When Toyota entered into the NASCAR racing series, there were howls of anger and outrage…which slowly but surely subsided. Toyota got into NASCAR for one reason; to promote their all-new Tundra full-size pickup with a modern overhead cam V8. But to compete, Toyota Racing Development had to come up with a pushrod V8 engine design.

So they did, and today Toyota has won its fair share of races in the NASCAR series. But they went even farther than that, taking one of their NASCAR-proven engines, and dropping it into a classic 1956 Chevy Bel Air. Best of all, this car is up for grabs…if the price is right.

The ‘56 Chevy is sort of the middle child, falling between the revolutionary ‘55 models and the overly-ostentatious ‘57 Bel Air. Why Toyota settled on this car as the recipient of its 700 horsepower, 358 cubic-inch NASCAR engine, we can’t say…but the result is some awesome sacrilegious engine swapping.

Backed by a GM-sourced automatic transmission and wearing a lovely shade of Nassau Blue, this Toyota is being sold as part of the Cars of Dreams Museum liquidating auction held by RM Auctions. Pre-auction estimates place the price of this unique Chevy at around $100,000. While you may think a Chevy engine would be a better fit (and it would), consider the sheer number of ‘56 Chevys that have already been restored, modified, or rat rodded.

We think Toyota and their NASCAR V8 can have this one…and only this one.