Man Restores 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air in Two Years, Hides a Little Surprise Under the Hood
The Bel Air was the model that brought home the bacon for Chevrolet during the '50s, but its popularity slightly declined when the parent company launched the Impala.
Unveiled in 1958, the Impala was the model that everybody wanted, sporting all the bells and whistles of a full-size Chevy.
The Bel Air became plan B almost overnight, and once the Impala was promoted to a separate series in 1959, many people who didn't mind spending extra for the top full-size Chevrolet no longer wanted the model that started it all.
However, the Bel Air remained an intriguing presence on the road. It shared almost everything with the Impala, including the looks, the engine, and new model year updates. This is why some people use Bel Air projects to build Impala clones, as the differences between the two are not as big as you'd expect.
The 1964 Bel Air in these photos retained its original designation, but the way it looks today is fabulous, thanks to a proper destination conducted by eBay seller troys810. They claim the project took more than two years, but the Bel Air is now a rust-free desert car with everything working and either new or rebuilt.
While it doesn't make sense to discuss its condition because it's obvious that this Bel Air is already in tip-top shape, it's important to insist on the rust-free part. The car flexes spotless metal, and the seller has also put the car on a lift and took photos of the undersides. You won't have to worry about any damage underneath because it looks flawless, so the Bel Air is flawless inside, outside, and under the hood (before you rush to point the obvious body issues, know that the seller specifically retained the patina and didn't want to repaint the car).
And speaking of what happens under the hood, this Bel Air is fitted with a 350ci V8 engine donated by a truck. The owner doesn't share many specifics, saying that the V8 was rebuilt for the truck but eventually pulled from the vehicle 1,000 miles. It was installed in this Bel Air and is paired with a 350 transmission. It starts, runs, and drives perfectly, so the car is ready for the road.
The car landed online with a $10,000 starting bid, but the owner has also configured a $35,000 Buy It Now price if someone wants to get the car without a fight. This is somewhat surprising, considering the auction comes without a reserve, so if a single person enters the race for the car and sends a $10K bid, they can buy the vehicle significantly cheaper.
The digital battle is projected to end in five days, so it'll be interesting to see how many people eventually submit their offers. The Bel Air is parked in Lincoln, Nebraska, if you want to see it in person.
Unveiled in 1958, the Impala was the model that everybody wanted, sporting all the bells and whistles of a full-size Chevy.
The Bel Air became plan B almost overnight, and once the Impala was promoted to a separate series in 1959, many people who didn't mind spending extra for the top full-size Chevrolet no longer wanted the model that started it all.
However, the Bel Air remained an intriguing presence on the road. It shared almost everything with the Impala, including the looks, the engine, and new model year updates. This is why some people use Bel Air projects to build Impala clones, as the differences between the two are not as big as you'd expect.
The 1964 Bel Air in these photos retained its original designation, but the way it looks today is fabulous, thanks to a proper destination conducted by eBay seller troys810. They claim the project took more than two years, but the Bel Air is now a rust-free desert car with everything working and either new or rebuilt.
While it doesn't make sense to discuss its condition because it's obvious that this Bel Air is already in tip-top shape, it's important to insist on the rust-free part. The car flexes spotless metal, and the seller has also put the car on a lift and took photos of the undersides. You won't have to worry about any damage underneath because it looks flawless, so the Bel Air is flawless inside, outside, and under the hood (before you rush to point the obvious body issues, know that the seller specifically retained the patina and didn't want to repaint the car).
And speaking of what happens under the hood, this Bel Air is fitted with a 350ci V8 engine donated by a truck. The owner doesn't share many specifics, saying that the V8 was rebuilt for the truck but eventually pulled from the vehicle 1,000 miles. It was installed in this Bel Air and is paired with a 350 transmission. It starts, runs, and drives perfectly, so the car is ready for the road.
The car landed online with a $10,000 starting bid, but the owner has also configured a $35,000 Buy It Now price if someone wants to get the car without a fight. This is somewhat surprising, considering the auction comes without a reserve, so if a single person enters the race for the car and sends a $10K bid, they can buy the vehicle significantly cheaper.
The digital battle is projected to end in five days, so it'll be interesting to see how many people eventually submit their offers. The Bel Air is parked in Lincoln, Nebraska, if you want to see it in person.