Tag Archives: California

1956 Bel Air Roadster Project “Open Air” Unveiling SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog

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1956 Bel Air Roadster Project “Open Air” Unveiling SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog.

1956_BELAIR_ROADSTER_PROJECT_OPEN_AIR

On almost every season of Chop Cut Rebuild, Classic Industries builds an awesome project and 2012 SEMA’s project is no exception. Project “Open Air” is an LSA-powered ’56 Bel Air Roadster (that’s not a misprint, it’s a roadster not a convertible). The entire build will air on Chop Cut Rebuild’s 9th season. The first episode will air mid January.

 

LSA SUPERCHARGED 1956 BEL AIR 650x433 image

 

 

 

It started from a ’56 Bel Air found in a backyard in Compton, California. They got it back to Classic Industries’ shop in Huntington Beach, CA, only to realize that the entire car had started to bow in the middle because of rust. They called upon Art Morrison for a chassis and Real Deal Steel Bodies for a convertible body. Chevrolet Performance supplied the LSA crate engine and 4L85E transmission. Dakota Digital helped out with the gauges and C.A.R.S. Inc. stepped in with the interior.

 

The project was finished only hours before loading it on a trailer to be unveiled at the 2012 SEMA show. The build coincided with Classic Industries’ new tri-five catalog that was introduced April, 2012. Check back later as we will have build photos of project “Open Air.”

 

Parking Lot Spotlight – 1963 Mercury

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Here’s another Parking Lot Spotlight.

I love just about any car in a 2 door configuration older than 1975.  This two door Monterey is no exception.

1963 Monterey  – you can see my newer than 1975 two door in the pic.

Tail light configuration. Love the over hang on the rear electric window.

The Monterey was a large heavy car, even the two door configuration, nearly 4000 lbs. It came in 4 door and 2 door body styles with only about 8000 combined production between the 2 door sedan and the 2 door coup.  (The Monterey Custom had 3 separate 2 door models – the Mar fsback coup, hard top coup and convertible.)

Engines were V8’s, mainly  the 390 with a bore and stroke of 4.05 x 2.94.  Compression was 8.9:1 and managed about 101 hp with a ford C3OF-9510 two barrel.  (1963 Mercury used the 427 in their NASCAR offerings, grabbing 1 Grand National win.  It was the first appearance of the 427 in a Merc.)

This one will need a little work before it’s ready for the track!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim