LS2 Powered '55 Chevrolet Bel Air 6 Speed
It may look like a mild custom '55 Chevy, but this Bel Air is a well-built, timeless restomod!
Made for Each Other
LS motors and '55 to '57 Chevys go together like ice cream and hot fudge. Looking at the picture of this '55 Bel Air it's easy to see why. And while it may look like a hot rodded '55 two-door sedan, it has most of the features of a modern car. Part of that's due to the LS2 motor, but there's more to this Bel Air than meets the eye.
Photo: Bring A Trailer
6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Motor
Offered for sale recently on Bring A Trailer, the '55 Chevrolet is powered by a 6.0 liter LS2 V8. The LS2 is part of GM's Gen IV engine lineup making it the great-grandson of the original Chevy small-block V8. The V8 for 1955 displaced 265 cubic inches and the most powerful version produced 195 horsepower. By comparison, the LS2 displaces almost 365 cubic inches and puts out around 400 horsepower. That's more than double the giddy-up this Bel Air had originally!
Photo: Bring A Trailer
Timeless Two-Tone Exterior
Cars of the 1950s were painted bright colors. Hues like seafoam green, pink, yellow, or turquoise were commonplace. Many cars were also painted two-tone colors. It wasn't unusual to see a 1955 Chevy with a blue and white color scheme. Looking at the restoration pictures for this car on Bring A Trailer it appears the blue and white color scheme is pretty close to the original. The seller doesn't disclose the exact color, but it looks timeless.
Photo: Bring A Trailer
True Blue Through and Through
The blue and white two-tone theme carries throughout the car - even the upholstery matches! The seats look like they are made out of blue suede. I don't know if the seller is an Elvis fan, but I owned this car, I'd tell people to lay off the blue suede. I'm also sure the King would approve of the car and this color.
Photo: Bring A Trailer
A Full Compliment of Gauges and Modern Amenities
While the outside of the '55 Chevy looks original, the interior got a major upgrade. A full set of gauges span the dashboard. A Kenwood touchscreen CD/DVD stereo with Bluetooth and USB ports provides premium sound. Aftermarket A/C, power windows, power seats, and a custom console provide modern amenities. The new owner of this car will not only look good cruising around but feel good thanks to all of these upgrades.
Photo: Bring A Trailer
Aftermarket Sound is No Afterthought
One area that's an afterthought on many custom cars is the trunk. But the trunk for this '55 Chevy is well thought out. Not only does the blue and white color theme carry over to the trunk, but the trim and carpet are just as nice as the interior. Even the subwoofer box is nicely finished. In some cases, the subwoofers are mounted in a bare plywood box and crammed next to a spare tire. But not in this Bel Air!
Photo: Bring A Trailer
From Farmer's Field to Finished Dream
The seller's documents indicate the body of this '55 Chevy came out of a farmer's field in central Iowa. It was restored over a period of eight years into the show-car in these pictures. The rebuilt drivetrain and many mechanical parts were provided from a '98 Camaro donor car. The car sits on a custom chassis and has a Ford 9-inch rear end. The suspension is a full set of coil-overs and the brakes are modern discs on all four wheels. The wheels themselves are American Racing allows that give the car a vintage hot rod look. Everything is new, rebuilt, or reconditioned making this timeless classic '55 Chevy a true restomod.
Photo: Bring A Trailer
>>Join the conversation about this LS2-powered Bel Air right here in LS1Tech Forum!
For help with the service of your car, check out the how-to section of LS1Tech.com.