Dubbed the Hellair, this restomod of the classic Chevrolet Bel Air also features a manual gearbox
- This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air was subject to a full-scale restoration and rebuild.
- Now, it includes a 6.6-liter diesel engine, a giant turbocharger, and three pedals.
- It’s going up for auction at Mecum’s 2025 Glendale event later this month.
The old adage “never buy another man’s project” usually holds true, unless that project happens to be a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air with a monstrous turbocharged diesel V8. Meet the Hellair, a seven-year labor of love that combines classic style with absurd amounts of torque.
Under the hood sits a 6.6-liter Duramax LMM diesel V8, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and sending over 1,000 lb-ft (1,254 Nm) of torque to the rear wheels. Oh and there’s one more thing; you can buy it.
Built for Power, Not for the Faint of Heart
This particular Chevrolet project took the owner some seven years to complete. It started with a frame-off restoration in Phoenix, Arizona. The builders at American Legends Hot Rods and Muscle Cars chose a 6.6-liter Duramax LMM V8 as the powerplant. It wasn’t an off-the-shelf or salvaged engine either.
Read: C2 Corvette With ZR1’s Supercharged LS9 Is A Really Spicy Restomod
It was built and tuned by Hausmann’s Diesel Performance. According to the listing, the diesel-fueled V8 produces 634 horsepower (472 kW) and 1,098 lb-ft (1,487 Nm) of torque. Supporting that output are ARP studs, a Stroker CP3 fuel pump, Diamond pistons, and a 68mm Fleece Performance turbo. Delivering the power to the wheels of the Bell Air is a ZF six-speed manual gearbox paired with a cryo-treated Stage 3 clutch from South Bend.
Style to Match the Muscle
This Chevy isn’t just about ‘Go’ either. It’s got plenty of ‘Show’ to delight onlookers. The paint is Cadillac Black Diamond and the cabin upholstery is Crimson Red. The body is devoid of door handles, emblems, hood rockets, fender louvers, and its original upper quarter trim. The look is one that clearly stands out even in a crowd of other classic cars and restomods.
The cabin is updated too with Vintage air climate control, power windows, custom Dakota Digital gauges, a hidden bluetooth sound system with 12 JL Audio speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer. A Billet Specialties steering wheel stares back at the driver. This really is a stunning build in every sense of the word.
Want It? Get Ready to Bid
For those tempted to take this beast home, the Hellair Chevy crosses the block at Mecum’s Glendale 2025 auction, running from March 18 to 22 at State Farm Stadium. It officially goes up for bids on the 22nd—so if you’ve got the wallet (and maybe a few spare tires), this might just be your dream car. You can check it out here. Happy bidding!
