The Bel Air was already the best-selling car in America, but Chevrolet reached new heights in 1955 with fresh styling and a new engine. An industry rule of thumb held that introducing both a new body and new engine in the same year was risky. Nonetheless, Chevy needed a new body because the old one was dated, and a V-8 engine was a necessity to keep up with its archrival, Ford.

Chevy’s new overhead-valve V-8 was advertised as “The Hot One,” and it was just that, especially when equipped with the Power Pack, a four-barrel carburetor setup that came with dual exhausts. The 265-cubic inch engine was rated 180 brake horsepower at 4,600 rpm and was capable of 0–60 in under 10 seconds, which was quite a feat at the time. It was also timed at speeds up to 105 mph.

This stunning ’55 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe is definitely a hot one. It was built to its current specifications in the Atlanta area and is powered by a 350-cubic inch Chevy engine, a Turbo 350 Hydra-Matic, and power front disc brakes. The engine, which has dual Holley four-barrel carburetors on a Smokey Ram intake manifold, was completed by Tim Stephens. The interior, with its soft beige leather bucket seats and a full-width dashboard with 24-karat gold instrument bezels, is by Lamar Stephens Custom Interiors, of Buford, Georgia. It also features a matching Momo steering wheel on a GM tilt column, power steering, air conditioning, and power windows.

Body modifications made to the car, including the innovative pop-out door handles, were undertaken by Kenneth Allen, while the wiring was done by Mike Chesser and the bright red paint was applied by Kenneth Stephens and Ronald Dollar. The car has a stainless steel Rod Master dual exhaust system, and it rides on Wanli S-1099 245/35ZR20 blackwall tires that are mounted on Torque Thrust chrome wheels.