1969 Chevrolet Bel Air

All vehicle trades considered including classics and performance. We can assist with financing and shipping as needed. Here we have a real sleeper. With a pedestrian looking exterior that is void of any add-ons or updates, this 1969 Bel Air appears to be an average B-body sedan from the late 1960’s. Sure, it looks nice enough, but is it anything special? That question is definitively answered by the twin-turbo LS drivetrain that makes this car an absolute blast to drive. This project started with a straight and solid Bel Air. As a 2-door sedan this platform has a stronger body than the hardtop - definitely a plus when the power is being upgraded. This also provides windows with a full frame that provide better sealing (especially after six decades). The underside is free of any rust problems and appears all original. The old Garnet Red paint is the perfect finish for this car, showing plenty of wear but still in fair condition overall with a decent shine. Same with the bumpers and trim pieces. Note the fender mounted turn signals too. The 15” steel wheels have new tires and come with a set of hub caps as well. While the exterior provides a nice disguise, the heart of this car is a twin turbocharged 5.7L aluminum LS engine. It was rebuilt for this car with an appropriate camshaft and ring gaps for a boosted engine. It runs on pump premium gasoline and uses a pair of 68mm CXRACING turbochargers running 10psi of boost. They are fed by heat-wrapped headers and push through a single intercooler. Cooling is handled by an aluminum radiator and dual electric fans. The engine is followed by a built 4L80E automatic overdrive transmission with an aftermarket torque converter. This feeds a custom driveshaft followed by a 12-bolt Positraction rear end with 3.73 gears. Power front disc brakes are present along with a line lock. This big Chevy is also equipped with power steering– a must with a car this size. The front suspension has been upgraded with tubular control arms while the rear suspension uses the factory triangulated 4-link with Panhard bar. The interior furthers the car’s character. You will not find racing buckets, a ratcheting floor shifter, or an enormous tach with a shift light. Instead, it gives the appearance of a classic grocery getter. The bench seats are very nicely trimmed in black vinyl upholstery with textured cloth inserts. Seat belts are present for six occupants along with two shoulder belts. The carpet, door panels, and headliner are all in great condition and have a clean factory appearance. The lights, turn signals, hazards, heater, defroster, vents, wipers, horn, and parking brake all work as they should. At first inspection the dashboard appears to be that of a basic Bel Air, but a closer look reveals a slick Dakota Digital instrument panel with analog style gauges and a digital center display. Everything functions properly with the modern LS engine including the Check Engine light. You will also find gauges for boost pressure and air/fuel ratio near the bottom of the dash. The car is further equipped with a digital AM/FM/Bluetooth sound system along with a functional cruise control. This Bel Air is truly two tons of fun. It has a subdued classic look and doesn’t sound like anything too crazy when cruising; the fuel pump is quiet and the exhaust is not overly loud. But get on the gas and it all changes as the wheels blaze loose and the engine roars to life, followed by the whoosh of the wastegates once you let off. It’s definitely not what people expect! But you also get the spacious, comfortable ride of a B-body while enjoying your latest playlist as you let the cruise control take over. 1969 was never so good.