396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...n_100_0210.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...n_100_0221.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...n_100_0236.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...n_100_0051.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...n_100_0239.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...n_000_0048.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...n_100_0224.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...100_0222_1.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...n_100_0040.jpg

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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

Regards,

Mark Donnally

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

Man...it doesn't get anymore perfect than that! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

AWESOME car...beautiful color to boot!Really,really nice! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

That's what real musclecars look like...

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif
Rick

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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????

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

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

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

I agree with all of the above...that car is just simply beautiful https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

Knice Knuckle dragger! Beautiful detail.

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

Really nice BIG man's car...

A.. OK.. in my book! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

DENNIS, FANTASTIC CAR, A ''REAL SHOW BOAT'', YOU MUST REALLY BE PROUD TO TAKE IT EVERYWHERE, THANK FOR SHARING....KASEY .... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

Hail to a BIG CAR believer. When are these little car guys gonna understand.... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif
Beeeautiful!!!!!
Love live the BIG CAR!!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

The '65 was one one the nicest on the big car list---Very https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif car especially with the 4onthefloor--those turbo-jet flags always turned heads---

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif Big is cool..nice job on it, stunning!!

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

awesome car... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

Unfriggin'believable!!!

~ Pete

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

Dennis ausome car i just saw this and had to go look in the garage
i get the same reaction
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

i added a few pics in photo gallery of restoration process if anyone whats to check them out. dennis https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

Awesome!! You can revise your profile, that is a SUPERCAR...

wilma https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

I saw this car at the Bob McDorman show; pics can't do it justice. Every detail is clean enough to eat off of, and I wish that I could detail like that. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif
BTW, where in Ohio do you live? I've noticed that about half of the folks on this sight don't put down the city where they live. No civic pride? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif
Outstanding car! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

hey andy, don't really live in city, but close to town of lithopolis. don't blink your eye or you'll miss it https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif dennis

Re: 396/425blr's 65 Beautiful Belair
 

Gorgeous car, stunning color! Congrats!
Dave