Frame Up Built Bel Air 555 V8 550 HP 6 Speed with A/C

When is a 1955 Chevy not a Chevy? When it's a Corvette! Despite outward appearances—and this really is a spectacular 1955 Chevy Bel Air—underneath beats the heart of a C4 Corvette. With big block power, a 6-speed manual, and a fully independent suspension, this killer coupe is prepared to dominate at any level. I can guess at how much it cost to build, and I'm guessing the number is at least twice the asking price. Just look at the photos and see if you aren't blown away by the details and craftsmanship. This is one amazing Shoebox.

Appropriately, the finish is also Corvette, a C5 hue called Millenium Yellow, introduced, obviously, for the 2000 model year. It has just the right amount of red in it so it doesn't look like canary yellow, but instead has a rich, vibrant look that draws eyeballs like bees to honey. Of course, if you're going to paint it in such an attention-grabbing hue, the bodywork needs to be perfect, and this car is extremely straight. The body is all steel, and fit and finish are to typical hot rod standards—meaning it was hand-fitted and assembled so it's nearly perfect. There must be hundreds of hours of prep time in the bodywork because there's not a wave or a wrinkle anywhere on the car, and the overall effect is simply stunning.

Most of the original 1955 Bel Air trim was not only retained, but restored to concours condition with a few custom touches. You'll note that the stainless side trim remains in place, but the details and inserts have been painted to match the body instead of black as original. The rear emblem is a cool third brake light, while the one on the nose is an exact reproduction. LED tail lights give it a modern look without compromising the original design. Tinted glass all around not only looks cool, but improves the performance of the A/C inside. This car is off-the-charts nice.

One of the best features of the '55-57 Chevys are their cavernous engine bays that will handle anything from the stock Stovebolt six to something like the massive 550 cubic inch big block found in this beast. The Gen. 6 V8 was comprehensively rebuilt to make a real-world 600 horsepower, and on a chassis dyno grunts out an amazing 451 horsepower and 516 pounds of torque—at the rear wheels! This is no poser car. Rectangular port aluminum heads are surely helping to build some of that power, along with a custom roller cam, J&E forged aluminum pistons, and GM rods. Fuel injection was adapted to a massive tunnel ram setup so that it starts instantly, idles perfectly hot or cold, and pulls like a freight train at any speed. Tuned by the pros at SMG Motoring, it's real-world power that is docile and easy to handle, doesn't overheat, and runs on pump gas thanks to a 10:1 compression ratio. It's also beautiful, just like the rest of the car, and detailed for show. Tons of billet and polished aluminum provide a lot of eye candy, along with a smoothed firewall, finished inner fenders, and careful planning with the electrical and plumbing systems.

The big block is backed by a Tremec T56 6-speed manual, the same one found in Vipers, so you know it's up to the power. Out back, there's a Dana 44 from a C4 Corvette, complete with independent suspension, new halfshafts, and heavy-duty adjustable toe links. The front suspension is also from a C4 Corvette, featuring upper and lower control arms and coil-over shocks, all hanging on a custom crossmember that also incorporates rack-and-pinion steering. Of course, everything is finished to show standards, with body colored floors and matching tube frame, with silver accents on the suspension. The gorgeous custom exhaust system is all ceramic coated, so it looks awesome and will stay that way forever. Four-wheel disc brakes feature two-piece rotors up front and they're all slotted and vented, so stopping performance will be the least of your worries. The finishing touch is a set of Billet Specialties wheels wearing 225/45/18 performance radials all around.

Inside, the spectacular custom-crafted leather interior is state-of-the-art in rod building. Custom front buckets and matching hand-made rear bench give it a 21st century look, while the door panels are works of art. With integrated speakers, polished stainless trim, and a design that extends into the rear seat area, this is the work of a master craftsman. The original dash has been wrapped in matching tan leather, and the original gauge pod remains, albeit stuffed with a new instrument set from Classic Instruments. A custom-fabricated center console houses a trick billet aluminum shifter, while the A/C vents have been artfully integrated into the dash, with the controls in the original location. The equally gorgeous trunk has been fully finished to match, with more mesh inserts, the same carpets as the passenger compartment, and an access panel for the battery and stereo amplifiers.

Documentation includes an engine build sheet, dyno report, and receipts.

It takes cubic dollars to build a rod of this caliber, and whomever takes this one home will be paying pennies on the dollar for the privilege. Finished to award-winning standards with an extensive list of top-shelf components, it's a car that will blow away anything at the local level, and can compete nationally with some of the finest pro-built rods around. It's also extremely roadworthy, with great highway manners, a comfortable ride, and fully sorted mechanicals that deliver mind-bending performance that not even race cars could achieve in 1955. And it does it all with the A/C blowing cold. The ultimate 1955 Chevy? Don't bet against it!