Bel Airs Go Pro-Tour, And This Trick '57 Is At The Apex!!!

Imagine building the ultimate Chevy shoebox. If you were to build a '50s Chevy, and if that Chevy was built to be the end of all other show-quality, street/performance Tri-Fives, what kind of a car would that be? An even better question is what kind of a "show-and-go" rod would become of the most premium-optioned, Chevy shoebox that one could've possibly ordered back in the '50s when they were still new?

Rob and Lesia Carter may hold the answer with their pro-touring, '57 Bel Air convertible. Paint was provided by Kool Kolors, while Woody Meyers was responsible for the Bel Air's bodywork. Metalwork and other assembly was done by ASR Restorations, while Steve Holcomb of Pro Auto took-over the all-red, trick interior of the convertible lead sled.

The Carters built their custom '57 convertible with the intention of building a pro-tour car that maintains classic, 1950s styling while using the best of what the Carters themselves describe as "2009 technology." With this the hot-rodding couple has definitely succeeded, as a custom chassis from Fat Man gives the Bel Air convertible just low enough of a stance, while still delivering the ride and handling characteristics of a late-model 'Vette.

The Fat Man chassis is set-up for an LS2 motor, and the LS mill that's under the hood of this '57 is chasing an automatic with a 9-inch, Moser rear and 3.70 posi differential. Wilwood provides the large disc brakes that stop the shoebox from the front and rear.

A balance between old-school class and new-school performance, Rob and Lesia Carter's '57 convertible brings "glass-quality," street rod building into a whole new frontier.