The Tri Five Chevy is a platform that can be restored and resto-modded in a variety of different ways. Many are built for cruising with the original inline-six or a small-block V8. But for hot-rodders who want to crank up the performance into muscle car territory, that's always an option. The owner of this '55 Bel Air kept its appearance relatively mild, so you might think it's another cruiser at first glance. In reality, there's a built LS motor with a Whipple supercharger lurking beneath its hood.
Mike's '55 Bel Air Sleeper
In an interview with Autotopia LA, Mike (the owner of this car) explained that this car has gone through several phases. It started life with a 235ci inline-six, which he replaced with a small block V8, but that wasn't enough to satisfy his thirst for power. A 383ci stroker LS engine was installed along with a Whipple supercharger. This produced 608hp at the wheels, though that's likely underrated since Mike says the tires were spinning on the dyno.
The LS engine was paired with a Bowtie Overdrive 4L80-E built transmission and Ford 9-inch rear end, as well as Wilwood power disc brakes to bring the Chevy safely to a stop. Since this car resides in sunny California, it was fitted with a large Mattson radiator, a remote transmission cooler, and of course an intercooler for the supercharger.
The car rides on a four-link rear end with mini-tubs to accommodate 18x10.5" wide Budnik billet wheels and sticky tires. The front end has a simple upgrade to coilovers and tubular control arms, rather than a full custom frame swap.
The body was restored and repainted in the original color combination, Regal Turquoise and India Ivory. The interior was also restored using the same original colors and reproduction parts.
A few modern upgrades were added to make the driving experience easier, such as a digital gauge cluster, a separate tach, and a retro-style stereo with Bluetooth.
While many cars with this much power would switch to bucket seats and a performance-oriented billet steering wheel, Mike's '55 maintains its subtlety inside and out.
Check out the full Autotopia LA episode below to see this '55 Chevy in action, and listen to the blower whine as it smokes the rear tires!
Looking for Tri Five Chevy Parts?
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