135712 / 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

For more information on this vehicle visit http://tinyurl.com/hpjaykv

This RKM-built Bel Air, with its massaged LS3, incredible aesthetics and thoroughly modern mechanicals, blends an array of custom, driver-friendly attributes into a pro-touring package that virtually anyone can enjoy!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Sure, this killer combination of green and silver wasn't on the Chevy color chart back in 1955, but it certainly looks the part on this awesome Bel Air. These cars lend themselves to classic 2-tone better than anything in the hobby, and this hardtop's remarkable combination of Jade Metallic and Mercedes-Benz Silver certainly freshens up a timeless hot rod paint scheme. Interestingly, that scheme, and the car it's sealed to, came about through quite a bit of observation and planning. For starters, this Chevy's present owner purchased a clean classic (link) from our RK Motors Charlotte inventory page. Then he cited a second Bel Air, from our sold inventory page (link), that he loved the appearance of. Finally, he contracted the pros at our own RKM Performance Center to combine solid metal and lofty vision into an incredible, 6-figure pro-tourer.

The build began when the car was fully disassembled, mounted to a rotisserie and completely soda-blasted of its predictable Candy Red pigment. As we assumed, all steel was solid with the exception of the hood, which was replaced by a high quality reproduction piece. After some epoxy, a bit of primer and hours of blocking, the scene was set for wet-looking PPG 2-stage. But, as you probably noticed, the car that inspired this Bel Air's paint scheme actually had a Champagne Metallic base. Well, everyone seemed to agree that Mercedes-Benz Silver was a bit fresher looking. And as for the Jade, it was lifted directly from the muse with one exception: Fab Manager Darell Johnston mixed in copious gold flake to make it REALLY pop. The build was completed in early 2016, just in time for the car's owner to enjoy a full season of cruising. And, as you can tell from our high resolution photography, the RKM Performance Center's level of expertise pretty much speaks for itself.

ENGINE

Glance under this Chevy's domed hood and you'll find a gorgeous Chevrolet Performance LS376/525 that's been built, polished and tweaked to 10.7 to 1 compression and a stout 525 horsepower! At the top of the block, custom cold air components funnel wind in to a proven GM throttle body, which feeds a lightweight GM intake. That air meets spark in rectangular-port L92-style heads, which hide high-rate springs under polished Holley valve covers. A nodular crank, powdered connecting rods and hypereutectic pistons compress that volatile union. A racing-inspired ASA cam maximizes intake efficiency through better breathing. Speaking of breathing, the smooth mill funnels spent gases through ceramic-coated Sanderson headers. There's a polished Be Cool radiator that's slid between a polished condenser and spry puller fans. And modern serpentine components spin a rebuilt alternator beside a GM water pump.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Bottom-side, a full Art Morrison chassis rolls on a fourth generation Corvette suspension that's supplemented with adjustable coil-over-shocks. Behind the hot small block, a 3,000 RPM stall converter kicks a GM-supplied 4L60E 4-speed, which easily torques a limited-slip differential and big, 3.73 gears. At the front of the car, aluminum control arms frame power rack-and-pinion steering. Stops come courtesy of Baer and Corvette calipers, which utilize hydroboost assist to squeeze drilled and slotted rotors. An official soundtrack is composed by $2,350 worth of custom exhaust, installed by Kooks of Statesville, North Carolina, which wraps stainless, Mandrel-bent pipes around beefy mufflers. And grip is provided by stylish Billet Specialties blades, which spin 235/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports in front of 275/35ZR20 Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

INTERIOR

Between the doors, traditional '50s style is augmented with $16,500 worth of custom leather that was installed by Chuck's Hot Rod Interiors of Mooresville, North Carolina. The car's gray and green seats, firm buckets that were sourced from a 2011 Camaro, feature power operation for both the driver and front passenger. In front of those thrones, a leather-capped dash dresses Dakota Digital telemetry and Vintage Air Gen III climate control in bowtie-branded stainless. Below that dash, a custom, full-length console anchors a short Lokar shifter between chrome power window switches and Pioneer touchscreen audio. And in front of the driver, a small diameter steering wheel laps a tilting Ididit column.

With its impressive engine, comfortable interior and relentless style, this slick '55 is sure to be a blast! Call, click or visit http://RKMotorsCharlotte.com for more information.