Bursting with flavor! It's been awhile, so I can't remember what the commercial was about-I know it was some sort of candy. I do, however, remember that "bursting with flavor" was the slogan. One thing I know for sure, that slogan would go hand in hand with Jerry Jayroe's eye-candy '55.
Like 10 out of 10 hot rodders out there, the bug all started with their first car, or for many what would have been their first car, if they had their way. When Jerry was 16 years old, he would have died for a '55 Chevy. The funny thing is, it's been 40 years since then, and now he'd still die for a '55! He actually ended up getting a '55 in high school, but it was never quite the way he wanted it. In 2005, Jerry finally got the chance to pilot his dream car after he picked up this two-door sedan Bel Air in 1993. Jerry has slowly been hackin' away at building the vision he's had floating through his mind since he was 16. At the forefront of his vision were two key concepts: style and speed. Neither were present when he first picked up this shoebox. But finally, after 12 years of work, three motors, and four transmissions, his dream car is here. First on the agenda was power. Jerry wanted the light weight of a small-block, but at the same time wanted cubic inches to boast. He settled on a 383 stroker motor. Jerry assembled the mouse in his garage with GM 441 heads, Keith Black 10.5 to 1 pistons, a COMP Cams cam, and hydraulic COMP Cams lifters. An Edelbrock intake manifold sits up top with a Holley Street Avenger 670 carb. Making sure the 383 doesn't suffer from asthma, Jerry put in a K&N air cleaner, Hooker headers, and a Flowmaster exhaust. All in all, the 383 screams with 450 hp at 6,000 rpm and 360 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Ensuring every bit of power out of the 383, the automatic trans was yanked for a Muncie four-speed with a Hurst shifter. Backing up the motor/trans combo is a 12-bolt with 3:73 gears and limited slip.
With the power issue out of the way, it was time to start adding S-T-Y-L-E. Before paint and body was even considered, the '55 had to sit right. To cure the nosebleeds are 2-inch dropped spindles and lowering springs up front. The combo dropped the nose down 4 inches and lowering blocks bring the rear down 3 inches. With the stance dialed in, the car was sent to Scott Wolfe in Comanche, Oklahoma, who was given the task of delivering a straight body with a wicked-awesome paint job. A gang of hours and a heap of cash later, Scott dropped off the '55 with its "bursting with flavor" Sunburst Orange and Ultra Silver color combo. As for the interior, fellow Okie Kevin Hammock of Duncan, Oklahoma, worked up the tweed and leather. Setting the entire car off are American Racing Hopster billet wheels. Not bad for a car 40 years in the making!