1957 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door hardtop pro touring resto-mod. Exquisitely finished in black over black, this tri-five Chevy has fewer than 2,000 miles since a complete frame-off restoration. Although it maintains a mostly stock appearance, the chassis has been updated with a 350 cubic inch V8, four-speed manual transmission, rack-and-pinion power steering, and power disk brakes. It runs and drives considerably better than a stock '57 and also has been upgraded with comfort items such as A/C, a modern stereo and power front windows.
Paint and body present to a very nice standard, with excellent finish quality throughout and fully restored trim. Panel gaps and both the door and window fitment are particularly nice. Very tidy underneath and in the engine compartment, as you would expect for a fully restored example. The only visible deviation from stock is a set of great-looking 17-inch American Racing alloy wheels, which feel completely appropriate on a sleeper resto-mod like this.
The interior has been fully restored and updated with modern technology. Door panels and front and rear bench seats are upholstered in a tasteful combination of vinyl and velour. Custom dash features modern backlit gauges. And under the dash is a fully integrated Vintage Air heating and A/C system with a modern stereo placed in center forward of the floor shifter. The front windows have been modified for power operation and they work smoothly. Attention to detail carries through to the trunk, which is fully trimmed with upholstered panels (battery has been relocated to the trunk under a cover for better weight distribution, with battery tender connections on board).
Underneath that retro skin is where this Bel Air really shines. Equipped with a modern Chevrolet 350 mated to a four-speed manual transmission, the engine is fed by an Edelbrock 1406 four-barrel carburetor atop a Performer RPM intake and breathes though ceramic headers and Magnaflow dual exhaust. Additional performance and driveability upgrades include MSD blaster ignition, a PRC aluminum core support and radiator with dual fans and a serpentine belt setup.
The steering, suspension and brakes have been modified with a CPP State II pro-touring suspension kit, which features tubular upper and lower control arms, front and rear sway bars, adjustable front coilovers, new rear leaf springs and adjustable shocks. So if the stance is not to your liking, you may easily adjust the front and rear ride height to your preference. Thanks to this suspension setup plus rack-and-pinion power steering and Wilwood front disk brakes, this Chevy offers far a far more comfortable ride and confident handling over a stock Bel Air.
