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Boosted Bel Air a class act

Friday, 13 August 2021

Octane Fix Online takes a close look at Richard and Jacqui Thomson’s stunning 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

This article was first published in Octane Fix Online magazine.

Richard and Jacqui Thomson’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 of its packaging from 1957.

A 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is a fantastic looking car, but Richard and Jacqui Thomson’s is utterly stunning.
A 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is a fantastic looking car, but Richard and Jacqui Thomson’s is utterly stunning.

The upholstery is leather throughout and looks completely at home in the Bel Air, and the seats are comparable to a modern-day leather lounge suite to give you comfort and style when cruising the highways.

**READ MORE:

It’s all in keeping with the original style, but the interior has been completely redone in luxurious leather.
It’s all in keeping with the original style, but the interior has been completely redone in luxurious leather.

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Is there any part of a ‘57 Chev that isn’t stylish and classy?
Is there any part of a ‘57 Chev that isn’t stylish and classy?

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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 above, this 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 pedal gets pushed down, this thing is going to jump like no standard 1957 Bel Air ever did.

This all drops back to a TH400 automatic transmission to keep it a cruiser, but tricked a tad with a 2500rpm stall converter for when you want a play.

This automobile plays with your mind – it is built like a hot rod, with the get-up and go, wide sticky tyres to keep it on the road, and 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, comfort 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.

Octane Fix is an online magazine for the grassroots car enthusiast – check out the latest issue here.