The two-door hardtop version of the Bel Air is the most desirable version of the Tri-Five lineup, but it's just one of six different body styles. Chevy also built four-door sedans, a convertible, and a couple of station wagons, the Nomad included. When the Bel Air was redesigned for the fourth generation in 1959, Chevrolet also introduced a two-door coupe utility model, the iconic El Camino. And I've always wondered what if Chevy had offered an El Camino based on the Tri-Five? This custom build answers that question.
This one-off El Camino started life as a 1957 Tri-Five wagon. The owner says that his dad cut the roof, leaving the trunk section exposed as a truck-like bed. To cover the seats, he then welded the back section of a four-door Tri-Five roof. And this is exactly what sets it apart from other Tri-Five El Camino projects.
While most of them have vertical rear windows/panels, this one boasts a sloping roof for a more stylish appearance. Making things that much more interesting, the rear window is shaped like a Chevrolet bowtie. It's an El Camino before Chevrolet actually built one.
Mods aren't restricted to just the bodywork. Instead of the original 4.6-liter small-block V8, this chopped pickup packs a 6.1-liter Edelbrock engine. The owner doesn't provide any details or numbers, but it's probably a crate engine that packs more oomph than the original.
The video doesn't show the engine running, but there's some interesting footage of the owner's other Bel Air. That would be a two-door hardtop turned dragster and fitted with an 8.1-liter V8 with Crower stack injection on alcohol and other race-spec upgrades.
The Bel Air does a 1/8-mile test run at 6.13 seconds to go with a trap speed of 112.2 mph (180.56 kph), but the owner says it can be quicker than that. His best benchmark so far on the 1/8-mile is 5.94 seconds at 117 mph (188.29 kph). He also ran his quickest quarter-mile in 8.98 clicks at 148 mph (238.18 kph). Impressive, to say the least!
While most of them have vertical rear windows/panels, this one boasts a sloping roof for a more stylish appearance. Making things that much more interesting, the rear window is shaped like a Chevrolet bowtie. It's an El Camino before Chevrolet actually built one.
Mods aren't restricted to just the bodywork. Instead of the original 4.6-liter small-block V8, this chopped pickup packs a 6.1-liter Edelbrock engine. The owner doesn't provide any details or numbers, but it's probably a crate engine that packs more oomph than the original.
The video doesn't show the engine running, but there's some interesting footage of the owner's other Bel Air. That would be a two-door hardtop turned dragster and fitted with an 8.1-liter V8 with Crower stack injection on alcohol and other race-spec upgrades.
The Bel Air does a 1/8-mile test run at 6.13 seconds to go with a trap speed of 112.2 mph (180.56 kph), but the owner says it can be quicker than that. His best benchmark so far on the 1/8-mile is 5.94 seconds at 117 mph (188.29 kph). He also ran his quickest quarter-mile in 8.98 clicks at 148 mph (238.18 kph). Impressive, to say the least!