Fresh Bel Air Convertible Restomod LS7 V8 Automatic Art Morrison Leather A/C

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 one considers classics like this incredible Bel Air, a car that backs seven liters of proven LS power with a sweet Art Morrison chassis and custom leather upholstery that was installed by stitch pro Steve Holcomb. It's pretty evident that the goal of this Chevy's build was to create one of the coolest cruisers on the road. And, judging by initial reaction, that mission was certainly accomplished. Searching for a sizzling custom that mixes fully sorted mechanicals with great aesthetics? Congratulations, you've found your next collector car!

BEL AIR BLISS

Sealed in superb black two-stage, this slick Bel Air rolls on the right side of rad thanks to an extensive, ground-up restoration. Naturally, the pros who massaged this sedan's timeless body paid plenty of attention to the fundamentals, but their primary focus was creating the most perfect surfacing possible. That surfacing is founded on solid panels that are impressively flat. As expected, those straight pieces ensure fit and finish that's significantly above '50s factory fodder. And today, this Chevy is a first-rate classic that mixes polished tradition with rich customization!

Not surprisingly, this sedan's sophisticated pigment creates a fabulous foundation for a select array of mirrored bolt-ons. At the front of the car, a smooth bumper traces a polished grille, pristine parking lamps and a bright Chevrolet crest. At the top of that grille, modern headlights center a nosed hood under polished Speer Bullet Spoons and stainless-trimmed glass that's seated between polished wipers and a tight cloth top. At the base of that glass, factory mirrors reflect polished rockers, factory door handles and ornate Speed Spears that fly flowing “Bel Air” scripts behind crisp 210 fender louvers. And at the back of the car, a second smooth bumper frames a decked trunk between bright LED tail lamps.

L S SEVEN

Twisting 505 SAE-certified horsepower into 470 lb./ft. of torque, the lightweight LS7 V8 rumbling between this classic's sinuous fenders is a 21st century testament to the bowtie division's enduring small block. Founded in GM's very successful C6 racing program, the brutal mill utilizes a forged crank, titanium rods and hypereutectic pistons to flat out whip pretty much anything with four wheels. At the front of the block, a polished air tube funnels a perfect amount of oxygen between a front-mount filter element and a GM-supplied throttle body. That wind mixes with fuel in a composite intake, on its way to CNC-ported cylinder heads that are finished with lightweight titanium valves. Those valves get bumped by a GM hydraulic roller cam that helps create stout 11 to 1 compression. Immediately following combustion, spent gases roar through long-tube headers. Charge comes courtesy of a polished alternator that, along with a polished AC compressor, spins a polished serpentine drive. A polished PRC radiator joins dual SPAL puller fans to decorate an aftermarket support. And detailing is on point, with items like stainless fluid lines, Wilwood brake components, a billet hood latch and billet Eddie Motorsports hood supports supplementing fast function with solid form.

THE ART OF CLASSIC CRUISING

At the bottom of this slick Chevy, the pro-touring theme continues with crisp floors that are bolted to a powder-coated Art Morrison chassis. That chassis trades GM's traditional 'glide ride' suspension for a whole new setup that plants adjustable coil-over-shocks inside tubular control arms and a 4-link rear-clip. That hardware is led by power rack-and-pinion steering. The quick-spinning small block twists torque to a reliable 4L80E 4-speed, which spins a braced Ford 9-inch axle. Braking is provided by bright Wilwood calipers, which clamp four and six pistons around a quartet of drilled and slotted rotors. Exhaust is handled by large-diameter tubes and throaty Magnaflow mufflers. Power meets the pavement through slick Schott Mach V EXLs, which turn 225/35R18 Nankangs in front of 265/35R20 Yokohamas. And everything, from this Bel Air's braided brake lines to its stainless fuel tank, is solid, sorted and ready to roll.

LIGHTS, LEATHER, CRUISING…

Pop the doors and you'll find a custom, LED-lit interior that was installed by Steve Holcomb of Pro Auto Custom Interiors. Front and center, a quartet of chrome-piped buckets features power adjustment for the car's driver and front passenger. In front of those seats, a layered dash frames clean Classic Instruments telemetry above hardware for Vintage Air conditioning. At the base of that dash, a custom, full-length console centers a short Lokar shifter between stainless cupholders, switches for the car's top and power windows, and Dual touchscreen audio. Beneath that console, crisp California carpet bridges the gap between billet-trimmed side panels. And the driver spins a billet, half-wrapped steering wheel around a polished, tilting column.

Wrapped in a detailed, frame-off restoration that would probably take a second mortgage to duplicate, this Chevy rolls on the right side of impressive. It's a highly desirable tri-five that's been carefully fitted with all 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 the ultimate classic!

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HIGHLIGHTS

* World class Bel Air pro-tourer that's the product of a detailed, ground-up build
* 7.0 liter GM LS7 V8
* GM 4L80E 4-speed automatic transmission
* Reinforced Ford 9-inch rear axle
* Modern air conditioning
* Power rack-and-pinion steering
* Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
* Art Morrison chassis and suspension
* Custom, LED-lit leather interior by Steve Holcomb of Pro Auto Custom Interiors
* 18 and 20-inch Schott Mach V EXL wheels
* Dual touchscreen audio with Bluetooth capability
* All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point inspection
* We can ship your new classic anywhere in the world