Built by Graham's Hot Rod Shop in Fresno, California, this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air is a nationally recognized custom executed through a professional, roughly $350K build. Every system was addressed, every surface refined, and every component selected with purpose, resulting in a fully realized Tri-Five that blends classic design with modern performance and show-level craftsmanship throughout.
The foundation for the build began with a clean California car that was taken through a complete, ground-up transformation involving thousands of hours of skilled labor. The body was fully stripped, carefully massaged, and finished in vivid House Of Kolor Lime Time Pearl. Every panel was sanded and buffed from top to bottom, producing a finish with exceptional depth and clarity that immediately defines the car's presence. Factory proportions remain intact, enhanced by subtle smoothing and disciplined custom touches. A smoothie front bumper frames a polished grille and chrome-trimmed headlights, while a shaved hood flows cleanly into the classic profile. The rear hides a custom fuel filler behind a shaved decklid and matching smoothie bumper. Budnik Gasser wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force Sport tires complete the look, giving it an aggressive stance.
Power comes from a 6.2L LS3 built to deliver both performance and presentation. A high-lift Erson cam, rectangle-port heads with upgraded valve springs, LS7 injectors, and Chevrolet Performance engine management bring output to a stout 550 horsepower. The engine bay is fully smoothed and body-matched, detailed with polished hardware, ceramic-coated Sanderson headers, a body-matched intake manifold, and custom-branded valve covers. Underneath, the same level of execution continues. A built 4L65E automatic 4-speed feeds a GM 8.2" rear axle with 3.55 gears and Positraction, housed within a Jim Meyer Racing 4-link and panhard setup with QA1 coilovers at all four corners. A matching Jim Meyer Racing front clip adds tubular control arms and power rack-and-pinion steering. Wilwood 4-piston disc brakes with drilled and slotted rotors handle stopping duties, while a ceramic-coated exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers deliver a sinister note from the cammed LS3.
Inside, the Bel Air features a full custom leather interior by Wall & Eades Auto Upholstery. Brown leather wraps the dash, seats, console, and panels, complemented by Dakota Digital VHX gauges, a fully integrated Vintage Air climate system that handles the modern air conditioning, and power accessories throughout. A tilting Ididit column and Budnik steering wheel anchor the seating position, while a properly integrated audio system with JL Audio amplifiers and a Bluetooth-enabled Kenwood head unit delivers quality sound. Even the trunk is finished to show standards, framing the amplifiers with the same attention to detail as the cabin.
This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air represents what happens when a Tri-Five is rebuilt without shortcuts or second-guessing. It was built to compete, built to be driven, and built to last, with the level of execution required to earn national recognition rather than chase it. The result is not a tribute or a passing idea, but a fully finished custom that still commands attention.
Key Highlights
The beneficiary of a professional, frame-off restoration
Built by Graham's Hot Rod Shop
House Of Kolor Lime Time Pearl
6.2L LS3 crate V8 (550hp)
Built 4L65E 4-speed automatic transmission
GM 8.2" rear axle with 3.55 gearing
Positraction differential
Jim Meyers Racing front clip
Jim Meyers Racing 4-link rear
Adjustable QA1 coilovers
Four-wheel Wilwood brakes
17" Budnik Gasser wheels
Power rack-and-pinion steering
Modern air conditioning
Custom leather interior
Kenwood touchscreen receiver with Bluetooth
JL Audio amplifiers
Shaved hood and decklid
Smoothie bumpers front and rear
Hidden fuel filler
