RICHARD AND JACQUI THOMSON’S Classy boosted CHEVY BEL AIR

OCTANE FIX ONLINE ISSUE 04

Some of you might think I’m coming out of the closet talking about this Chevy here, being a socalled Ford man and all, but I’m thinking this would look pretty damn cool parked in my shed.

Richard and Jacqui’s Bel Air grabbed my attention as soon I spotted it parked in a field full of cool rods, but when I actually got over to check it out, that’s when I knew it had me for sure! There isn’t anything on this automobile that hasn’t been dressed up, modified or had some sort of custom trickery done to it to make it classy yet not over the top and in your face. The interior exudes luxury like a top of the line sports car, but looks as if it came from the era with the chrome handle window winders and door handles still protruding from the tan leather door trims. It honestly looks straight out of its packaging from 1957! The upholstery is leather throughout and looks completely at home in the Bel Air. The seats are comparable to a modernday leather lounge suite to give you comfort and style when cruising the highways. Bel Airs are already elegant, with extra chrome and stainless steel trims dressing them up from your average every day Chevy, they are a high class looking automobile for sure. The paintwork on this build certainly takes on the sophistication of the styling with the two-tone colouring. The champagne coloured roof flows down the sides to the stainless window surround and somehow lifts the car from being a hot rod to a luxury car. When I mentioned the custom trickery before, this is when the “oh WOW” kicked in. Tucked away under the bonnet so no one knows is a tricky little Weiand 144 Supercharger feeding air into a stroker 383 small block Chevy. This little honey feeds air at 7.3psi into that small block, so you know when that gas peddal gets pushed down, this thing is going to jump like no standard 1957 Bel Air ever did. If you’ve seen my build, you will know I love these under bonnet blowers. The everyday practicality of having it tucked away yet there to keep the torque on tap whenever you want it makes for a cool build, and yes this thing does push you

back into the seat when a smile is required! This all drops back to a TH400 automatic trans to keep it a cruiser but tricked a tad with a 2500rpm stall converter for when you want a play. This automobile plays with my mind it does! It is built like a hot rod with the get up and go, wide sticky tyres to keep it on the road, disc brakes all around to pull up that blown stroker, yet sits so classily as if saying “what – I’m innocent”. It really is a beautiful automobile to ride in. The style, comfiness and beautiful V8 rumble takes you right back in time to when these works of art were built to reflect the space race. The Fifties were truly an awesome era for auto designers to show their stuff and this is a perfect example even with its modifications. CAR’S NAME: Depends on my mood

YEAR: 1957

MAKE/MODEL: Chevy, Bel Air Sports Coupe

ENGINE: 383 stroker with a 144 Weiand blower producing 455 RWHP, Boost 7.3 PSI 750 Holley boost referenced carb, ARF performance heads 4 bolt mains GM block, gear drive, Ice ignition 2 1/2 inch exhaust with electric cutouts

TRANSMISSION: Was a Turbo 350 but we beefed up and put in an Auto TH400 3 speed with a 2500 torque converter