LS1 V8
Tremec 6-speed manual transmission
Custom leather & suede interior
Air conditioning / Hidden MP3-compatible audio system
Ridetech ShockWave air ride
Schott Modsport wheels
Narrowed Ford 9-inch rear axle / 3.25 gears
Fatman Fabrications front suspension / Ridetech rear suspension
Modified mostly-original body / Viper Blue paint
Power rack-and-pinion steering / 4-wheel disc brakes
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 cars like this Viper Blue 210, an
offering that backs proven LS1 power with an upgraded drivetrain
and custom leather upholstery, are casting bright glares in our
sedate photo booth. It's pretty evident that this Chevy was
envisioned as one of the coolest cruisers on the strip. And,
judging by initial reaction, perception certainly mirrors reality.
If you're searching for a sizzling custom that mixes fully sorted
mechanicals with great aesthetics, you've found your next
classic!
BODYWORK/TRIM
The essential part of building a jaw dropping custom is: knowing
EXACTLY when to hold back. And, with an icon like the Chevy
tri-five, even the subtlest touches go a long way. Naturally, the
pros who massaged this wagon's California body paid plenty of
attention to the fundamentals, but their primary focus was creating
the most perfect surfacing possible. That surfacing is founded on
mostly-original panels that are impressively flat, displaying nary
a ripple or wave anywhere. As expected, those straight pieces
ensure fit and finish that's significantly above '50s factory
fodder. Speaking of factory, the car's original trim was removed,
subjected to $3,500 of hand polishing and carefully reinstalled.
And that stainless is highlighted by a glossy coat of Viper Blue
2-stage that blows traditional pastels straight out of the
water!
One thing about classic car guys is they're uncanny ability to
methodically plot, plan and execute even the minutest details. The
guy who built this spectacular cruiser probably spent weeks doing
just that. At the front of the car, a body-width bumper anchors a
Satin Black grille behind clear parking lamps, a traditional
Chevrolet crest and chrome-trimmed headlights. At the top of that
grille, a smoothed, "Chevrolet" branded hood utilizes a reversed
factory latch to adopt the forward-tilt look popularized by the
car's Corvette brethren. At the back of that hood, capped wipers
lead smoked glass, which is like new all the way down to its
1-piece front passenger windows. At the base of that glass, Bel Air
profile spears traverse shaved doors that are accented with correct
mirrors. And at the back of the car, a custom smoothie bumper
frames correct taillights, bright Chevrolet badging and modernist,
center-outlet exhaust tips.
ENGINE
Tilt the aforementioned hood and you'll find 5.7 liters of LS1 V8
that makes over 300 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, factory
serpentine components spin GM-spec ancillaries just beneath a
painted and bowtie-branded air cleaner. Once air enters that
cleaner, it flows through a painted, "LS1" branded throttle body to
a painted intake, which is bolted down over completely stock
internals. High-octane fossils are provided by GM electronic fuel
injection. Spent gases roar through factory-spec headers. And
cooling comes courtesy of a custom aluminum radiator that's
sandwiched between three electric 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, polished fluid reservoirs and a small Summit fuel
pressure gauge 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 tough Tremec 6-speed makes good use of
a narrowed Ford 9-inch, which is built with 3.25 gears and sturdy
Moser axles. Turns come courtesy of power rack-and-pinion steering.
Four disc brakes scrub speed. Large-diameter exhaust pipes feed
Hooker Super Competition Aero Chamber mufflers. The car's Satin
Black floors hover on a Satin Black frame, which rides on a Fatman
independent front-clip and Ridetech 4-link rear-half. That
suspension adds swagger via Ridetech ShockWave air ride, which
kneels thanks to dual air tanks. And that hardware rolls on sweet
Schott Modsport wheels, which spin 225/45R18 Bridgestone Duelers in
front of 315/35R20 Bridgestone Duelers.
INTERIOR
Pop the doors and you'll find a custom, completely reworked
interior. Front and center, a quartet of leather and suede buckets
mixes modern lap belts with modern power adjustment for the car's
driver and front passenger. In front of those seats, a
blue-stitched dash anchors blue-lit Dakota Digital telemetry,
Vintage Air Streamline controls and a blue-lit Dakota Digital clock
in a custom, hand-fabricated instrument panel. At the base of that
dash, a custom, full-length console centers a sturdy shifter
between bright power window switches, hidden Ridetech hardware and
components for hidden, MP3-compatible audio. That console floats on
like-new carpet, which bridges the gap between billet foot pedals
and leather and suede door panels that are dotted with brushed
handles. The driver spins a taut Budnik steering wheel around a
tilting Ididit column. And the passengers stow gear in a custom
cargo hold that, when electronically popped, hides its contents
under a custom Tonneau.
Sporting a detailed restoration that would probably take a second
mortgage to duplicate, this 210 rolls on the right side of
impressive. It's a highly desirable tri-five that's been carefully
fitted with all of 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 your next
classic!
