It’s long been normal practice to name one’s car, and it’s fairly common for car buffs to treat their car like a glorious sea vessel and refer to it as a woman. Chevrolet Performance, then, would like it if you could refer to its rat-rod SEMA build, a ’56 Bel Air sedan, as Bela. We have no problems doing so, because Bela’s quite the lady.
Few cars are as inherently suited to hot-rodding as is Chevrolet’s mid-to-late ’50s coupes and sedans, and even fewer still can rock a scarred patina so effectively. Chevrolet Performance hits on both bogeys with Bela, which was given VIP parking in Mobil 1’s 2015 SEMA booth. To give you an idea of why the parking space in Mobil 1’s territory is a big deal, consider that last year, Porsche builder Magnus Walker displayed his favorite 911 there.
In an extensive build chronicled on Chevy Performance’s fan site theblock.com, a Chevrolet team purchased the ’56 and immediately set about mitigating Bela’s significant rust issues. Floors were replaced, body rust tempered, and everything generally cleaned up without ruining the aged finish. The frame was gone over and painted, while a Vortec-superharged GM LS3 V-8 was plunked into the front cradle. (A COPO intake manifold also was fitted, giving Bela a little drag cred, and the camouflage valve covers are unexpected.) Wilwood brakes at all four corners help this 400-to-500-hp dancer stay in control, while an air suspension tugs Bela’s bottom down low. A totally fresh interior brightens her inner glow.
article credit: Alexander Stoklosa car and driver
tags: chevrolet
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