It is sometimes difficult to visualize the transformation that is possible if a classic is treated with a healthy dose of TLC. However, this 1967 Chevrolet Bel Air proves what is possible, because it has gone from tired and neglected to potent and stunning. The new owner can consider it a turnkey proposition because this classic needs nothing. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting a car that proves what is possible with dedication and determination.
Now, ain’t that purty? It is hard to believe that this is the same Capri Cream Bel Air featured in this article’s first image. The seller massaged its panels to perfection before applying stunning Marina Blue paint. They left no stone unturned in a quest for perfection, with every aspect of this Chevy receiving their attention. The lack of flaws and defects suggests it hasn’t seen much action since work ended. Its beauty is more than skin-deep, with the underside shots revealing the cleanest floors you will find on a car of this vintage. There are no traces of rust or corrosion, which is unsurprising considering it spent its life in Texas and its current location. Both areas feature a dry climate that is ideal for steel preservation. The trim is spotless, and the glass is crystal clear. This Bel Air sits on 15 x 7 Rally wheels that perfectly suit its character.
The attention didn’t end when the seller focused on this Bel Air’s interior, with the cash splash continuing unabated. Little of the original interior remains, with the car receiving a complete retrim. The carpet has a few dirty marks near the driver’s left foot, but these should be cleaned away fairly easily. The Blue cloth and vinyl upholstered surfaces are flawless, while the dash and pad are equally impressive. The seller identifies a couple of issues, with both being functional. The air conditioning hasn’t been recharged since the build ended. They include six cans of R12 refrigerant which the buyer can install. The speedometer needle has the jitters, and won’t sit still when this classic is moving. The seller includes a replacement unit that requires refacing. Kits are available online, so that job won’t cost a fortune. Otherwise, it needs nothing.
The first owner ordered this Bel Air with a 283/Powerglide drivetrain combination, placing 195hp and 285 ft/lbs of torque at the driver’s disposal. That made this a competent performer, but who doesn’t want more? The original drivetrain made its final trip to the scrapheap, and this car now features a 396ci V8, a four-speed Muncie manual transmission, and a 3.36 Posi rear end. Forget 195hp and 285 ft/lbs, because this big-block produced 380hp on the dyno. That makes this a genuine muscle car that can deliver a low-15-second ¼-mile ET. The seller didn’t finish there, adding power steering and power front disc brakes. They treated the build as a total package because almost every steering, suspension, and brake component is new. The new owner could fly in and drive it home, which is an ideal way to build a relationship with any classic.
The seller listed this 1967 Chevrolet Bel Air here on Craigslist in Pahrump, Nevada. Their price of $48,500 may seem high at first glance, but it is worth noting that its new owner won’t need to spend a dime beyond addressing the bouncing speedometer needle. It is a muscular classic that is guaranteed to command respect and demonstrates that motoring enthusiasts are willing to work hard to bring cars of this caliber back from the edge. Would you pay the price for this Bel Air, or roll the dice by trying to recreate it for less than the seller’s figure? I know which approach I would choose.
Had a math teacher in HS that only drove stripped Biscayne’s with the biggest motor avaliable.
New one every 2 years
Asking that price, the seller could have at least visited an AC shop and had the R12 added himself. Too rich for me, but a nice Bel Air.
It’s addressed in his CL add, he’s trying to find a local shop with R12 guages.
Spearfish, yes it took me some time to find R12 hoses, much less R12. It’s why I converted all of mine to 134, they are much easier to have serviced.
Why mess around with R12 instead of converting to R134? Other than that beautiful build and loving the originality of everything else. No custom interior etc.
Kind of like the song Fancy. All cleaned up with somewhere to go.
Looks like an impala tail end. Didn’t bel airs and biscayne’s have only two lights per side?
Still, a nice build, with creature comforts and 3 pedals.
Bet it has a nice rumble sitting at a traffic light.
The front end has been treated to an Impala/Caprice change too. The first photo shows what the Belair front looked like. The ends of the front fenders would have had the black covers instead of the turn signal indicators shown on the finished car.
Nope……’67 was the lone year for the Bel Air to receive Impala tail lights.
Wow, I see these cars and the price they are bringing makes me wish I had the for sight to predict what they would bring and a place to store them from the 90s when I was pulling them out of back yards and fields then taking them to the crusher
Seller may get dinged here on BF for his ask, but not from this corner. He deserves accolades for a job so well done and appears he did it following his own vision. No LS here, he opted for the Rat motor, and even chose to exit the correct look “quiet” pipes just aft of the wheel wells vs going along with the overcrowded chrome-tip-at-the-bumper crowd, the kind of “little” details I love that also add to the
clean “sleeper” persona.
Great color change and overall a sweet little turnkey Chevy that should be fun for a new owner.
Oh yeah, and it’s in Pahrump, where I got a bit of history:
Took road trip to Vegas about 40-yrs back to visit my brother, stopped at a corner to get a “free” meal where I got suckered into a bus ride over the mountain 60-mi to a tiny place, a bar, gas station, new little casino, about a dozen homes, and a golf course under construction. My twenty-something dumb self ended up buying one of the first fifty lots for like 7k. After about a year, went back to the sales office to pull out of the deal. Was taken to visit with the “boss”, clad in all black, sitting behind a big desk, heavy gold bracelet and necklace, to be “convinced” it was not a good move. But my skinny self somehow held fast and escaped, freed of the contract.
There’s 45k souls living in that patch of high desert now.
I am with Spearfish, 100 % ! I just finished this type of restoration on a 1973 Ford P/U. I thought I did a nice job. I spent about 12 thousand dollars just on parts and it took me 8 months. Honestly, this car is nicer than my truck. The price seems high to some B/F readers. I think that is because they got to see the before and after, and that is very cool ! But the question is what do you think that would cost in time and money? I have already had people inquire to buy my truck, most don’t understand the price goes up, because of the work and condition. No free lunch, You need to pay to play……ETC.
Mr Joe, I bet I’d love your truck too, and by the way I am not burdened with hard and fast brand loyalties.
I do believe anything is only “worth” what someone out there is willing to spend on it to purchase, or willing to spend in resources (say money, time, patience) to keep and enjoy it. It’s an individual thing, not what someone else necessarily thinks.
It’s cool to have repectful opinions, but also cool when we appreciate other car folks’ interests and efforts, whether it’s Pintos, Pacers, Porches, or any and all of them.
Beautiful car but when you change the color it hurts the value.
There’s only one currency per se. So while a purist might be a pain in the azz about every nut and bolt and brow beat you to death about it another cash buyer will more than appreciate the hard work and effort put into this car and proudly drive it and show it.
If this were a high end collectible I would agree with you, but this is a car, that if it were all original might bring $20k, but it’s not, it’s a restomod with an engine and transmission swap which definitely increases the value over the original 283 and Powerglide setup. And the market for this car isn’t likely to be concerned with the color change.
It certainly looks a lot better now!!!
Very nice period correct transformation right down to the mufflers and side post battery cables. It takes a lot of work and to find the right pieces to convert and automatic to a manual.
Well detailed and sorted car. A lot of time and effort went into this build and the end result displays that. May seem like a high price for a non-original Bel Air, but you could certainly not build it for what they are asking. Very nice car.
Just because a guy spends $45k rebuilding a $30k car doesn’t mean that’s what he’s going to get for it. As many guys know, you have to eat some of that. Buyers usually come out better in the deal than sellers in that regard.
Does every chevy have to roll on rally wheels? I used to like those rims until they reached cliché status.
Great car.
Why would anyone waste time on a bench seat, 2-door post BelAir ? Skip this one and move on !
Why then are you here looking at it and reading these? Move on.
No AC required. Nice Ride, Steve from Northern Canada. Burrrr.
Correct way to fix the speedo is to take it loose at the top end (dash end), Pull the cable out, wipe it off, and lubricate it with Vaseline. Put it back together. problem solved.
This is what I’d have in mind if I were to have built a car like this. Checks all
the boxes for me. Only thing that would make it better would be a set of steelies with dog dish hubcaps. As
for the A/C, by all means convert it to
134. Here in Florida, they’re now selling the stuff for between $300 and
$600 a pound if you can find it! There
Was a shop in Lakeland called Frosty’s Air Conditioning Service and these dudes were charging over $4K
to recharge an R12 system in the early to mid ’90s. It was places like
that that made auto repair in Florida
the number 1 racket in the state and
gave the auto repair industry a huuuge black eye. Also knew two
douchebags who ripped off an old
couple whose car ran out of gas at the Taco Bell I worked at in Winter Haven. One poured the gas into the
tank while the other pretended to fiddle with the fuel injectors. These
two clowns took that poor couple for
$500 without battin’ an eye. Suffice it
to say, I haven’t spoken to either of
them in 35 years
So many comments about color, wheels, interior (seats) etc. When someone is building or restoring a car its the farthest thing in their mind thinking about trying to appeal to everyones tastes or likes. IMO the seller built his car to suit his liking and did a spectacular job. If i had to guess he is more than likely an engineer or machinist or in the mechanical trade of some sort. And definitely skilled.
In the end this is only a 2 door, post sedan, not a 2 door hardtop Impala or Chevelle, and i think even though seller has spent a ton of money, the asking price is outrageous. Its a custom build restored, non matching engine. Although I like the engine swap and trans that he did. It’s a $25-$30 k car at best.
HC with all due respect I guess to each his own if I had to choose between a rusted out scab patched up desirable model and this car I would choose this one. As you I’m sure and I have seen some of the before eye sores being sold for ridiculous prices and who knows what lurks beneath the panels and paint.
Arnold Swarzennegger famous words “I’ll be back.”
Sorry but there’s no way I’d pay $48k for a 1967 modifed, restomod two door sedan post Bel Air. You could get a 64 Impala SS for that price, or less. Hard pass for me on this 2 door post.
In comparable condition? Honestly I think every car is overpriced and overrated for what it’s designated purpose was manufactured for.
Back when I was about 14 maybe 15 one of the older guys I ran around with had a ’54 Chevy that was involved in a minor accident. The OSHP was called and the trooper that arrived had a 1967 Biscayne with a 396 that also was equipped with bucket seats, console and floor shift automatic. I was told that back (would have been 1967-68) then troopers were allowed to order their cars equipped the way they wanted them. About 10 years after that incident I foolishly turned down another 1967 Biscayne with a factory 427 that was a former cop car.