bel air rat rod

1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Resto Rat Rod

I won this one on eBay by mistake.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a pretty good mistake. When the 1961 Bel Air arrived, it wasn't actually in bad shape. It drove, it stopped, and someone had already taken care of some of the expensive mechanical work. The car had been started as a resto-mod/rat rod project and already had a late-eighties LT95 engine transplant, apparently from a Grand Am and also used in cars such as the Corvette and Camaro. The engine wiring was in place, it ran well, and disc brakes had been fitted all round.

Which meant that pretty much everything else was left for me to do.

The interior was rough, the paint had seen better days and had been patched with body filler in places, most of the trim was missing, and virtually none of the electrical systems worked. Under the dash was a daunting mass of wiring — some labelled, some not — and my previous experience with automotive electrics was mostly limited to installing the occasional stereo, usually accompanied by sparks, bangs and blown fuses.

Fortunately, I had some help. With a good friend, Mike, we started working through the wiring and I learned as we went, introducing relays and a much more modern electrical system. The lights were the first priority, but before long the project became an excuse to get creative.

The original headlights were retained with some cosmetic changes, while the badly fogged side lights were replaced with LED running lights. Sequential LED indicators were eventually added, along with a hot-rod style control. At the rear, the original lenses were retained and fitted with LED lighting, with some suitably unconventional motorcycle lighting finding its way into the build.

Inside, things got even more creative. LED strips were used to transform the cabin, inspired partly by the almost jukebox-like interior lighting of a 2011 Camaro. The rear seat area was opened up to expose the V-shaped structure behind it, which became part of the design rather than something to hide. Custom upholstery, translucent panels and blue LED lighting turned what had been a very tired interior into something completely different.

This isn't a concours restoration — and that was never the intention. It's a 1961 Bel Air that became a blank canvas for experimenting with wiring, lighting, fabrication, upholstery and a whole lot of ideas. And, as with most Tink Customs projects, some of those ideas worked better than others!

Bel Air Rat Rod Bought By Mistake

I won this one on eBay by mistake!

Fortunately, it turned out to be a pretty good mistake. When this 1961 Chevrolet Bel...