Cherry Bomb
January 29, 2025
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
SUBTLE STANDOUT
From the low-key approach applied to this ’55 Chevy, it’s obvious that Jack and Gail Jenkins’ reasons for building it were based around applied craftsmanship, when you take into account the subtle style it displays. While the bodywork and paint are flawless, there’s little sign of the modifications beneath it, or the effort that went into them.
All-In-One Conversions
The lines of ’55-’57 Chevys are almost sacrosanct. They haven’t been modified or changed over the years with very good results. There have been a couple of exceptions, but by and large, chopped tops, restyled fenders and other modifications that alter their original lines don’t come off looking real good. The problem is in the proportions. We’re not sure if it’s because the factory got them so perfect right out of the gate, or if it’s that most have been left alone over the last 50 years, so a chopped top looks strange. Whatever the reason, the classic “greenhouse” roofline, long fenders and slab sides all work very well together.
RIDING ON AIR
Lowering a truck usually involved cutting coils and shaving bump stops. Out back, the rear end was treated to lowering blocks, a few pulled leaf springs or heated coil springs. Over the years, manufacturers began to address these demands, as lowering coils, spring leaf blocks, dropped spindles and flip kits were offered. Times changed with the introduction of airbags, as owners were able to slam their pickups with full ride height adjustability. Air Ride Technologies (ART) is one of those companies offering quality suspension solutions for truck owners, with kits that fit specific applications.
Spotlighter
Destined Bel Air
A Classic ’57 Chevrolet From Hawaii, but Not Originally
Author
Bob McClurg
Story & Photography
This has to be one of the nicest looking ’57 Chevrolet Bel Airs I’ve ever seen in the state of Hawaii,” I kept saying to myself as I was photographing Keith Maeda’s black cherry ’57 tri-5 Chevrolet. I mean, this thing has all the bells and whistles.
It has a full house, Gerald Fernandez-massaged 350 small block. The 9:1 compression, Crane Cams-equipped short block sports 202 Bow Tie cylinder heads capped off with a pair of ProForm Industries Chevrolet-script cast aluminum valve covers, not to mention an Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap intake and 14-inch K&N XStream-filtered 770cfm Holley. It’s is also fired by an MSD 6AL ignition with MSD Blaster coil, NGK spark plugs and Accel spark plug wires. Finally, a pair of thermal-coated Sanderson block-hugger headers and Flowmaster muffler-equipped 2-1/4-inch exhaust complete the engine tune. A Griffin four-core aluminum radiator cools the package, and a polished 100-ampTuff Stuff alternator is responsible for the electrical power side of things.
Some of the equipment you don’t see on this awesome ’57 includes an Island Transmissions-prepared GM TH350. Suspension consists of a pair of McGaughy’s Classic Chevy Parts 2-inch dropped rear leaf springs, McGaughy’s 2-inch dropped front spindles, a set of William’s Classics tubular front control arms and a McGaughy’s 605 GM power steering box. This Garden Isle-based tri-5 also features Wilwood Engineering four-piston disc brakes, a set of four KYB gas-charged shocks, a set of 17×7-inch (front) and 18×8-inch (rear) Boyd Coddington Magneto billet aluminum wheels, and P215/45ZR17 (front) and P225/45ZR18 (rear) BFGoodrich g-Force KDW high-performance radial rubber.
Since the previous owner had already painted the ’57 in two-stage PPG black with a violet pearl overlay, all that was required was a little buffing and detailing. On the inside, you’ll find a Classic Chevrolet International silver and black reproduction factory interior, along with a Flaming River/GM six-way tilt steering column, Grant steering wheel, McGaughy’s billet aluminum dash insert, Classic Instruments gauges and a Kenwood audio system. The trunk area has also been fully trimmed out, and there you will find the Alpine woofers and Pioneer Amps. Now here’s an interesting story.
“The car was purchased last year in Oregon from the previous owner with only 53,622 original miles on the odometer. It was then shipped to the island. The funny thing is that when I rolled the Bel Air out of the container, it already had a hula doll affixed to the dash although the previous owner had never visited Hawaii before. Maybe the car was just destined to end up here,” Maeda says. Well, it sure seems that way to us!
