Amazing pro build. 350 with EFI, 700R4, leather, A/C, PW, PS, PB

Description

Some cars rise above the others and you can tell at first sight that this 1955 Chevrolet 210 is something special. It’s more than the glow of the paint, the shine of the chrome, or the rumble of the exhaust. It’s more like the impression you get when you subconsciously see how tight the gaps are, how well the trim fits, and yes, how perfectly it runs. It’s not just that it’s all-new, it’s that someone was sweating all the details when it came together, making sure that everything worked just right and felt precise in action. As a bare-tub rotisserie restoration, this incredible Chevy is 100% new and there’s not a single component on it that isn’t fresh out of the box. There’s a huge investment in cash here, of course, but even more than that, there’s time: time getting it finished, time spent on the details, and time spent getting it to run and drive as it should. It’s rare to find a car that looks like a trailer queen but runs like a new Camaro, yet here it is.

The goal was to build a car with a ‘70s Auto-Rama vibe without going too far into the wacky zone, and I think they’ve succeeded. Starting with an incredibly solid Chevy 2-door, they stripped it bare and started rebuilding it almost at the molecular level. Chevy fans will quickly spot the Nomad quarter panels, which open up the wheel arches and give this coupe a slightly different look. Using brand new sheetmetal also means that they could get the fit just right and the invisible seams between the old and new are a testament to the quality of the work. You’d swear that the factory built it this way. Everything else was neatly finished and lined up, and it’s tangible in everything you touch. The doors swing easily and close with a wonderfully precise SNUNK sound that’s hard to describe. The hood pivots on fresh billet hinges with miniature pneumatic struts to hold it open, so no more banging your head due to failing old springs. And there’s a pseudo hood scoop up front to add a little character without taking away from the overall look. The paint is simply called “Medium Garnet Red” and it comes from a luxury car pallet, but it looks just about right on the vintage Chevy bodywork. They took it easy on the metallic (no need to go completely back to the ‘70s) so it has an elegant, high-quality look that’s visible from a mile away. The shine is deep and reflective and you won’t find any ripples or waves anywhere on this car. As I said, there’s a HUGE investment in time to get everything just right.

All the chrome was refinished as well, including the 1-piece California bumpers (this is an original California car). You’ll quickly spot the Corvette grille inserted up front, which is a favorite upgrade that makes a big difference in the look, and that side trim is from a 1955 Pontiac—bet you didn’t even notice because it looks like it belongs there. The remaining trim, from the headlight bezels to the door handles to the taillight housings is new. A few bits have been shaved to give it a clean look, and it was custom pinstriped in a few key areas for a traditional look. Nothing too ostentatious, just a clean design that looks right on the nose and tail.

The tan leather interior is 100% new as well. It replicates the original patterns and look but the plush feel is beyond anything they were doing in 1955. No modern buckets so it has a vintage feel, but you do have all the creature comforts to which we’ve become accustomed today. The power windows zip up and down faster than on a new Cadillac, the A/C blows cold enough to store a side of beef in the back seat, and there’s a killer Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo system that sounds especially good thanks to extensive sound-deadening materials used throughout the cabin. Add in the handsome plush carpets, the wood-rimmed billet wheel, and those trick Dakota Digital gauges, and you have a car that feels far more upscale than a vintage Chevy should. And again, everything is new, from the door handles to the shiny billet insert on the dash, and even the clock over on the passenger’s side is fully operational. You’ll note the tilt column’s shifter quadrant has four positions for the 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission underneath and the Vintage Air A/C controls are a dead-ringer for the originals. 3-point seat belts were added for front seat passengers and the headliner is a work of art all by itself. The trunk is modestly finished with a matching carpet mat bound at the edges, and you can see that even in the trunk the paint was professionally wet sanded and buffed. Impressive!

For performance and reliability, it’s still hard to beat a small block Chevy, and after all, that’s what came in this car originally. This is a GM crate 350 fitted with aluminum heads, an upgraded camshaft, and the other usual bolt-on upgrades, so it’s a fantastic runner. A big part of that is the FAST fuel injection system sitting on top of a Summit aluminum hi-rise intake, which makes this car run like it was built in 2015, not 1955. Turn the key and the system pressurizes in a second or two, then fire it up. It idles smoothly at 700 RPM right off the bat—no fussy choke or finicky throttle problems. Just start and go. There’s a very trick touch-screen interface hidden in the glove box that allows you to tune the engine as you drive and monitor conditions in real-time, a fantastic tool for getting everything right. And it looks just as good as it runs, with chrome Chevrolet valve covers and a matching air cleaner, a polished billet aluminum serpentine belt accessory drive, and a giant Griffin aluminum radiator up front with a pair of fans to manage heat. Of course, everything is new, including wiring, hoses, belts, and all the stainless hardware.

Underneath, it’s just as impeccably clean and well-detailed, starting with a rare California-only one-piece frame. You’ll note there are no seams on this frame, which is how it was built and what differentiates a California car from all the others. It was painted satin black along with most of the other suspension bits, so it has a highly detailed look against the beautifully finished Garnet Red floors. A 3-inch exhaust system with X-pipe and modest mufflers sounds suitably racy but never gets annoying (since this car was designed to cruise long distances in comfort). The front suspension uses tubular lower control arms and disc brakes, while a Ford 9-inch hangs on leaf springs out back with 3.55 gears inside, which works great with the overdrive transmission. All the lines, hoses, fittings, and hardware is new and everything has been polished or plated to look its best. It rides and handles beautifully with zero squeaks and rattles inside, a precise, buttoned-down feeling on the road, and from behind the wheel, it’s hard to remember that this car is now 62 years old. There’s a brand new gas tank hanging out back and it sits on a set of traditional Centerline wheels with 215/70/15 front and 255/70/15 rear BFGoodrich T/A radials.

This car includes receipts and build photos so you can see exactly how extensive the build really was.

This car is flat-out nicer than 99% of the stuff you see at shows. It’s beautifully built, tastefully designed, and fully sorted so it’s ready to drive anywhere, anytime. If you like the traditional look, this car nails it, but there’s also a modern twist, so a few quick changes could give it an entirely different personality. That takes talent. No excuses, no asterisks, no question marks, just the cleanest, straightest, best-driving Tri-Five Chevy we’ve ever featured. Call today!