1956 Chevy Bel Air - Pimpin' Ain't Easy

Usually when you head out the door and the lady friend asks, "Where you goin'?" And you reply, "takin' the other woman out." You can pretty much guarantee when you get home all your stuff will be on the front lawn. But when Jim Hix tells his wife he's headed out the door to go with the other woman, she knows exactly what he means.

Three years ago Jim bought a '56 Bel Air 210 Post. He roamed the streets the way it was for a while, but eventually got tired of being too ordinary. He had a few ideas of what he imagined the car could look like, but one stood out. However, once he found the right guy for the job, the juices really started flowin'. Nick Santana was poppin'off ideas left and right to Hix, and Hix couldn't help but dig 'em. Once the plan was laid down, Nick got to business.

He started off by stripping the car down to bare frame. Then the sheetmetal shell was sent off to be bead blasted. Once it was returned, Nick began his first hour of what would eventually become one of 600 hours to complete the car. The first job to be tackled was to get the body absolutely straight and perfect. Santana worked his fingers to the bone till you couldn't see a single ripple in the '56. The car then headed south where R-Customs installed a setup that allows the Chevy to lay frame. By using a set of 2-inch drop spindles, tubular control arms, and a set of airbags all around, the Bel Air makes for one fine limbo player. Not to mention that the car can tuck it's 20-inch Ultra Wheels up in the fenders. JT Metal Works was called in next to design some under armor. They hand crafted all the custom metal work you see under the hood, wheel wells, and radiator cover. After JT Metal had their way with it, the car made its way over to Robert Kautz of Ace Automotive. (Seriously, this car gets around.) Robert installed the Valley Head Service-built 383, Dave Hix-built tranny, and drivetrain. Once that was taken care of, he then wired the car and finished off any loose ends. After all the body mods were completed, Nick Santana sprayed the car in a mix of PPG paints.

Since the exterior was so elaborate, there was no way Jim was going to shortchange the interior. Jerry Noone was given a call to design an absolute stunner of an interior, and he didn't disappoint. He handcrafted the seats, console, door panels, and then covered them in 3 different shades of leather. Inside the center console sits an Alpine entertainment system complete with TV and DVD. Jerry also installed the power window set up. Not only does this bad boy have just power windows, but power wind wings as well. Now that's just straight pimp sauce. And the best part about the whole car is Jerry's wife doesn't mind when he spends time with the "other woman."