This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door hardtop was previously owned by five-time NHRA champion Joe Amato before being purchased by musician Alex Van Halen in 2013. The car is finished in black and white over matching vinyl upholstery and is powered by a 540ci V8 mated with a Tremec TKO five-speed manual transmission and a 9-inch rear axle with 4.11:1 gears. Features include an Art Morrison chassis, independent front suspension, power rack and pinion steering, adjustable Strange Engineering coilovers, Wilwood front disc brakes, and staggered 15″ ET Classic five-spoke wheels as well as MSD electronic ignition, an Edelbrock intake manifold, RHS cylinder heads, an aluminum radiator, a Hurst shifter, and a retro-style digital cassette stereo. This Bel Air is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with service records, a letter from Joe Amato, and a clean California title.
The body is finished in black and white and is said to have been repainted during previous ownership. Features include a “hood bird” hood ornament, chrome side spears and bumpers, Bel Air badging, LED taillamps, tinted window film, and dual exhaust outlets that exit below the rear bumper. The paint is chipped on the front fascia, above the left front window, along the edge of the left door, and under the rear of the trunk.
The staggered 15″ ET Classic five-spoke wheels wear 205/60 BFGoodrich Advantage T/A tires up front and 325/50 Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/R tires out back. The car is fitted with an Art Morrison chassis with independent front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension as well as adjustable Strange Engineering coilovers and power rack and pinion steering. Braking is handled by Wilwood front disc brakes and rear drums.
The cabin features front bucket seats and a rear bench upholstered in black vinyl with white piping and accents. Equipment includes a floor-mounted fire extinguisher, aluminum bowtie trim, a Hurst shifter, an analog clock, front shoulder belts, aftermarket speakers, and a retro-style digital cassette stereo. A battery, 10-disc CD changer, and power cut-off switch are mounted in the upholstered trunk.
The three-spoke steering wheel has a chrome horn ring and frames a 110-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature. A Mooneyes tachometer is mounted on top of the dashboard and ancillary gauges are mounted in the dashboard. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 11k miles, approximately 8k of which were added during current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The 540ci V8 was installed during previous ownership and features an Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake manifold, MSD electronic ignition and billet distributor, braided fuel lines, RHS cylinder heads, tubular exhaust headers, and an aluminum radiator with dual electric fans. An oil change was performed in 2022.
Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Tremec TKO five-speed manual transmission and a 9-inch Positraction rear axle with 4.11:1 gears. A custom dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers is fitted.
