TOUCH
n 1974 ABBA and The Beach Boys ruled the airwaves, a 55-mph speed limit was imposed nationwide in order to save gas, and a portable television could be had for around $264. Strangely enough, today you can buy a 50-inch 4K Smart TV for about the same price. While those shenanigans were happening, Rich Williams was in high school using his auto shop class as a means to paint and perform engine swaps on his 1964 Mustang. There’s no telling if Rich’s auto shop teacher allowed music during class, but there’s a good chance The Beach Boys would have been part of Rich’s soundtrack while wrenching on cars.
With an Art Morrison chassis and a worthless body, Rich set out to find another body to sit on the chassis. A trip to a local auto swap meet yielded Rich a fairly straight 1955 Chevy Bel Air six-cylinder car. He bought that one and hauled it back to the same shop in Nevada. At this point Rich figured if he’s going to build a hot rod it should have big-block power, so he ordered up a 502ci mill to get the job done. Rich was happy knowing his Art Morrison chassis would finally be put to good use.
The aforementioned big-block is a Chevrolet Performance ZZ502 crate engine topped with a polished Hilborn injection system for some old-school hot rod spirit. BBR custom velocity stack filters ensure clean atmosphere goes in while Art Morrison stainless headers and 2.5-inch Flowmaster exhaust expel the MSD-fired exhaust through a pair of Flowmaster mufflers. A March Performance serpentine system drives the accessories and a pair of Moon-finned valve covers and breathers continue the engine’s vintage vibe and adhere to the attractive scene accented by the smoothed firewall and polished Billet Specialties hood hinges.
Out back, the Art Morrison chassis consists of a triangulated four-bar system dampened by Strange coilover shocks, while Wilwood 12-inch rotors and four-piston calipers are tasked for stopping duties. Up front, the Art Morrison tubular control arms feature Wilwood spindles, strange shocks, and Wilwood 12-inch rotors and four-piston calipers. An Art Morrison sway bar keeps body roll in check. Steering chores are handled by a Billet Specialties steering wheel and ididit steering column bolted to a Detroit Speed rack-and-pinion system.
Vehicle: 1955 Chevy Bel Air Post
Type: ZZ502
Material: Cast iron
Displacement: 502 ci
Compression Ratio: 9.6:1
Bore: 4.470 inches
Stroke: 4.000 inches
Cylinder Heads: Canfield aluminum
Rotating Assembly: Forged steel crankshaft, forged steel shot-peened connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, four-bolt main caps
Valvetrain: Stock GM
Camshaft: Chevrolet Performance hydraulic roller (0.527/0.544-inch lift, 224/234 deg. duration at 0.050)
Induction: Hilborn injection, 3×6-inch ram tubes, BBR Filters custom velocity stack filters
Ignition: MSD
Exhaust: Art Morrison headers, 2.5-inch Flowmaster exhaust, Flowmaster mufflers
Ancillaries: March Performance serpentine system, Billet Specialties hood hinges, Powermaster alternator, Dynamat insulation, Vintage Air interior vents
Output: 461 hp at 5,100 rpm, 558 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm
Transmission: TREMEC T56 Magnum six-speed, McLeod clutch
Rear Axle: Strange Engineering 9-inch, limited slip differential, 3:73:1 ratio, Strange 31-spline axles
Chassis: Art Morrison
Front Suspension: Art Morrison tubular control arms, Strange Engineering shocks/springs, Art Morrison sway bar
Rear Suspension: Triangulated four-bar, Strange Engineering shocks/springs
Brakes: Wilwood 12-inch rotors, four-piston calipers, front; Wilwood 12-inch rotors, four-piston calipers, Wilwood master cylinder
Wheels: Billet Specialties Stiletto, 17×8, 18×9.5
Tires: BFGoodrich G-Force 235/45R17, 275/40R18
Upholstery: Chris Plante, Plante Interiors (Santa Rosa, CA)
Material: Leather/cloth
Carpet: Square weave salt and pepper
Seats: Glide Engineering
Steering: ididit column, Billet Specialties Banjo steering wheel
Shifter: Hurst
Dash: Stock painted by Cotati
Instrumentation: Classic Instruments Bel Era
Audio: RetroSound head unit, Focal speakers installed by Cotati Speed Shop
HVAC: Vintage Air
Bodywork: Cotati Speed Shop
Paint By: Cotati Speed Shop
Paint: Axalta Orange Pearl/Vanilla Shake
Plating: Sherm’s Custom Plating (Sacramento, CA)
Glass: Tony Gomes at Tri Valley Glass (Pleasanton, CA)
Hood: Stock
Grille: Stock
Bumpers: Stock
The Cotati and Chris Plante design collaboration on the custom interior takes on a true classic scene garnished with generous upgrades to help bring the car modern functionality, yet careful not to tarnish the Bel Air’s vintage vibe. Plante fit and installed the one-off door panels and custom leather-wrapped center console prior to laying down the salt and pepper square-weave carpet. Rich kept the essence in check by foregoing racing buckets in favor of the stock-style Glide Engineering bench seating arrangement. A Vintage Air A/C system ensures Rich and his wife, Pamela, cruise in a cozy climate. Classic Instruments Bel Era gauges offer the appropriate vintage look in the stock dash while providing a plethora of engine vitals. A RetroSound Laguna audio head unit carries a classic look while powering the Focal speaker system for a high-end audio experience.
Rich and the Cotati team couldn’t have been more proud of the 1955 as their quality workmanship and presentation were rewarded with a First Place trophy in the “Mild Hardtop Sedan 1955-1959” class at the 2020 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California.
“Finally, after so many years of stops and starts, this car came out better than I could have ever imagined,” Rich says. “I can’t say this has been an easy build, but working with [Cullen] and the gang at Cotati Speed Shop has made for lifelong friendships and one beautiful car that I’ll be enjoying for a very long time.”