CRC Industries Hydrogen ’57 Bel Air Nets $100,000 For Charity At Auction

You typically expect a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air to smell like gasoline and exhaust fumes. The bright red ’57 heading to the Barrett-Jackson block in Scottsdale is different. It looks and performs like a classic hot rod, but it runs entirely on hydrogen. That means it emits nothing but water vapor for emissions, all while pumping out 500 horsepower. CRC Industries commissioned this build to prove that clean fuel doesn’t have to be boring, and more importantly, to fund the next generation of mechanics.

This isn’t just a show piece that rolls off a trailer. It has a legitimate 5.7-liter Gen 3 HEMI V8 under the hood. Mike Copeland of Arrington Performance handled the engine work (including the hydrogen conversion system), creating a setup that uses an Edelbrock supercharger to pump out 500 horsepower. It sounds and drives like a muscle car should, thanks to help from street racing heavyweights Jeff and Jeffrey Lutz, along with NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican. It has a TCI transmission, air conditioning, and a custom interior, making it a fully functional driver.

The real story happened when the gavel dropped last week at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. When the hammer fell, it netted $100,000, of which CRC Industries is donating 100 percent of the sale price to the TechForce Foundation. The goal is to close the skills gap in the trades. The money will fund 10 scholarships for students entering automotive, industrial, or welding fields.

This car is actually part of a bigger plan. A Pontiac GTO was sold last year, and a 1977 Chevy C10 truck is already built and ready to tour before its own auction in 2027. It is a solid strategy to keep attention on the trade shortage. By turning a hydrogen-powered classic into cash for scholarships, CRC Industries is making sure there are actually skilled people left to fix cars like this in the future.