The car was bought several years ago by Steve Martin, who planned to restore it with a big-block and a four-speed transmission. Unfortunately, Martin died in 2008, and it was hard for the family to let go of one of his cars, but Teddy had always been a close friend, so it ended up in the right hands. Teddy enlisted the help of a few friends to get the car back on the road, and the crew didn’t waste any time. Zeke Lester handled the bodywork and paint, Billy Brownlow helped in the fabrication and assembly department, while Tom Cooper set up the rearend. This teamwork resulted in a total build time of only eight months.

Underneath, the fullsize Chevy features a simple setup that offers great handling and a comfortable ride. The ride height is lowered a total of 4 inches up front and 3½ inches out back, while SSBC 10½-inch disc brakes roll on all four corners to bring the big Bel Air to a halt. The car features front and rear sway bars, as well as boxed control arms with custom double-adjustable Heim joints for the top bars. This allows Teddy to easily make adjustments to the original multi-link suspension setup in an effort to increase traction.

The Bel Air rolls on a set of 15×7 and 15×8.5 American Racing 200S wheels, which fit nicely in the spacious wheelwells. Teddy used modern radial tires, sized at 215/70R15 up front and 275/60R15 out back, for just the right stance.

Coming in at 357 ci, thanks to a 4.170-inch bore and 3.265-inch stroke, the SB2 engine came out of Robert Hughes’ shop with the full NASCAR treatment. Just like the NASCAR Cup engines, Teddy’s features a dry-sump oiling system, complete with a Moroso pan and Stock Car Products pump. The cylinder heads are GM SB2 castings and flow tons of air, brought in by an SB2-617 intake manifold and Holley 830-cfm carburetor, which is fed by a CV Products mechanical fuel pump. Horsepower comes in at 725 at 7,800 rpm, while the SB2 cranks out 510 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm. For a naturally aspirated combination with only 9.858:1 compression, those are some incredible numbers, and the best part is the fact that it’s mild-mannered on the street.

Inside, Teddy is surrounded by light blue cloth and vinyl from a CARS Inc. interior kit. It’s all stock equipment, aside from a Corvette steering wheel and an assortment of AutoMeter gauges, including a column-mounted tachometer. A column shifter takes the sleeper attitude another step further, while the manual windows, AM radio, and lack of factory air conditioning offer the right amount of base-model qualities to the 725hp machine.

Without question, Teddy’s Bel Air is a strong performer, as it offers race-ready power with street-friendly characteristics. The car gets a lot of attention, especially when the hood is open to reveal the car’s secret weapon. It’s a flawless representation of big power in a big car, and with Teddy’s racing background, you can bet the SB2 is put through the wringer quite often.