**The Art Morrison Collection: A 1955 Chevy Bel Air**

As we take a closer look at the 1955 Chevy Bel Air behind us, it's hard not to notice the sleek design and powerful engine. This car is part of the renowned collection by Art Morrison, a company that specializes in restoring and modifying classic cars to meet modern driving standards.

We started our journey with the Comfort mode, cruising through the town at a leisurely pace. However, as we transitioned into the canyons, the driver's attention was focused on the road ahead. The car was stiffened up slightly, taking only five minutes to adjust to the new terrain. Under the hood, we found a small block 427 engine, pumping out an impressive 536 horsepower. This powertrain is paired with a six-speed transmission, originally designed for the Viper, and features a 9-inch rear end with a 370 axle ratio.

One of the unique aspects of Art Morrison's approach to car modification is their focus on making older cars functional and comfortable for everyday driving. The 1955 Chevy Bel Air is no exception, with a dual-disc clutch and aluminum flywheel that allow it to rev up quickly. This can be intimidating at first, but after just five minutes of driving, the driver had adjusted to the new dynamics. The short throw of the clutch pedal only moves six inches, which may seem disconcerting initially, but becomes second nature with practice.

The car's performance is nothing short of impressive. With a 0-60 time of 4.2 seconds and a quarter-mile time in the mid-12s, this 50-year-old vehicle is capable of holding its own against modern-day supercars. Weighing in at just 3,800 pounds, the Bel Air's power-to-weight ratio is staggering. This, combined with the car's exceptional handling and suspension, makes it a joy to drive.

The Art Morrison approach goes beyond just modifying classic cars; they also offer custom chassis solutions for owners who want to personalize their vehicle. Whether it's an old Buick or Pontiac, owners can come to them with their vision, and the team will work to bring it to life. The attention to detail is evident in this 1955 Chevy Bel Air, with a hand-fabbed aluminum console, ostrich-covered steering wheel, and original aluminum dash featuring bow ties embossed in the design.

One of the most striking features of this car is its sound, when the driver presses the accelerator pedal. The engine roars to life, producing an unmistakable noise that's music to the ears of any hot rod enthusiast. With a B52-style hood ornament and modern suspension and interfaces combined with exceptional build quality, this Bel Air has truly changed our perception of what classic cars should be. It's no longer just about style; it's about performance, comfort, and driving dynamics that leave you wanting more.

**A Driver's Car for the Ages**

In our conversation, I mentioned how Art Morrison had brought a focus to suspension performance and handling in their work. This is something that sets them apart from other companies in the industry. By combining modern technology with classic design, they've created cars that are not only functional but also enjoyable to drive.

The 1955 Chevy Bel Air is a testament to this approach. With its comfortable ride height, soft suspension, and exceptional handling, it's a joy to drive on both paved roads and unpaved terrain. The car's ability to absorb bumps without bottoming out makes it an excellent choice for those who want to explore the great outdoors in style.

As we continue to explore the world of classic cars, it's clear that Art Morrison is pushing the boundaries of what's possible. By combining power, comfort, and performance, they're creating vehicles that appeal to a new generation of car enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned hot rod enthusiast or just starting your collection, there's never been a better time to experience the magic of these incredible machines.

**The Evolution of Hot Rods**

As we take a closer look at this 1955 Chevy Bel Air, it's hard not to think about how far hot rods have come. Gone are the days of brutalized engines and rough-riding cars that were only meant for short, intense bursts on the track. Today's hot rods are designed with comfort and everyday usability in mind.

The art of hot rodding has evolved significantly over the years, from its humble beginnings as a way to modify existing vehicles for better performance to the sophisticated creations we see today. With companies like Art Morrison at the forefront, it's clear that the future of hot rods is bright.

From their unique approach to suspension and handling to their commitment to creating cars that are both functional and stylish, Art Morrison has set a new standard in the industry. As we look to the future, one thing is certain: classic cars like this 1955 Chevy Bel Air will continue to captivate audiences with their beauty, power, and performance.

**A Legacy of Innovation**

As we reflect on our journey with the 1955 Chevy Bel Air, it's clear that Art Morrison has left an indelible mark on the world of hot rods. Their commitment to innovation, quality, and attention to detail has raised the bar for classic car enthusiasts around the world.

From their custom chassis solutions to their focus on suspension performance and handling, Art Morrison has proven themselves to be true leaders in the industry. As we look to the future, it's exciting to think about what new creations this team will bring to the table.

With this 1955 Chevy Bel Air as a testament to their skills, it's clear that Art Morrison is here to stay. Whether you're a seasoned hot rod enthusiast or just starting your collection, there's never been a better time to experience the magic of these incredible machines.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwhat's up guys welcome to Supercar Sunday here in Woodland Hills California there is all kinds of crazy stuff here from Exotics new cars old cars muscle cars hot rods and speaking of hot rods look at this hot rod we don't normally do hot rods in our show because they don't really match our driving style but this one is supposed to so come here Craig how you doing Matt Craig Morrison in the house who built this beautiful 1955 Bel Air tell me about the car well it's a like you said a 1955 Chevrolet it's got a 427 cubic inch small block that makes 538 horsepower and also features a t-56 6 Speed out of a Dodge Viper nice and suspension and it's got It's got one of our uh what we call it GT Sport chassis underneath it so it's a brand new frame all new front suspension rear suspension braking adjustable sway bars it's cool so everything so it's got everything yeah the only thing that's original 1955 is the exterior body shell okay so what do you say we look around the show we see what kind of stuff is going on around here and then we actually take this thing up in the canyons and find out if hot rods can turn perfect cuz if they can we may be converted I I think you'll be happy with it Keys here's the best part there you go boom let's go for a ride you thought Lotus what you were really thinking of this so this guy Full Art Morrison chassis in suspension independent front solid axle rear adjustable shocks which they've taken the time to adjust for us they were in Comfort mode when we were cruising through the town and now we're out in the canyons they stiffened them up a bit took like five minutes and we've got under the hood a small block 427 putting out 536 horsepower Transmissions out of a viper a six-speed you know originally in 1955 this car had a three on the tree so we actually have twice as many ratios now and a 9 in rear end with I think a 370 axle ratio so the shifting and the gearing is actually very comparable to a modern car one of the things that we like to do with our cars is to be able to actually drive them and the car behind us our 55 Chevy is something that we've driven numerous times from our facility in Tacoma Washington down here to the Los Angeles area and it's really great because it is comfortable enough that you can go in and and drive the car for 15 16 hours a day and not be beat up or uncomfortable while you're driving it it has a dual disc clutch with an aluminum flywheel so the engine revs up and down really quickly it's not something you're used to with these older cars so you actually have to shift pretty quick to keep up with the engine and what helps with that is actually the short throw of the clutch the clutch pedal I would say probably only moves six in total which was a little disconcerting at first but after 5 minutes of driving it around totally fine now they tell me that this car 1955 Chevy will put down numbers on a track comparable to a Ferrari 575 Marinello .94 around a skid pad 0 to 60 and 4.2 seconds and a/4 mile in the mid 12s 50-year-old car we're talking about right now that is really really impressive it weighs 3,800 lb which is what a modern day Camaro weighs and this thing makes more power the biggest thing that makes Art Morrison different from other companies is that we've brought a real Focus to the suspension performance and handling to the older cars and we also also do a lot of different custom chassis for vehicles so if a guy has let's say an old oh God like an old Buick or a Pontiac or something like that he can come to us and then we can go ahead and manufacture a custom frame right to his car his tire and wheel package and the ride height that he wants the car to set at the biggest thing is to make it functional and make it comfortable and that's kind of what we've done with this 55 Chevy behind me here it it has enough ground clearance that you can actually drive around around town in and out of driveways and that sort of thing over most obstacles as well without having it hit or bottom out on things but then also the functionality of it having a good soft suspension that can suck up the bumps and not be too rigid when you're driving down the road the paint Scheme on the car it was something that I came up with when I first saw the WRX Subaru when we built the car back in 2003 I said we've got to use that that Subaru blue and then working with the paint shop we came up with white which is a Ford Wimbleton white what's really amazing about this car is that it's not frightening to corner with every other old car I've driven is absolutely terrifying in the canyons if you're going over 30 mph this thing you can actually hustle around the corner listen to that wow power you hustle it around a corner and it just sticks you know a lot of the appeal of these older cars is there's a lot of space inside and especially when you get rid of the old gigantic steering wheel you've got this nice ostrich covered wheel you got Art Morrison makes this uh hand fabbed aluminum console this is painted but this is actually aluminum here with the radio controls you got the original aluminum Dash with the bow ties embossed in there it's really nice but what is really important about this car is the sound it makes when you press the fun pedal this thing goes old car man it goes you just don't you don't see style like this I mean who does a freaking B52 hood ornament on a car anymore you know what I mean and so to be able to have that level of style and at the same time really be able to go out and hustle one through a canyon it's a pretty nice combination for today I never would have considered a Bel Air to be a driver's car of any kind except maybe in Drag Racing but with modern power suspension and interfaces combined with excellent build quality this Bel Air has truly changed my mind about what hot rods can and should be and after today I know that there are some people out there who are really building hot rods for driverswhat's up guys welcome to Supercar Sunday here in Woodland Hills California there is all kinds of crazy stuff here from Exotics new cars old cars muscle cars hot rods and speaking of hot rods look at this hot rod we don't normally do hot rods in our show because they don't really match our driving style but this one is supposed to so come here Craig how you doing Matt Craig Morrison in the house who built this beautiful 1955 Bel Air tell me about the car well it's a like you said a 1955 Chevrolet it's got a 427 cubic inch small block that makes 538 horsepower and also features a t-56 6 Speed out of a Dodge Viper nice and suspension and it's got It's got one of our uh what we call it GT Sport chassis underneath it so it's a brand new frame all new front suspension rear suspension braking adjustable sway bars it's cool so everything so it's got everything yeah the only thing that's original 1955 is the exterior body shell okay so what do you say we look around the show we see what kind of stuff is going on around here and then we actually take this thing up in the canyons and find out if hot rods can turn perfect cuz if they can we may be converted I I think you'll be happy with it Keys here's the best part there you go boom let's go for a ride you thought Lotus what you were really thinking of this so this guy Full Art Morrison chassis in suspension independent front solid axle rear adjustable shocks which they've taken the time to adjust for us they were in Comfort mode when we were cruising through the town and now we're out in the canyons they stiffened them up a bit took like five minutes and we've got under the hood a small block 427 putting out 536 horsepower Transmissions out of a viper a six-speed you know originally in 1955 this car had a three on the tree so we actually have twice as many ratios now and a 9 in rear end with I think a 370 axle ratio so the shifting and the gearing is actually very comparable to a modern car one of the things that we like to do with our cars is to be able to actually drive them and the car behind us our 55 Chevy is something that we've driven numerous times from our facility in Tacoma Washington down here to the Los Angeles area and it's really great because it is comfortable enough that you can go in and and drive the car for 15 16 hours a day and not be beat up or uncomfortable while you're driving it it has a dual disc clutch with an aluminum flywheel so the engine revs up and down really quickly it's not something you're used to with these older cars so you actually have to shift pretty quick to keep up with the engine and what helps with that is actually the short throw of the clutch the clutch pedal I would say probably only moves six in total which was a little disconcerting at first but after 5 minutes of driving it around totally fine now they tell me that this car 1955 Chevy will put down numbers on a track comparable to a Ferrari 575 Marinello .94 around a skid pad 0 to 60 and 4.2 seconds and a/4 mile in the mid 12s 50-year-old car we're talking about right now that is really really impressive it weighs 3,800 lb which is what a modern day Camaro weighs and this thing makes more power the biggest thing that makes Art Morrison different from other companies is that we've brought a real Focus to the suspension performance and handling to the older cars and we also also do a lot of different custom chassis for vehicles so if a guy has let's say an old oh God like an old Buick or a Pontiac or something like that he can come to us and then we can go ahead and manufacture a custom frame right to his car his tire and wheel package and the ride height that he wants the car to set at the biggest thing is to make it functional and make it comfortable and that's kind of what we've done with this 55 Chevy behind me here it it has enough ground clearance that you can actually drive around around town in and out of driveways and that sort of thing over most obstacles as well without having it hit or bottom out on things but then also the functionality of it having a good soft suspension that can suck up the bumps and not be too rigid when you're driving down the road the paint Scheme on the car it was something that I came up with when I first saw the WRX Subaru when we built the car back in 2003 I said we've got to use that that Subaru blue and then working with the paint shop we came up with white which is a Ford Wimbleton white what's really amazing about this car is that it's not frightening to corner with every other old car I've driven is absolutely terrifying in the canyons if you're going over 30 mph this thing you can actually hustle around the corner listen to that wow power you hustle it around a corner and it just sticks you know a lot of the appeal of these older cars is there's a lot of space inside and especially when you get rid of the old gigantic steering wheel you've got this nice ostrich covered wheel you got Art Morrison makes this uh hand fabbed aluminum console this is painted but this is actually aluminum here with the radio controls you got the original aluminum Dash with the bow ties embossed in there it's really nice but what is really important about this car is the sound it makes when you press the fun pedal this thing goes old car man it goes you just don't you don't see style like this I mean who does a freaking B52 hood ornament on a car anymore you know what I mean and so to be able to have that level of style and at the same time really be able to go out and hustle one through a canyon it's a pretty nice combination for today I never would have considered a Bel Air to be a driver's car of any kind except maybe in Drag Racing but with modern power suspension and interfaces combined with excellent build quality this Bel Air has truly changed my mind about what hot rods can and should be and after today I know that there are some people out there who are really building hot rods for drivers\n"