1953 Chevrolet Bel Air

Vehicle Overview

1953 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Door Sedan Shown as ‘The Chevrolac’  In the family since purchased new by my Grandfather William Lee Swenson in Detroit Lakes, MN.  Spent its early years in Ferdig, MT servicing the oilfield and was the car my mother learned to first drive.  At the age of three, my parents took possession of the car in Colorado under the agreement it be my first car.  At four, in Tomball, TX my father restored the car with Chevelle drive train – 350, four speed, 12 bolt rear end. It then sat parked until 2003, when it officially became mine. Long after my first car.  The car was built around and inspired first by the ’53 Desoto grille, then was taken over by my affinity for Cadillacs and aviation aesthetics.  Build took 14 years. A collaborative effort of Jim Rowe of JBZ Customs in Tomball, TX and myself. Paint by Daniel Pichardo of Excellence Paint and Body (Conroe, TX), Interior by Avelino Suarez and myself (Conroe, TX). Engine built by Nickens Racing (Conroe, TX). Chevrolac machine work (steering wheel, badges, under hood badging, bullets, etc.) by Todd Naiser of Naiser Racing Components.  Features • Fatman Fabrication IFS with polished stainless a-arms. • QA1 adjustable coil overs front and rear • Fatman polished stainless four link. • Ford 9” 4:30 Gears • Behr Brakes front and rear • Modified factory frame • Exhaust by Jim Rowe of JBZ customs, Jet Hot coated. • 383 Cubic Inch LS1, 102 MM Nick Williams Throttle Body on FAST LSXR 102MM intake • T-56 $@@? Warner 6-Speed Transmission • Wheels – Hot Rods by Boyd (Chris Coddington) Boyd Nitro • Interior – 2004 GTO front and rear. Console, package tray, interior fiberglass built by Eric Walton • Dakota Digital Gauges and Climate Control • Gauge bezel machined by Naiser Racing Components • Vintage Air Gen II AC and Heat • Stainless restored by Buffy’s Vintage Stainless – Austin, TX • Chrome by Airline Plating – Houston, TX  Body Modifications • 1953 Desoto Grille • 1955 Cadillac Dagmaars (Sectioned) • 1957 Chevrolet grille ‘eyebrows’, grille bar hand made • Frenched headlights, integrated turn signals • Roll pan hand made with fog lamps installed. • Undercarriage and engine compartment sheet metal by Jim Rowe and Eric Walton • 1954 – 56 Cadillac Tail Lights • 1954 Buick Port Holes • 1964 Buick Riviera Rear Bumper (Sectioned) • Exhaust dump pipe made by Jim Rowe and Eric Walton Awards 2017 Autorama (Houston, TX) • Outstanding Engineered • Outstanding Engine Custom • Outstanding Display 2018 Simpson Safety Car and Bike Show (New Braunfels, TX) • People’s Choice 2018 Bastrop Veterans Day Car Show (Bastrop, TX) • First Place (Class) • Presidential Show Sponsor Choice • Participant’s Choice • Favorite Chevrolet • Best of Show 2019 Cars For Charities Rod and Custom Show (Wichita, KS) • Magnificent 7 Selection 2019 Elm Street Rod Run (Hillsboro, TX) • Best Engine 2019 Bastrop Veterans Day Car Show (Bastrop, TX) • First Place (Class) • Best Paint 2020 Super Nationals (Albuquerque, NM) • First Place Individual Display • First Place Class • Super Seven Selection • Best of Show (Coveted Car) 2020 Corvette Chevy Expo (Galveston, TX) • First Place Full Size Custom • Best of Show Chevy 2020 Lake Church Car and Bike Show • Best of Show 2020 Lake Conroe Ace Hardware Car Show • Best of Show 2020 Daryl Starbird Rod and Custom Show (Tulsa, OK) • Fine Nine Contender • Outstanding Custom 2021 Conroe Cruisers 18th Annual Car and Truck Show • Best of Show Car 2021 April Sound Show and Shine • Best Modified Car • Best Paint • Mandy’s Choice 2022 Autorama (Dallas, TX) • Outstanding Engine Custom • Outstanding Engine Custom

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