1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR

OVERVIEW

This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, also known as "Pro-Fusion," has been featured in multiple magazines and has reportedly won 1st place in several car shows, including the Piston Powered Auto-Rama in Cleveland, Ohio and the World of Wheels event in Boston, Massachusetts. Power is provided by a built, fuel-injected Camco Racing Engines big-block V8 that has been enlarged to 540 cubic inches. Features include a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission, a custom-fabricated 4130 chrome-moly Pro Mod chassis, rack-and-pinion steering, disc brakes, a Painless Wiring wiring harness, and an MSD ignition. Finished in Brandywine Kandy over a black vinyl interior, this Bel Air is available now and comes from the selling dealer with a clear Massachusetts title.

EXTERIOR – FEATURES

During the build process, Perfection Auto in Quincy, Massachusetts replaced the quarter panels, rockers, and doors. Paul Gamache of Gamache Rod & Custom Works custom-built a hood scoop and installed a Corvette grille, new inner fenders, and a radiator filler panel. Perfection Auto finished the bodywork and repainted the exterior in House of Kolor Brandywine Kandy. Features include a chrome front bumper, a chrome grille surround, deleted windshield wipers, Bel Air bodyside trim, a trunk-mounted parachute, and a modified rear end with a wheelie bar. A walk-around video can be seen below. 

EXTERIOR - WHEELS AND TIRES

The 15" x 4" Radir Tri-Ribb front wheels and 15" x 15" Centerline Competition Series rear wheels are wrapped in Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/R radials.

INTERIOR – FEATURES

The Kirkey Racing Fabrication bucket seats, rear trim, and door panels are covered in diamond-quilted black vinyl from Carello Auto Upholstery in Warwick, Rhode Island. A Painless Wiring overhead console houses the ignition, start, fuel pump, water pump, lights, and accessory switches. The interior roll cage and floors have been powder-coated silver. Features include racing harnesses, a floor-mounted Hurst Pistol-Grip Quarter Stick automatic shifter, manual steering and brakes, and manual windows.

INTERIOR – GAUGES

A 10K-rpm AutoMeter tachometer and gauges for the fuel level, fuel pressure, fuel temperature, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and voltage are mounted in a custom panel ahead of the driver. The odometer reads 100 miles but the true mileage on this vehicle is unknown.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

Power is provided by a built, fuel-injected Camco Racing Engines big-block V8 that was bored and stroked to 540 cubic inches and connected to a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission equipped with a 10-inch ATI Treemaster torque converter and a custom driveshaft. Underhood features include a Crower Magnum half-inch crankshaft, Callies Ultra I-beam connecting rods, JE Pistons 11.5:1 domed pistons, and a custom-ground COMP Cams camshaft. Additional features include Brodix heads, Kinsler fuel injection, a dual-quad tunnel ram, an Enderle Bug Catcher, an Enderle mechanical fuel pump, an MSD Crank Trigger ignition, an MSD 7AL-2 box, and Tubular Automotive exhaust headers.

UNDERCARRIAGE

Tube Chassis Designz of Hanson, Massachusetts custom-built a 4130 chrome-moly double-rail Pro Mod chassis certified to 6.50 and compliant with SFI 2.51E specifications. The front suspension consists of a Santhuff’s Suspension Specialties double-adjustable coil-over struts with 4.5 inches of travel, custom-fabricated chrome-moly lower control arms, and Strange Engineering manual rack-and-pinion steering. The rear end consists of a Strange Engineering nine-inch steel housing, a nine-inch Strange Engineering Pro Iron center section with a spool, 4.30:1 gears, and 40-spline gun-drilled axles. The rear axle is mounted with a custom-fabricated four-link setup, sway bar, and Panhard bar, and double-adjustable Strange Engineering Ultra Series drag race coil-overs. Braking is provided by a manual Strange Engineering dual master cylinder, stainless steel lines, and Aerospace Components 11 ¾-inch vented front and 11 3/8-inch drilled rear discs with four-piston calipers.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

The videos below show the vehicle in greater detail.