autoevolution
 

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Looks Rad on 24s, Sounds Like a Muscle Car

Arguably one of the most iconic classic cars from the 1950s, the Chevrolet Bel Air is a highly desirable rig nowadays. But because Chevrolet built millions of them, many are still rotting away in junkyards.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 7 photos
Photo: WhipAddict/YouTube
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air1957 Chevrolet Bel Air1957 Chevrolet Bel Air1957 Chevrolet Bel Air1957 Chevrolet Bel Air1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
The good news is that the Bel Air is also a great platform for restomods. So while many examples get restored, the ones that need new sheet metal or a new chassis end up as restomods with modern underpinnings.

The Bel Air you're looking at here is not one of those cars. It's not a restored classic either. It's something in between because it still rocks its original body panels while riding on modern wheels and boasting a custom interior. And that's exactly what makes it special.

Finished in Matador Red, arguably one of the most popular Chevrolet colors from the 1950s, this Bel Air drop-top is slightly fancier than stock, thanks to a set of larger-than-usual wheels.

Yes, 24 inches may seem like a lot given that the Bel Air came with 15-inch rollers from the factory, but this Tri-Five looks tremendous on them. It may have to do with the red inserts and the low-profile profile tires, but this Bel Air ain't no donk. And I'd dare say it looks a bit more stylish than the usual factory-stock Bel Air.

While the sheet metal was not altered in any way (and it still includes gold trim on the hood and front fenders), the interior was overhauled except for the dashboard. We're talking modern seats with stitching, a new center console storage compartments, and redone door panels. All finished in two-tone cream leather.

Okay, maybe it doesn't work all that well with the red dashboard, but it's not unpleasant to look at either. And check out the flat-bottom steering wheels. That's something you rarely see in a Bel Air.

Moving on to the reason why this Tri-Five is not a full-blown restomod, the drop-top is said to have a "stock motor" under the hood. There's no info on displacement, but it could very well be the popular 283-cubic-inch (4.6-liter) V8. On the flip side, it does have a MagnaFlow exhaust system, so it definitely sounds better than the average Bel Air.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I heard the lady in the video say something about a "350," so maybe this Bel Air hides a more modern LS under the hood. Sadly, we don't get to see what's in the engine bay, so we'll never know.

Either way, this Bel Air is as sexy as 1957 Tri-Fives get and one of the coolest builds I've seen in a long time (despite being rather simple inside and out). Check it out in the video below.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Ciprian Florea
Ciprian Florea profile photo

Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories