From The Hood - 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

OwnerAaron HodgsonVehicle'57 Chevrolet Bel Air "Lethal Injection"City/StateOxnard, CaliforniaClubConnected C.C.

Most lowrider cars are built for the streets, but there's a point when they become something else again. When everything on a car has been gone through from the ground up, it becomes a rolling work of art. A good example of this is Aaron Hodgson's '57 Chevy Bel Air, "Lethal Injection," a recent LRM centerspread feature with an engine compartment that's worth a closer look.

Aaron had a street car in mind when he began this Bel Air build. He's already built a custom Chevy Blazer that was featured as Lowrider of the Month about five years ago, but this time around, Aaron decided to build himself a street car that looks like a show vehicle. This Bel Air was remade from the frame up. Aaron sent the '91 Camaro IROC 350-c.i.d. engine to Street and Performance in Arkansas, where they hooked up the first generation tuned port injection engine with all the tricks of the trade.

The chromed-out TPI intake received an ATI ProCharger supercharger which was custom made to fit under the blower. The internal components of the rebuilt engine were matched up to the supercharger. Arnold Ikeda in Ventura, California, took over the build once the engine was returned from Street & Performance. The entire engine compartment was painted to match the exterior of the vehicle, and was further dressed up with chrome and polished components.

This '57 Chevy features a reliable drivetrain as Aaron's plans called for a car that he could jump into and go. This two-year build resulted in a ride that has more than just a custom engine compartment. As you saw in the recent feature, the rest of the car was done very tastefully. Whether it be at a picnic or one of them Saturday night California cruises, Aaron has the perfect car for just about any occasion.