Over the last two years, we’ve sold some top-notch custom 1955 Chevrolets. The killer True Blue Pearl 1955 210 we sold back in August for $110K was the nicest we’ve ever had… Until now. With its thoroughly massaged body, fire breathing LS6 Corvette motor and completely custom chassis, this magazine featured ’55 Bel Air is without a doubt, the nicest 1955 Chevrolet we’ve ever seen. Forget all that stuff about concours correct, factory authentic Sunday snooze mobiles; the goal here was to create the BEST 1955 Bel Air on the planet, and in our opinion, the mission was accomplished! Featuring completely custom components that have been specifically fabricated or heavily modified to impress judges and excite passengers alike, this serious 1955 Bel Air show car has scored major trophies and won many fans at hot rod shows across the country. If you’re looking for a sizzling custom car that features the absolute best of everything, you’ve come to the right place.

Combining a few very well executed modifications with inherently cool Chevy design traits, this lean and mean ’55 Bel Air is the kind of show stopping masterpiece that has the ability draw you in from 200 yards away. The car’s all original, completely solid California body is expertly finished in a two-tone GM Artic White and GM Light Tarnished Silver paint job that has been re-cleared, completely wet sanded and buffed to a crystal clear shine that is close to perfect as possible. Today, that glowing white and silver finish does a spectacular job of showcasing the cars super straight lines and the body’s exceptionally tight panel gaps create solid door closing sounds that would sound just right floating across a modern Cadillac showroom.

One thing about classic car guys who build their dream car is they’re uncanny ability to methodically plot, plan and execute even the minutest details; and the guy who built this spectacular ’55 Chevy probably spent weeks doing just that. At the front of the car, a smoothed, filled and flipped front bumper is bolted to a custom shaped front pan below a custom fabricated billet grille. Above that grille, the car’s nosed and filled hood exchanges its retro jet-bird hood ornament for a clean, modern look which showcases its excellent lines. At the back of that hood, a like-new windshield sits in front of smoked Vintage Auto side and rear glass that, along with the doors, is highlighted by new mirror-like stainless trim. On the sides of the car, new deluxe Bel Air front fender trim fades into a point on the car’s shaved doors, and classic straight Tri-five stainless quarter panel spears divide the pristine white and metallic silver paint. At the back of the car, a fitted and smoothed Chevy Nomad bumper sits below a shaved trunk that is bordered by completely clear chrome trimmed Bel Air tail lights.

As visually stunning as this 55 is, the engine compartment ups the ante considerably. Lift the hood and you’ll find a completely blueprinted and clearanced 2005 LS6 Corvette engine that’s dressed in the same squeaky clean silver as the exterior of the car and 100% detailed with the best chrome pieces and polished accessories on the market. Built by Superior Automotive Engineering in Anaheim California, this hot 347 small block Chevy has been stroked to 383 cubic inches, creates a killer 11.54 to 1 compression ratio and dynos at a cool 520 horsepower and 531 ft./lb. of torque. At the front of the motor, a body-matched Dominator Street Rods dual snorkel intake pipes cool air around a completely polished Ron Davis aluminum radiator that’s equipped with a vertical overflow container, a Spal electric fan and a custom fabricated fan shroud. Once air enters the intake, it flows through a Street and Performance air filter into a factory LS6 throttle body that sits on top of a factory LS6 intake manifold, a Comp Cams Extreme RPM High Lift camshaft and an Eagle forged steel crank. That crank turns Eagle connecting rods that push forged J&E domed pistons with J&E custom rings toward completely ported and polished factory LS6 heads that have been rebuilt with Serdi valves, Comp Cams roller rockers, Comp Cams beehive springs and Comp Cams titanium retainers. Fire comes courtesy of a GM factory multi-port electronic fuel injection system that combines fuel from GM LS6 injectors pump with spark from MSD ignition wires thanks to a 1999 Camaro wiring harness and custom program by Superior Automotive Engineering. Cooling is provided by a Meziere electric water pump, oil comes courtesy of a Melling high pressure oil pump and a completely blueprinted oil system, and exhaust is handled by Street and Performance ceramic coated shorty headers. Between the engine and the radiator, a polished Street and Performance accessory drive system turns a chrome AC compressor beside a chrome 120 amp Street and Performance alternator, and at the left side of the motor a chrome CPP brake booster sends fluid to all four corners of the car.

Paint and body work that’s as slick as your grandma’s fine crystal: check. An awesome small block Chevy engine that’s drenched in horsepower: check. A top-notch customized undercarriage that uses the best components on the market to make this car drive as good as it looks: Absolutely! Behind the LS6 engine, a custom fabricated boxed frame holds a lap top tuned 4L65E 4-speed automatic transmission in front of an Inland Empire heavy duty aluminum driveshaft. That driveshaft is connected to a Currie custom polished nine inch rear end that holds a Currie 31 spline axle, an Eaton Detroit Truetrac Posi-traction differential and pavement shredding 4.11 gears. In front of that drivetrain, a freshly built Classic Performance Products front suspension includes custom reinforced control arms, two inch drop spindles, a one inch sway bar, Bilstein gas charged shocks and a custom reinforced Borgeson 605 power steering box. Behind that drivetrain, a custom fabricated mini-tubed four link rear suspension includes Bilstein gas shocks, Detroit Truetrac subframe connectors, and a four inch drop courtesy of Bilstein 350 lb. springs. In the middle of the car, a ceramic coated, custom bent 2.5 inch true dual system sends spent gases to a Magnaflow X-pipe and Magnaflow dual chamber mufflers that hang just in front of a custom stainless fuel tank which feeds an AC Delco electric fuel pump. At the corners, a complete Classic Performance Products power four wheel disc brake system squeezes single piston slider calipers around 11 inch front and 10 inch rear vented rotors; and spectacular looking Schott two piece forged billet ‘Velocity’ wheels wear 225/40/18 front and 295/40/20 rear Nitto z-rated radials.

Like the rest of the car, this Bel Airs completely custom, sculpted leather cockpit is nothing short of amazing! Designed and installed by Elegance Interiors it wraps four modern Lexus bucket seats and traditional tri-five Chevy panels in high quality two-tone leather that still smells trim shop fresh. In front of the passengers, a classic ’55 Chevy dash features stitched two-tone leather around silver-faced Classic Instruments gauges, an MP3 compatible Pioneer CD player and a fully restored Bel Air speaker that’s complete with a custom clock. Above the seats, a tightly sewn two-tone leather headliner centers around a custom dome light, and below the seats, German square weave wool carpet is protected by custom cut color-matched floor mats. At the center of the car, a full length center console that runs from the dash all the way to the cars fully integrated package tray includes both controls for a Vintage Air climate system and a slick Lokar shifter with a body matched shift knob. At the sides of the car, custom sculpted leather door panels hang billet door handles above chrome power window switches, fully integrated arm rests and great sounding Pioneer speakers. Connecting the driver to the road is a polished Flaming River ‘Waterfall’ steering wheel that sits on a tilt steering column above awesome looking billet pedals. Behind the cockpit, a fully finished trunk contains more sculpted two-tone leather panels above another piece of well-fitted more German square weave wool carpet.

This car’s show history is extensive, and its list of features and awards is extremely impressive:

• National Street Rod Association’s Street Scene magazine
• Five page spread in the September 2011 issue of Chevy High Performance
• 2010 Outstanding Elegance Award at the 51st annual, invitation only Blackie Gejeian Fresno Autorama
• 2011 ISCA (International Show Car Association) International Class Championship
• FIVE ISCA Best in Class awards
• TWO ISCA Outstanding Engine awards
• ISCA Outstanding Custom award
• ISCA Outstanding Undercarriage award
• FIVE Goodguys Rod & Custom Builders Choice picks (One in 2009 and four in 2011)
• Super Chevy Shows Best Tri-Five award
• 2011 Texas Lonestar award at the Dallas Autorama in Dallas, Texas

Included with the sale is a nine page breakdown of the entire build that lists almost every specification of the car and a copy of the 2011 Chevy High Performance magazine in which the car was featured.

Dream cars like this are always about passion, because you just can’t make economic sense out of them. With a highly detailed build that would take a second mortgage on a mansion to duplicate, this Bel Air is way out on the far side of amazing, and the lucky guy who buys it will probably get tired of collecting trophies and answering questions at car shows. You’d be hard pressed to find a nicer tri-five custom, and with modern reliability, performance, and ease of maintenance, this very well could be the ultimate Bel Air. Call today!