AN ATTRACTION THAT NEVER GROWS OLD: An iconic 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air heads to the Palm Beach Auction
April 2, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
This stunning custom-built 1955 Chevy Bel Air Resto-Mod will be turning heads at the 13th Annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction, April 17-19, 2015, at the South Florida Fairgrounds..
If General Motors decided to create their own Mount Rushmore, the face you would see first is that of the 1955 Chevrolet. The classic ’55 Chevy is one of the most iconic modern sedans built in the 20th century, and for generations it has proven to be the stuff of which legends and dreams are made. Its smooth, clean and subtle lines guarantee a kind of beauty that never grows old. It also doesn’t hurt that this model’s grille was inspired by none other than Ferrari.
This trend-setting car from Chevrolet dominated the performance industry in countless ways. In retrospect, the ’55 Chevy seems to have become the most hot-rodded of all car models. There were around 670,000 two-door coupes and sedans produced that year, so they were easy to get, and even easier to modify.
This Bel Air looks amazing from all directions. A custom paint job, Boyd wheels and Pirelli tires are just a few of its special touches.
Over the decades, many of these cars turned up at drag strips with straight front axles and blowers, or injector tubes shooting straight up through the hood – think “Two-Lane Blacktop.” But here’s the other end of the spectrum. This particular ’55 Chevy (Lot #395) has more to do with Ferrari’s test track than any drag strip.
This two-door Bel Air hardtop takes advantage of the model’s understated good looks but adds overstatement to every other element and function of the car. The bedrock of this project is a custom Roadster Shop chassis. Their client list reads like the Who’s Who of the most innovative and demanding builders and enthusiasts in the industry.
Double adjustable coilovers at all corners add the desired sophistication to the formula, while chrome-plated control arms bring even more class to the car’s undercarriage. Reigning in the forward motion of this high-powered Chevy has been assigned to four Wilwood disc brakes with all stainless steel brake lines supporting the system. Stopping rarely looks and feels this good.
Under the hood: a GM LS3 2013 480hp engine by Turn Key Engines.
Turn Key Engines supplied and prepped this car’s 372ci Chevrolet LS-3 all aluminum small block. It produces 480 horsepower and 490 ft/lbs of torque with a pump gas-friendly 10.7:1 compression ratio. Roadster Shop brand headers and a custom stainless steel exhaust system direct the spent gasses out the back and produce that unique sound only stainless tubing can generate. A custom aluminum radiator keeps everything cool.
The sight under the hood is one to behold. The modified engine covers virtually look like part of the engine itself. There are no wires or lines exposed. Inner panels are shiny and uncluttered. This kind of detailed approach will make mainstream factory engineers and designers weep with envy.
All horsepower is ushered through a GM-sourced 4L65E automatic overdrive transmission to make cruising on the highways as pleasant as your favorite route to the beach. A Chevy 12-bolt with 3.70 gears keeps the revs close at hand for those moments of self-expression.
As beautiful inside as it is outside, this Bel Air features a custom-made leather interior by Armando’s in California and even a touchscreen sound system.
Custom leather interior is by Armando’s of Santee, California, and includes world-class workmanship. Despite the vast upgrade of the interior seating, the dashboard remains original and true. Even the steering wheel channels the past. Of course there are those Dakota digital gauges morphed into the stock dash panel. But that’s expected in today’s state-of-the-art Resto-Mods. And if you look hard enough you’ll see Vintage Air vents peeking back at you. New glass throughout helps bring the car to showroom condition.
This machine is equipped with power steering and an Ididit steering column. Power-assisted brakes add convenience and safety to the equation. The driver of this ’55 is also wired with a touchscreen audio system utilizing Bluetooth sound activation. Four front and rear speakers drive some impressive sound.
The perfect custom two-tone paint scheme is a tasteful tribute to the classic lines of this car. It’s also the product of Rainbow Paint & Body in Miami, Florida. The final result is a road car of the highest order. It’s the ideal blend of all we love about the past and what we crave about the present.
Once you take ownership of this car, you should call your buddy with that mid-1950s Ferrari and ask him to meet you over at PBIR come sunup. Tell him you want to find out how he likes the grille on your ’55 Chevy – the one you personally swiped from Enzo himself. All he has to do is get in front of you to have a look. That simple act will prove to be way more difficult than it sounds.
This article by Roger C. Johnson appears in the Spring 2015 issue of The Barrett-Jackson Experience magazine. To order your copy or subscribe, click here or visit www.shopbarrettjackson.com.