RIDING LARGE

The L79 427 Engine

Not just any 427, the L79 was the big dog of its day, fitted with a forged crank, special rods with 7/16-inch bolts, high-compression pistons, and a mechanical lifter camshaft. The bottom side of the cylinder heads feature 2.19-inch intake and 1.88-inch exhaust valves, while on top, an aluminum high-rise intake manifold disperses a mixture supplied by Holley’s 780cfm 3310. Other features, such as the deep-groove pulleys and high-volume oil pump, ensure this monster stays in check, even as the motor nears its scary limits. To get a good handle on the heavy-duty Muncie gearbox, a Saginaw shifter rises from the floor just ahead of another rare aspect of this Bel Air, a bench seat wide enough to fit a school bus. Still, the thought of going through the gears with five other passengers onboard is not what this car was about, however intimidating that might be for the hangers-on, as this Chevy will cover the quarter mile fully loaded almost as rapidly as it will go the distance with a driver only. Again, don’t let the size of this old “post” car fool you—this is rapid transit by any measure.

Chassis and Suspension

The chassis retains all of its original hardware save for the original rubber bushings, which have been replaced with heavier-duty versions to maintain better suspension geometry and to smooth the ride. Even though drum brakes have been retained all around, these happen to be power-assisted and will actually pull this car down from speed with great ease, as long as it’s not raining. It’s also interesting to note that the same rear sway bar that is used under some ’69 Chevelles is tucked under the back of this Bel Air. The 12-bolt rear axle supports 3.73 gearing with Positraction, which, considering the limits of the relatively narrow F70-15 Firestone Wide Oval tires, begs for more traction.

Interior Features

Aside from the sizable seating arrangements and a brace of seat belts, everything about the interior is austere, as it was intended from the start to serve function and reduce cost, even though the optional 427 engine priced this car much higher than other big cars in the Chevy lineup back then. The audio system was reduced to a radio-delete panel, and there’s little in the way of flashy trim or detailing. Of course, there’s a post separating the doors from the rear side windows, and while this was certainly less appealing to most back then, it is just what racing enthusiasts looked for in the day. What’s different today is that cars that were less favored, and therefore limited in production, are far more treasured models today.