Frame Off Built Bel Air 350 V8 700R4 4 Speed with A/C

Anyone who follows our inventory pages probably knows all about the high five and six-figure Bel Airs we consistently sell. Sure, if you have the means, it's nice to park one of those blue chip trophy winners in your garage. But what about buyers who want a tri-five that they firstly, don't have to mortgage the house for, and secondly, don't have to worry about securing stanchions for? Fear not, RK Motors Charlotte has a car for them too! The beneficiary of a recent frame-off restoration, this slick Burnt Orange and Gloss White Bel Air is an awesome classic that can be enjoyed day in and day out for roughly HALF the price of a six-figure show queen. And with an equal emphasis on both show and go, it combines a stout small block with top notch mechanical components to create one head turning hot rod that's fully sorted and ready to hit the road!

The timeless look of Chevrolet's tri-five Bel Air will never go out of style, and the best restorations are car's that don't mess with GM's success. So, when you're building your own, have faith in the factory and do as the builder of this stunning '55 did: make your ride as nice as possible without altering the basic goodness of its original design. As you can tell, that translates to fresh paint over superbly prepared bodywork and 100% stock sheetmetal. That sheetmetal is covered in a Burnt Orange and Gloss White color combo that adds new flavor to Chevy's traditional two-tone look. At first glance, that pigment presents a slightly vivid interpretation of GM's old school Sierra Gold and Adobe Beige hue. But upon closer inspection, its appearance is MUCH more robust, affording the car's smooth and crisp panels a modern dynamic that original 50s schemes just can't match. The result is a 'can't miss' classic that manages to retain a groovy 50s vibe while still looking fresh and modern.

In a victorious attempt to appeal to a younger audience, Chevrolet gave the '55 Bel Air Ferrari-inspired detailing which has become some of the most beloved 'car art' of the past 60 years. At the front of this hardtop, a trademark bumper rides below a pristine stainless grille, clear parking lamps and modern halogen headlights that are lined in traditional chrome trim. At the top of that grille, a factory-fresh Chevrolet crest is centered below a new 'jetbird' hood ornament which looks fantastic against the car's mile deep paint. At the back of that hood, tinted glass rides inside new stainless trim, bright stainless wipers and stylish chrome mirrors. At the base of those mirrors, razor-straight fenders are accented by factory-optioned trim spears, traditional GM door handles and pristine “Bel Air” quarter emblems. And at the back of those fenders, crystal clear tail lights frame a second Chevrolet crest, a second body-width bumper and bright, stainless exhaust tips.

Pop this hot '55's Burnt Orange hood and you'll find a dependable Chevrolet small block that mixes nice sounds with excellent horsepower. At the top of the clean 350, a chrome Edelbrock air cleaner funnels wind into a coated Holley 4-barrel that's juiced by a coated Edelbrock fuel pump and braided Summit hoses. Below that carburetor, a big Edelbrock intake props an aftermarket HEI distributor over loomed Taylor wires, aluminum Edelbrock heads and coated shorty headers. On top of those heads, custom fabricated and “CHEVROLET” branded valve covers contrast well against Satin Black engine skin, Satin Black fenders and a Burnt Orange firewall. At the front of that skin, a billet serpentine system spins a polished AC compressor, a chrome water pump, a polished alternator and a polished power steering pump between flashy, corrugated radiator hoses. At the leading end of those hoses, an aluminum radiator cycles water between a large, electric puller fan and small Jaz overflow tank. And throughout this Chevy's engine bay not a detail was missed with often overlooked items like chrome breathers, a deep sump oil pan, trick dipsticks, a chrome master cylinder and Lokar throttle cables all present and accounted for.

Structurally, the '55 Chevrolet is an extremely versatile platform that can accept a wide variety of enhancements. And one look under this Bel Air provides a glimpse of how a few minor modifications can make a big difference. The car's frame and floorpans have received new stainless hardware and new coats of finish that add both aesthetic appeal and all-weather durability. Behind the hot small block, a cooled Turbo-Hydramatic 700R4 4-speed easily torques what appears to be a rebuilt GM rear end. At the front of the car, Classic Performance Products tubular control arms ride between modern power rack and pinion steering and retrofitted disc brakes. At the back of the car, correct leaf springs ride between familiar lowering blocks and traditional drum brakes. Exhaust is handled by true-dual pipes that combine an X-shaped crossover, two Flowmaster dual-chamber mufflers and rear-mounted stainless tips into an awesome chorus of sound. And grip is provided by chrome Cragar S/S wheels, modern 215/65R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/As and sticky 29x12.5R15 Hoosier Pro Streets.

The inside of this awesome tri-five is an excellent mix of spectacular custom parts and classic GM design. Two manual bench seats are covered in soft leather hides that feature exceptionally comfortable surfaces under cool “'55” and “Chevy” logos. Below those seats, like-new carpet anchors color-keyed floor mats between traditional Fisher sills and a trick, billet accelerator pedal. At the sides of that carpet, fresh door panels look great between painted frames and traditional chrome hardware. In front of those panels, a curvaceous dash hangs bowtie-stamped stainless around modern gauges and accessories for the car's Vintage Air climate system. Above that dash, a classy white headliner lays across premium chrome roof bows. In front of the driver, a two-tone Impala steering wheel spins around a polished and tilted column. And stowing the passenger's many accessories is a custom upholstered trunk which hangs a Chevrolet themed back panel above a flat load floor.

If you add up all the ingredients that make this 1955 Bel Air such a unique car, the final tally is much larger than our asking price. There are no shortcuts, no marginal parts and nothing that looks out of place on what is a uniformly high-quality build. And, thanks to its modern drivetrain, this is one classic that'll be as reliable as it is handsome!