mod@tech

This Success Story comes to us from futurian, who won his custom ’56 Bel Air convertible from Up2Date in a September 2022 BaT auction.

futurian writes:

One day in early September I was going about my business and looking through the Daily Mail from Bring a Trailer, as one does. I wasn’t in the market for another car, or so I thought, but there it was; this customized Bel Air convertible hit me square in the face. It was a car that would fit my collection perfectly, and I knew of its history. It was originally owned by Ron Hing of Portland, Oregon, and I had seen it on various magazine covers many times over the years. I had always wondered where it ended up—and now, there was a chance to make it mine. I carefully scrutinized the pictures and read all the comments. One commenter in particular noted the name of the painter who had done the paintwork, and described how nice it was. He sure was right. I knew I had to have it. So I made my bids, and to my surprise I came out on top in the end. The reserve was met! My shipper wasted no time getting the car onto a transport. I was anxious to see it.

When we unloaded it, I gave a sigh of delight. The paint and bodywork are amazing—even better than I had hoped. The shipper had delivered the car to my friend’s place, and I drove the 10 miles home post-haste. I was thrilled, though it was immediately evident that the tires were outdated and would need to be changed.

As soon as I got home, it was time for a celebration. I got my two similar customs out for a photo shoot. My blue ’55 coupe was customized in the ’60s with bodywork by Ray Wilson, who had also worked on my new-to-me ’56 convertible. Now they were parked all together: three Tri-5 Chevy customs, all modified in the 1960s, all with canted quad headlights. How did I get so lucky?

I’ve since installed a new set of four tires onto the ’56, completed a few minor repairs, and taken it out for several cruises. I’m absolutely thrilled with the car!

We love hearing all of your Success Stories and project updates. If you’d like to share your experience with a vehicle you purchased on BaT, please send a few lines and pictures to community.content@bringatrailer.com. We’ll issue a $50 credit to the BaT Gear Store when your entry posts to the site.

Photo Gallery

This 1923 Ford T-Bucket hot rod is powered by a 357ci Chevrolet V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission and is finished in red over tan. The car was acquired by the seller in November 2019, and features include an Edelbrock intake manifold and four-barrel carburetor, a dropped front axle, 15″ American Racing wheels, front disc brakes, a rear cargo area and tailgate, four-into-one headers with chrome finishers, a wood dashboard, a GT Grant steering wheel, and Equus instrumentation. This T-bucket is now offered with a clean California title in the seller’s name.

The steel body is finished in red and features a wood-lined cargo area with a tailgate, side mirrors, turn signals, a skull radiator cap, red-painted headlight buckets, and four-into-one headers with chrome finishers running the length of each side.

Chrome 15″ American Racing five-spoke wheels wear Falken Sincera tires measuring 205/65 up front and 235/75 out back. Equipment includes a dropped front axle, front disc brakes with rear drums, and rear coilover shocks.

The bench seating is upholstered in tan and features matching door panels and carpets. Additional equipment includes a wood dashboard, a floor-mounted gear selector, a circular brake pedal, and a battery mounted beneath the seat.

The three-spoke GT Grant steering wheel fronts a column-mounted tachometer along with dash-mounted Equus instrumentation including a 120-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level, voltage, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer shows under 8k miles, approximately 400 of which have been added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.

The 357ci Chevrolet V8 is equipped with an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor and Street Dominator intake manifold along with a chrome intake scoop and flame-stamped valve covers. An aluminum radiator is installed and assisted by an electric fan. The oil was changed in August 2022.

This 1937 Ford coupe hot rod was built under previous ownership and features a chopped and extended steel body with fiberglass fenders over a modified chassis. Finished in distressed matte blue paintwork over black leather upholstery, the car is powered by a 409ci Chevrolet V8 equipped with six AutoLine carburetors and mated to a Turbo Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission and a Positraction differential. Additional features include a height-adjustable AccuAir air ride system, Mustang II-spec independent front suspension, 15” steel wheels, a Lokar shifter, and an Offenhauser intake manifold. This modified Ford coupe has been featured in Ol’ Skool Rodz, Cruise Culture, and Canadian Hot Rods magazines, and it is now being offered with documentation from the build and Alberta registration in the seller’s name.

The steel body has been fitted with fiberglass front and rear fenders and has reportedly been extended by 3.5,” while the roof has been chopped by 3″. The car was repainted in a faux-distressed matte blue during the build, and additional equipment includes rubber-lined running boards, an Altman Easy Latch kit, and chrome side-view mirrors and bumpers.

Black-finished 15” steel wheels feature covers reportedly sourced from a 1956 Oldsmobile and are mounted with Firestone-branded whitewall tires. The car rides on an AccuAir height-adjustable air ride system, along with Mustang II-spec independent front and triangulated four-bar rear suspension.

The cabin houses fixed-back BB Classics bucket seats trimmed in black leather with color-coordinated door panels and carpets. Lap belts are fitted for both occupants, and a Lokar shifter has been installed.

A 1953 Buick steering wheel is mounted to an aftermarket column and sits ahead of a 1938 Ford dashboard that houses a 240-km/h GPS-based speedometer and a combination gauge. The digital odometer shows approximately 2k kilometers (~1k miles). An hour meter in the glovebox door indicates approximately 55 hours of run time.

The 409ci Chevrolet V8 is equipped with an aluminum radiator and an Offenhauser intake manifold topped by six AutoLine carburetors with chrome intake trumpets. The engine was reportedly rebuilt with high compression pistons and a lumpy camshaft and repainted during the build. A 5” recessed firewall from Direct Sheetmetal has been installed.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Turbo Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 8” rear end housing a Positraction differential with 3.00:1 gearing. The floor pans were reportedly replaced during the build, and the frame was modified to accommodate the suspension components.

There is currently a lien on the car, and the seller’s leasing company will need to be paid off before the title can be transferred to the new owner.

This 1930s-style Ford roadster was built under previous ownership using a Zipper Motors body on a modified TCI frame, and it is powered by a ZZ3 350ci V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. The car is finished in red over tan leather, and equipment includes Classic Instruments/Mooneyes gauges, a Lokar shifter, tan carpeting and door panels, a trimmed and carpeted trunk area, stainless-steel hinges, polished-aluminum 14″ and 15″ wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, chrome-finished suspension linkage, coilovers, a chrome TPI intake manifold, a Griffin radiator, a Borla exhaust, and a Currie Enterprise 9″ rear axle. The current owner acquired the car in 2005, and the oil was changed in preparation for the sale. This custom roadster is now offered by the seller on behalf of its owner with an unfinished hardtop and transferable New York registration that lists the vehicle as a 1932 Ford convertible.

A Zipper Motors fiberglass body is said to have been sourced and painted in Dodge Viper Red before it was mated to a modified Total Cost Involved frame. Features include gold-colored pinstriping that follows the body lines, a custom-cut short windshield with chrome bracketry, ventilated hood sides, and a pinched nose with a polished stainless-steel grille. Bucket-style headlights have been installed along with taillights and turn indicators in the form of a rear LED strip integrated with the body. A vacuum-operated retractable license-plate frame is located at the rear.

Polished-aluminum 14″ and 15″ Billet Specialities wheels are mounted with BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires measuring 215/60 front and 285/70 rear. Chrome suspension linkage and coilovers are utilized up front and also under the car at the rear. Each corner is equipped with ventilated disc brakes, and the steering box is polished.

The cockpit features a contoured seat that follows the opening in the body and is upholstered in tan leather along with the door panels, which have storage compartments. The dashboard is painted to match the body, and sound-deadening material is said to have been installed under the nylon carpeting. Matching floor mats are fitted. A Painless wiring harness, a Lokar shifter, and polished stainless-steel pedals also have been installed.

A three-spoke steering wheel with a tan wrap is mounted to a polished steering column. Centrally located Classic Instruments Mooneyes-branded instrumentation includes a 7k-rpm tachometer and a 140-mph speedometer separated by four auxiliary gauges. The six-digit mechanical odometer shows 6k miles, approximately 500 of which have been added under current ownership.

The trunk has been trimmed to match the interior. A custom 18-gallon fuel tank was constructed from stainless steel and is located ahead of the trunk compartment.

The fuel-injected ZZ3 350ci V8 is equipped with aluminum cylinder heads as well as a chrome-finished TPI intake manifold, valve covers, and a “Street & Performance Mena, Arkansas USA” plaque. Other features include a chrome-finished 100-amp alternator and chrome hardware as well as a Griffin radiator with an electric fan. The oil was changed in August 2022, at which time an Optima red-top battery was installed.

Power is delivered to the wheels through a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission and a Currie Enterprises 9″ rear axle. The dual exhaust system with Borla mufflers terminates with a joined twin tip attached below the axle center section. Additional photos of the underside are presented in the gallery.

A hardtop is included with the car, which will require mounts to be made before it can be used.

The car does not have a title, as it is registered in a state that does not issue titles for vehicles of its age. It is being sold on its New York registration.

This 1929 Ford Model A was modified in street rod style under previous ownership with a boxed chassis, a 400ci Chevrolet V8, a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission, and a Ford 10-bolt differential. Additional modifications include louvered body panels, staggered-diameter Truespoke wire wheels, front disc brakes, a dropped front axle, a four-link rear suspension, a Holley carburetor, an Edelbrock intake manifold, an aluminum radiator, and Hedman exhaust headers. The car was acquired by the seller on BaT in February 2020, and subsequent work reportedly included performing an engine tune-up, servicing the transmission, and replacing the battery and front shocks. This Model A street rod is now offered with partial service records and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

The steel body is said to have been repainted in its current shade of red utilizing PPG Deltron paint under previous ownership. Exterior features include a black vinyl roof cover, a chrome folding luggage rack, and a louvered front valance, hood, rocker panels, and accessory sun visor. Noted flaws are shown in the gallery and include scratches and blemishes on the left-side running board.

Chrome-finished Truespoke wire wheels measure 14″ in diameter up front as well as 15″ out back and are mounted with a mix of Fisk Classic and General Altimax tires, respectively. The car rides on a TCI Engineering boxed frame and features a dropped front axle with adjustable links, a four-link rear suspension with Koni coilovers, and front and rear Panhard bars. Stopping power is provided by front disc brakes that are said to have been sourced from a Chevrolet Vega.

The cabin features front bucket seats and a rear bench that were reupholstered in striped wool with gray vinyl backing. Equipment includes a floor-mounted shifter, an MP heater, a Guide traffic light viewer, and front lap belts.

A Grant GT steering wheel is mounted to a tilt column and frames an ammeter, while an aftermarket tachometer and additional auxiliary gauges are fitted below the body-color dashboard. A centrally mounted chrome instrument panel houses a barrel-type 80-mph speedometer, an ammeter, a fuel-level gauge, and an inoperative five-digit odometer that shows 16k miles. Total mileage is unknown.

The 400ci Chevrolet V8 is equipped with a Holley carburetor, a B&M air cleaner, and an Edelbrock intake manifold and cylinder head covers. An aluminum radiator with a SPAL electric puller fan is fitted up front, and the exhaust system consists of Hedman headers flowing into a dual exhaust system with glasspack mufflers. Work performed under current ownership reportedly included an engine tune-up, oil change, and replacement of the battery.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt differential that is said to have been sourced from a Ford Granada. The seller states that the transmission was serviced following their acquisition of the vehicle.

The stamping on the the reproduction identification plate shown above reads A1123583, which is consistent with a 1929 Ford Model A.

This 1940 Chevrolet Master 85 business coupe was acquired around a decade ago by the seller and subsequently modified with a 6.2-liter LS3 V8, a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission, and a Positraction differential. The car is finished in black with painted flames on both sides, and features include red and white leather upholstery, Chassis Engineering Mustang II-spec independent front suspension with coilovers, power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, 15” Wheel Vintiques wheels, keyless entry, Vintage Air A/C, and electronic exhaust cutouts. This modified Master 85 is being offered with an owner’s manual and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

The car has been repainted black and features flames on both sides of the body that were painted by Art Himsl. Equipment includes dual exhausts, chrome bumpers with overriders, a radio antenna, and LED taillights.

Staggered-width 15” black-finished Wheel Vintiques wheels feature chrome trim rings and hubcaps and are mounted with Diamond Back whitewall tires sized 205/60 up front and 255/60 out back. Braking is through power-assisted four-wheel discs with a Hurst Line/Loc kit. The car rides on Chassis Engineering Mustang II-spec independent front suspension with coilovers.

The cabin has reportedly been lined with Dynamat and Dynaliner sound deadening material and houses a bench seat trimmed in red and white leather with color-coordinated door panels. Black carpets line the floors, and amenities include keyless entry, a Vintage Air A/C system, a Viper alarm, lap belts, hanging clutch and brake pedal assembly, and a Vintage Auto radio wired to Alpine speakers in the kick panels and rear parcel shelf.

An ivory-color two-spoke steering wheel with a chrome horn ring has been cut to 15″ in diameter and is mounted to an Ididit tilt steering column. Instrumentation includes a horizontal 120-mph speedometer, auxiliary gauges, and an 8k-rpm Classic Instruments Rocket Tachometer mounted atop the dash. The six-digit odometer shows approximately 9k miles, all of which have been added by the seller. Total mileage is unknown.

The 6.2-liter LS3 V8 crate engine was installed during current ownership and reportedly features a Ron Francis wiring kit, a Billet Specialties serpentine belt system, aluminum Be Cool radiator, a 2.5″ exhaust with electronic cutouts, and a Rock Valley 20-gallon fuel tank. An oil change was performed in preparation for the sale.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission with a QuickTime bellhousing, a hydraulic clutch, and a 12-bolt rear end housing a Positraction differential with 3.42:1 gearing. Additional underbody photos are provided in the gallery below.