Last updated on August 15, 2023
Today’s car is a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door sedan with 210 trim owned by Gary Kollofski. I photographed this car at Classics with the Cardinals Car Show located at Bishop Diego High School in Santa Barbara, CA. It is finished in the original colors of Turquoise and Ivory with a matching interior. It is powered by a 620 hp, 730 cu in, all aluminum V12 PBM Marine engine, with 3 – 650 cfm Holley 4-bbl carburetors mounted on top of a hand built intake manifold. It is mated to a GM 4L80E 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive that transfers that power through a Ford 9″ rear end with 3.73:1 gears. Slowing this beauty down are Wilwood 13″ disc brakes in all 4 corners with the help of an electric power brake booster. It has an Heidts independent front suspension with dual A-arms with coil over shocks. The rear suspension is a 4 link triangulated system with coil over shocks. Some of the unique body features are a forward tilting hood, mounted on a removable forward tilting front end and suicide doors. But, you need to keep looking closer and you will find much more.
The total 0f Chevrolets produced were 1,775,952 units with 168,826 of them being 2 door Bel Air’s. Gary’s 1955 started out as a Bel Air, 2 door sedan, 6 cylinder, with a 3-speed manual transmission. The MSRP was $2,025.00. It had a published top speed of 90 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 14 seconds.
Gary’s initial idea was to build a 1955 Chevy that was different. Gary and Dale Pevlit collaborated to complete that mission and that they did. This is an amazing example of a customized car that initially has a stock look. I approached this car from the rear and it was the 18″ Rally Wheels that started me looking closer, then the suicide doors and then I tracked down Gary to find out what was I looking at. Wow. What a great car to take to car shows, especially a Tri-Five event, or any Cars and Coffee events. Thank you for riding along. Frank
Click on this link to find out more on Gary’s Kollofski’s V12 1955 Chevy!