396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair

[Xplantdad]

Belair62 advised me to send you these pictures of my 65 Belair for Members Rides. I bought this car in 1986 as second owner with low miles for $1600. I used it as a work car for two years then retired it in 1988 to the garage.

In 1998 I decided to restore the car. It was mostly rust-free except for trunk and rear quarters. (rear window leak). After grinding away rust I decided it was too bad to save, and didn't like looks of the aftermarket quarters.

A friend of mine in Apache Junction found me a complete car minus engine 327/250 stick 12 bolt, RUST-FREE.

Off to Arizona we went. After thinking long and hard I decided to restore the Belair the way I would have bought it new. Using the Arizona shell/frame I combined the two cars to end up with this final product. I know to the purist this is a bastard, but it is what I wanted.

I make no claims to it's originality and it will not be sold as a fake to make profit. I plan to leave it to my son.

Okay, the engine is a 68 L/78 with minor internal upgrades, all the factory h-d parts, plus L/88 rods, valves, and cam. the rest of the components are 65 L/78 dated parts. 11" h-d clutch, 69 M-21 trans, 3.73 posi 12 bolt.

All work was done by myself and close friend Gary Martin. The engine machine shop and interior seat/headliner were farmed out. There seem to be two reactions to the car, they don't even see it...or WOW!

Dennis Davis (396/425 blr)

P.S. also added a picture of my numbers 68 427 Impala

[737Driver]

Very nicely done. My favorite year for these. Beautiful car!

Regards,

Mark Donnally

[musclecarjohn]

Man...it doesn't get anymore perfect than that!

AWESOME car...beautiful color to boot!Really,really nice!

That's what real musclecars look like...

[Belair62]

HEY...what the helll is that peeking out of the barn ????

[SS427]

Wow Dennis, beautiful restoration. Clean enough to eat off of!

I could swear I have seen a triple black '68 SS427 Identical to your car someone before. Very nice!
Rick

[396/425blr]

thanks guys. the 68 was on the SS427 site as a walk on. the 62 in the garage is a proto type Z11..... no no no just kidding! its a 62 belair 2 door sedan, a old farmer bought it new, its all original 6 cly stick, with 55,000 miles. i plan to leave it as is. a true survivor. dennis

[CamarosRus]

I would like some education on the dual snorkel air cleaner.Was this 1965 application the FIRST one for THAT A/C which appears to be much the same as was so common on 1970-72 Z-28's. With exception of base mounted tube (on LT-1 version) for Valve Cover to A/C is this 65 A/C the same as 1970 etc????

[Verne_Frantz]

Dennis,
I'm very glad to hear you're going to leave the '62 original. The world doesn't need ANOTHER 409 clone.

I really like the look of your '65.

[Belair62]

I would like to see pics of that 62 if possible...

[Tenney]

How cool is that (er, are they)? Count me among the "Wow's".