Amy's 58, "Ms. Clara Bel Air"

The family and I went down to Morehead Ky to pick up Clara Bel on Saturday. Here are some pics of her that the guy had posted.


She had no soul. But we got a 350 Chevy to make her heartbeat.
We where greeted by a great group of Carter County Cruisers! Thanks John for getting them together. Maybe next time you can put some prospects to work.

She's going to need alot of TLC! Clara Bel has fiberglass fenders that'll have to go. Because fiberglass is for boats. Steel is real.
Here's the motor being loaded.

And now for the most interesting part: How many guys does it take to load her up?

Randy Vickers trailer came in very handy. Thanks Randy it was very much appricated!!


Steve looked around at the frame and it's super nice. Instead of driving home we stopped and got a hotel so we could go swimming. We had to stop in our new favorite antique mall. We've been there 2 weekends in a row.

Most of the time when we find bondo it's not a good thing. But opening the trunk Steve found bondo oozing through the factory holes for the Bel Air trim. We wasn't for sure it was a Bel Air until we seen the holes. Nicely wrapped up was the Bel Air chrome that was taken off. Since the holes are not welded up. We're going to grind the bondo back out and put the chrome back on Clara Bel.
The ride home was very slow and long. Steve drove about 45 or 50 mph. It rained all the way from Morehead to Newport. With the flat bed and hauling the trailer it's very easy to jack knife.
Since we had the car on the tralier we thought it would be a good idea to clean the engine bay before painting it and putting in her heartbeat. Steve likes to use oven cleaner for degreaser. He says it works better. We found this cool car wash. Anyone that paints a hot rod on the side of their wall is bound to get our business.


Wait a minute Steve has to pull up his pants. Not as drastic as John having to pull up Dog's pants though. LOL

I'm looking for some 15x6 or 15x7 steelies and a turbo 350. There are lots of plans for Clara Bel but for now that's all you get. If your wondering where her name came from.. Well I seen her from a steet away and she looked like a Clara Bell cow. Not in a mean way but it just fit her well. And because she's a Bel Air I dropped the last L in Bell. I know it's not the coolest story but that's my story and I'm sticking to it...

I have a Turbo 400 for sale???

very nice! glad you guys got a new project! Can't wait to see you cruising around in that with Steve in his 27!

cool.....spring is gettin close.......time to start getting them done

I LIKE IT!!!! Wide whites, two tone suede aqua/gloss white top, subtle stripping, off white interior, dropped about an inch.... now that's a family rod!!

Or you can use the idea like that guy did that has the wagon that was made into a convert. that looks like the California raisin.

Not too sure what exact year but that grill insert may look pretty cool with the "wide tooth Buick" grill.

Go for it Steve, turn it into a 2 door. Put your abilities to the test!

That is my cousin's car wash in Maysville! I will have her thank you for the advertisement.

Is that an old 6 cyl car or is it already setup for a V8? The front chrome looks in pretty good shape.

Mr. Fabulous wrote:Is that an old 6 cyl car or is it already setup for a V8? The front chrome looks in pretty good shape.

Has the V8 mounts still on the frame and new stainless steel daul exhaust ready to bolt up to the new engine.

look like you got some work to do be done before vickers

RebStew wrote:

Has the V8 mounts still on the frame and new stainless steel daul exhaust ready to bolt up to the new engine.[/quote]

348 or SBC?

I wish I had a 348 for it. It's a SBC car I would guess. Factory 3 speed on the tree car. Z bar and everything is still hanging in it. It will get an auto back in it though.

Why don't you put a 348 and a 4spd in it? Then hunt for a 409. My neighbor has a couple of them, they're still out there. A 409 with a 396 crank gets you well into the 500 cid range. That'd make a pretty slick 4 door.

Mr. Fabulous wrote:Why don't you put a 348 and a 4spd in it? Then hunt for a 409. My neighbor has a couple of them, they're still out there. A 409 with a 396 crank gets you well into the 500 cid range. That'd make a pretty slick 4 door.

I'm very uncordinated and can't drive a 4spd.

I can't wait to get started. This cold weather has to go!

Thought you had the comforts of a wood burner? Jeff and I have been outside working on that @$#% Falcon.

That car looks pretty good. Can't wait to see it up and running.

Mr. Fabulous wrote:Thought you had the comforts of a wood burner? Jeff and I have been outside working on that @$#% Falcon.

You sure talk bad about that Ford for wanting it so bad. I wish I'd have bought it. Amy would have been driving it by now.
My car in the garage and not coming out untill it's done. I guess she will have to wait for warm weather or talk dad out of his barn for a couple weeks.

Here is two Turbo-350's i found on craigslist if you haven't purchased one yet.

$125----- http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pts/1564227781.html
$100----- http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pts/1558303847.html

[quote="RebStew"][quote="Mr. Fabulous"]You sure talk bad about that Ford for wanting it so bad. I wish I'd have bougt it. Amy would have been driving it by now.[quote]

There's a lot more to be fixed on that old Ford to make it highway ready than meet's the eye. I could list everything here but don't have the time and this isn't the place. I just don't have the dough right now to fix it all.