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Sometimes the best solutions are obvious. The fellow who built this car had, in one corner of his garage, a fairly straight, but tired 1962 Chevy Bel Air coupe. And in the other corner, a 454 cubic inch Chevy V8 that needed a good home. Since 1+1=2, the answer was clear, and the result is this stunning black-on-red Bel Air that features a thundering 454 under its hood. Add in conveniences like AC, power steering, Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes and a brilliantly detailed chassis, and you get one of the most understated, yet potent cars we've ever featured!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Classic black never goes out of style, and on these early '60s Chevys, it's just plain elegant. This striking Bel Air was taken down to bare metal and placed on a rotisserie for its rebuild, and, based on appearance, it was a very solid, clean car to begin with. But since the intent was to restore original code 900 Tuxedo Black, I'm sure the guys working on it realized that merely clean wasn't good enough. Body gaps had to be precise, the panels, including those massive rear quarters, had to be arrow-straight, and the car had to fit together better than it did when it was new. Bit by bit, everything came together, and as each section of the car received its final coat of inky black paint, it was rubbed and buffed to a mirror-like shine. And, upon final assembly, the entire body was double-checked for straightness, gaps were adjusted, and it was given a final once-over with the buffer.

ENGINE

Toss the hood and you'll find a 454 cubic inch big block that makes more than 450 horsepower. Sporting a trio of two-barrel carburetors from Demon, that mill does an awfully good impersonation of a Corvette L72. The block and heads are Chevy Orange, which stands out in the Satin Black engine bay, while the accessories have all been chrome plated or polished and spin on a billet serpentine drive. And don't worry, power steering, Wilwood power disc brakes and AC are all part of the package.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

There aren't many transmissions that can stand up to the kind of power a big block can crank out, but the Muncie 4-speed in this Chevy is certainly one of them. The frame, in a brilliant move, has been painted silver, which really pops against a black underbody, providing the perfect background for a highly detailed suspension. The exhaust system looks like it follows original specifications, although it now makes good use of massive Flowmaster mufflers. And rolling stock consists of color-keyed American Racing hoops, which spin 225/50 Nitto NT450 Extreme Performance redlines in front of 255/50 Nitto NT450 Extreme Performance redlines.

INTERIOR

Beautifully restored to stock specifications, there was no reason to go wild with a custom interior because the factory nailed it right off the showroom floor. Even the original bench seat was retained, and it now sports reproduction Bel Air red cloth and vinyl covers. The carpets are correct black and red loop with reproduction red floor mats. And the dash pad is straight, along with the headliner and door panels. Nicely integrated auxiliary gauges from Classic Instruments have been installed below the original speedometer, and without looking at the faces, you might be fooled into thinking they were original. The Moon tachometer on the steering column is a cool period accessory, easily visible between the spokes of a restored steering wheel. The aforementioned AC system has been beautifully integrated in to a low-profile housing under the dash. Secret Audio provided the entertainment system, which is operated via remote so the original dash could remain clean and uncluttered. And speaking of remotes, this car also has a keyless entry system that works in conjunction with its original handles.

All the things that made these cars awesome in 1962 have been carefully preserved and highlighted, while high quality upgrades merely enhance the driving experience. Run that big engine through the gears and you'll be grinning like an escaped convict before you hit fourth gear. And you'll find yourself constantly turning to admire it after you park and start walking away. Call, click or visit [ Ссылка ] for more information.

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