1955 Chevrolet Bel Air: Street Rod

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1955 Chevrolet Bel Air: Street Rod

Frank Cervera

Instagram: @raceway_car_club

Photographer: Donald Rochin

Instagram: @r0cean11

Hey guys, I’m Frank Cervera!  I’m 63, born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. I’m now living in East Texas with my wife Mistie where Tyler has been my home for the past ten years. Cars have always been my passion.  Even as a little youngster, my favourite toys were cars of all sizes, makes and models.  There is a film of me riding my pedal cars at just two years old.  I was very fortunate to have parents that acknowledged my love for vehicles.   

At the age of 13, I began driving back and forth to school with no license, but things were just different in that era.  I drove one of my parents’ vehicles, a 1967 Mustang which was powder blue and a four-speed.  Driving was second nature for me as I never missed a gear.

My parents got me my first car at 15 years old which was a 1977 Monte Carlo.  It was burgundy with a white vinyl top.  I was very excited to call this my own.  The local drag strip knew me well.  This was a weekend ritual and everyone knew it was where I could be found with hopefully no red and blue lights behind me.   There was also this great dirt track named CC Speedway in Corpus Christi where I raced for over a decade!  It was so much fun and such an adrenaline rush!  These days were absolutely the best days of my life. 

As a young child, I spent many days on my Dads’ shoulders observing him purchase and sell vehicles while at the auto auctions.  He would hold my knees to keep me sturdy, and he would tap my right knee if he wanted to bid which would signal me to raise my hand for the bid. 

Other purchasers in the auction ring didn’t want to bid against a child so needless to say, we got some “awesome” deals.  This is when I knew the automobile industry was my career path.  I began selling cars at the tender age of 10, and at the age of 16, I began attending auctions without my Dad and purchasing vehicles for the business. 

My love for automobiles grew as I matured and learned by watching my father.  In addition to my dad, there was a gentleman by the name of Alford Whiteside who tucked me under his wing and taught me all the ins and outs of the car industry and many life lessons!     He was a wonderful individual that loved cars and a tremendous mentor! 

This amazing machine featured is a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air.  We call it “The Double Nickel Express!” This is an example of a true classic 50’s car.  People are in awe when they see it…. Then I open the hood!  They realize there is a bunch of power under the hood.  Just like the body of the vehicle, under the hood is flawless with chrome and mirrors to trim it out.  

This immaculate vehicle has won many awards and is nationally recognized. Including:  

• National Street Rod Association’s Street Scene Magazine
• Five Page spread in the September 2011 Issue of Chevy High Performance
• 2010 Outstanding Elegance Award at the 51st annual, invitation-only Blackie Gejeian Fresno Autorama
• 2011 ISCA (International Show Car Association) International Class Championship
• Six ISCA Best in Class Awards – Including 2022
• Two ISCA Outstanding Engine Awards
• ISCA Outstanding Custom Award
• Five Goodguys Rod & Custom Builders Choice Picks (One in 2009 and four in 2011)
• Super Chevy Shows Best Tri-Five Award
• 2011 Texas Lonestar Award at the Dallas Autorama in Dallas, TX

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The Car Build

This car has an arrow straight body, an LS2 Corvette motor, and custom-boxed chassis. The car's all-original, completely solid California body is expertly finished in a two-tone GM Arctic White and GM Light Tarnished Silver paint job that has been re-cleared, completely wet sanded and buffed to a crystal clear shine that is as close to perfect as possible. 

The glowing white and silver finish does a spectacular job of showcasing the car's super straight lines and the body's exceptionally tight panel gaps create solid door closing sounds. At the front of the car, a smoothed, filled and flipped front bumper is bolted to a custom-shaped front pan below a custom-fabricated billet grille. The Hood is nosed and filled. All Glass is Vintage Auto.

New mirror-like stainless trim. Shaved doors and Tri-five stainless quarter panel spears divide the pristine white and metallic silver paint. At the back of the car, a fitted and smoothed Chevy Nomad bumper, a shaved trunk and Bel Air tail lights.

Blueprinted 2005 LS2 Corvette engine. Built by Superior Automotive Engineering in Anaheim Cali-fornia, this small block Chevy has been stroked to 383 cubic inches, creating an 11.54 to 1 compression ratio and dynos at 520. horsepower and 531 ft./lb. of torque. Dominator Street Rods dual snorkel intake, polished Ron Davis aluminum radiator, with a vertical overflow container, a Spal electric fan and a custom fabricated fan shroud. Street and Performance air filter and factory LS6 throttle body and a factory LS6 intake manifold, a Comp Cams Extreme RPM High Lift camshaft and an Eagle forged steel crank.

Eagle connecting rods, forged J&E domed pistons with J&E custom rings and polished factory L$6 heads that have been rebuilt with Serdi valves, Comp Cams roller rockers, Como Cams beehive springs and Comp Cams titanium retainers. GM factory multiport electronic fuel injection system, GM LS6 injectors with MSD ignition. Meziere electric water pump, Melling high-pressure oil pump, and exhaust by Street and Performance ceramic coated shorty headers. A polished Street and Performance accessory drive system, chrome AC compressor and a chrome 120 amp Street and Performance alternator. Chrome CPP brake booster.

A custom-fabricated boxed frame holds a laptop-tuned 4L65E 4-speed automatic transmission.

Inland Empire heavy-duty aluminium driveshaft. Currie custom polished nine-inch rear end that holds a Currie 31 spline axle, an Eaton: Detroit Truetrac Posi-traction differential,4. 11 gears. Custom-reinforced Borgeson 605 power steering box. A custom fabricated mini-tubed. Four-link rear suspension.

A ceramic coated, custom bent 2.5-inch true dual exhaust, with Magnaflow X-pipe and Magnaflow dual chamber mufflers. A custom stainless fuel tank, and AC Delco electric fuel pump. Wilwood products power a four-wheel disc brake system, along Coil Over's front & rear, and Custom CEC Wheels made of one-piece billet.

A custom sculpted leather interior. Designed and installed by Elegance Interiors, four Lexus bucket seats and traditional tri-five Chevy panels in high-quality two-tone leather. The '55 Chevy dash features stitched two-tone leather around silver-faced Classic Instruments gauges, an MP3-compatible Pioneer CD player and a fully restored Bel Air speaker and custom clock. 

The two-tone leather headliner centres around a custom dome light, Carpet is a German square weave wool carpet. A full-length centre console. The centre package tray includes both controls for a Vintage Air and Lokar emergency brake shifter. Custom sculpted leather door panels and billet door handles, chrome power window switches, fully integrated armrests and Pioneer speakers. A polished Flaming River 'Waterfall' steering wheel with a tilted steering column. The trunk contains sculpted two-tone leather panels and more German square weave wool carpet.

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