An all-time American classic, the Bel Air marks a pinnacle of vintage Chevrolet. Designed with smooth curves, and body lines that show no age bias, the Bel Air was every person’s dream, be they a hot rodder or average consumer. Chevy Performance went above and beyond, and took a rusting 1956 Bel Air and brought it back to its former glory with help from Retro Designs.

Bela needed a lot of tender loving care to resurrect it from the dead.

Built by Retro Designs in Concord, North Carolina, Bela is a project that, even without a glass-like-finish paint job, command your attention. “It was given to us as a really rusty car. Chevy wanted to keep a patina look, with a modern drivetrain and suspension,” said Daniel Valjevac at Retro Designs.

Initially found in Memphis, Tennessee, this “rust bucket” was found sitting outside, completely exposed to the elements. It took years to create this look. Patina is a style many hot rodders try to emulate today, and the manufactured look is put to shame, as this Bel Air is true patina.

“It took me two years to convince the previous owner to allow me to come get this car,” said Andy Williamson, member of Chevrolet Performances’ The Block. “Before I picked this car up, I had an idea and a vision for how I wanted it to look. It’s been sitting outside for 30 to 40 years, Mother Nature did this to it. We just cleaned it up.”

The team working on the Bel Air decided to keep the two-tone, Tropical Turquoise and India Ivory exterior, but what makes this build truly unique, is that it is not your conventional two-door that everybody wants. This is a four-door, no-post, Bel Air, and the crew working on the Chevy recognized that in an instant, sparking more inspiration to complete the job, due to its oddity and cut against the norm.

Slowly, Bela began to take form, and become a new beauty.

Fitted under the hood is a hefty 6.2-liter GM LS3 mill, ingesting air from a Vortech supercharger. A Ridetech Shockwave air suspension system and a 9-inch rearend keep Bela’s handling characteristics accurate and precise. A dual-exhaust system from Borla gives the car a nice rumble that adds an aggressive sound to the build.

“I actually got the wheels and tires before I took possession of the car,” said Williamson. “I had Retro Designs design the car around the way the wheels and tires looked.” The wheels, which match the engine bay color, are wrapped with whitewalls, and hide four-wheel Wilwood disc brakes.

On display at the 2015 SEMA Show this past November, the Mobil 1 booth had a legitimate, eye-catching treat that may not look pretty, but is beastly in so many other ways. Hot rodding has come a long way, and although it may not be the same as it was in its heyday, enthusiasts still show a strong bond between man and the automobile.

To see what else Retro Designs is up to, be sure to check out their Facebook page to see more. Would you have done it any different with Bela? Would you keep it patina’d, or would you repaint body? Be sure to share your thoughts below.