Je Ne Sais Quoi

Sometimes you can’t exactly explain what causes you to fall in love. The French call it “Je ne sais quoi,” or “I do not know what.” That is the case with Doug V. when he fell in love with a ‘62 Chevy Bel Air sport coupe that was owned by fellow Roamin Angel Dick T. about ten years ago. There was just something about the car. Perhaps it was remembering those Muscle Car days when ground-thumping Chevies cruised the boulevards and screamed down the drag strip. Whatever the reason, he wanted that car. After much pleading, Dick finally agreed to sell it to him. Although it was in good condition, with quite nice paint and interior, Doug found he could not resist improving the drive train, brakes and suspension. He dropped in a GM ZZ4 350 CID crate engine with a Turbo 350 auto trans to help it go. Then he dropped the front spindles to give it a lower ride and added Master Power front disc brakes to help it stop. To make it easier to keep it clean underneath, he powder coated the control arms and rear springs. For comfort, he installed Vintage Air air conditioning. With power steering and brakes, the Bel Air was ready to roll on down the highway. The shake-down run was a 3000 mile jaunt to Lincoln, NB, and back without a hitch. Since then he and his significant other Linda Hobbs have taken trips over the years with Fellow Roamin Angels, organized by Dick Teague, to Havasu, AZ, Victoria, B.C., “Route 66" in San Bernardino, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ. And after doing so, now Doug knows why he loves his Chevy: it looks and runs great.

The ‘61 and ‘62 Sport Coupe Chevies had a what is termed a “bubble top” roofline. With a relatively few Bel Air Sport Coupes made, this an unusual car. Since the Bel Air was lighter than the Impala, they were favored by drag racers.

This ZZ4 engine, with a roller cam and aluminum heads, is rated at 355 HP and a whopping 405 ft-lbs of torque, more than enough power to move the Bel Air down the road.