December 20, 2024

LS7-Powered 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop

This 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air, a two-door hardtop, underwent a meticulous transformation in 2011 at Blewett’s Rod Shop in Venice, Florida. The revitalization included installing a formidable 7.0-liter LS7 V8 engine and a robust four-speed automatic transmission. The exterior boasts a striking green and black color scheme, while the interior features a harmonious blend of leather and suede. Noteworthy enhancements include a Ford 9″ rear end, Billet Specialties wheels, Baer four-wheel power disc brakes, power steering, and Hotchkis Performance suspension components. The cabin is equipped with front bucket seats, a center console, Vintage Air air conditioning, and a Pioneer CD receiver. The current seller acquired this bubbletop Bel Air in 2024, and it is now available in Texas with a clean Florida title and a copy of StreetScene magazine, which featured the car.

The pillarless bubbletop body sports green-painted upper surfaces contrasted by black fenders and doors, set upon a boxed and filled chassis. The two-tone finish is accentuated by full-length body-side spears, and chrome details adorn the bumpers, mirrors, window trim, and Bel Air badging. The hood and front fender emblems have been shaved, the tail panel molding removed, and the bumpers smoothed for a sleek appearance.

Billet Specialties polished Stiletto wheels, 18″ in the front and 20″ in the rear, are fitted with 245/40 and 295/40 Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires, respectively. The front suspension features control arms, coil springs, and OESpectrum Monroe shocks, with sway bars at both ends. The rear suspension consists of coil springs, tube shocks, and a Hotchkis adjustable panhard rod and lower trailing arms. The power steering unit originates from a 1998 Oldsmobile 98, while braking is handled by Baer four-wheel cross-drilled and slotted discs with polished four-piston calipers and a Willwood master cylinder.

Inside, the interior was expertly crafted with green leather and black suede inserts by Paul Atkins Interiors in Hanceville, Alabama. The smoothed dashboard is finished in black, and additional features include front bucket seats, an Atkins-designed center console, and gray wool carpeting with black carpeted mats. Concealed in the glovebox are a Pioneer DEH-P80MP CD receiver and controls for a Vintage Air climate-control system, all wired with a Painless Performance harness.

The three-spoke billet steering wheel fronts green-on-black instrumentation, including a 140-mph horizontal speedometer and Classic Instruments readouts for fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. A 10k-rpm tachometer is mounted on the center console ahead of the Lokar shifter. The six-digit odometer shows 6k miles, with a few added by the selling dealer. True mileage is indeterminate.

The 7.0-liter LS7 V8 engine was sourced from the late Mark Campbell’s Street & Performance of Mena, Arkansas. It features color-matched fuel rail covers, a chrome air-intake elbow, a Spectre air filter, Taylor ignition wires, ceramic-coated long-tube headers, and a dual exhaust system with Flowmaster Hushpower II mufflers.

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels through a 4L60E four-speed automatic overdrive transmission and a Ford 9″ rear end. Additional underbody photos are available in the gallery.

The vehicle is accompanied by a copy of the April 2012 issue of the National Street Rod Association’s StreetScene magazine, which featured this remarkable automobile.



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