Image Credit: Vanguard Motor Sales.This 1955 Chevrolet 150 may have one of the most recognizable shapes of the Tri-Five era, but very little underneath is still stuck in the 1950s. Its builder combined the classic two-door body with a modern supercharged V8, custom chassis, upgraded suspension, and a completely reworked interior.The result is a high-end restomod designed to deliver modern performance without disguising what it started life as. Its red-and-black exterior still has factory-style badging and plenty of chrome, while the lowered stance and large wheels provide a clear indication that this isn't a stock restoration.According to Vanguard Motor Sales, the Chevrolet underwent a complete frame-off, rotisserie build and currently shows 7,630 miles. The dealer's walkaround also provides an extensive look underneath the car, where much of the money and workmanship involved in the project becomes easier to appreciate.AdvertisementAdvertisementBuying it will require a budget considerably larger than the one needed for a typical restored 150. Vanguard currently has the Chevrolet listed for $299,900, putting this custom build firmly into serious collector-car territory.A Supercharged LT4 Makes 650 HPImage Credit: Vanguard Motor Sales.The original 1955 powertrain is long gone, and in its place lives a supercharged 6.2-liter GM LT4 V8, rated at 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, giving this nearly 70-year-old Chevrolet performance its original designers could hardly have imagined.Power goes through a 4L80E four-speed automatic transmission to a Ford nine-inch rear end supported by a triangulated four-link setup. Vanguard's specifications list a 3.55:1 rear gear ratio, although the walkaround video mentions a different ratio, so the listing's published specification is the safer figure to use.The engine bay has been carefully finished rather than simply modified to accommodate the modern V8. Cooling hardware, air conditioning, hydroboost braking equipment, and other components are integrated around the LT4 while red and contrasting finishes carry the exterior theme under the hood.It Sits On A Roadster Shop ChassisImage Credit: Vanguard Motor Sales.The modifications extend well beyond the engine compartment. A Roadster Shop REVO chassis provides the foundation, accompanied by adjustable coilovers, tubular control arms, sway bars, and power rack-and-pinion steering.AdvertisementAdvertisementWilwood power disc brakes handle stopping duties, while a stainless-steel fuel tank and neatly routed jet-coated exhaust continue the detailed presentation underneath. Close-out panels help conceal and integrate components rather than leaving the chassis looking purely functional.Schott Accelerator wheels complete the stance, wearing 225/45R19 Continental tires up front and substantially wider 295/40R20 rubber at the rear. The difference in wheel and tire sizes gives the 150 a muscular stance without radically changing its familiar proportions.The Interior Has Been Completely ReworkedImage Credit: Vanguard Motor Sales.Opening the doors reveals an interior that's every bit as customized as the chassis. Red leather covers the front bucket seats and rear bench, complemented by red carpeting, custom door panels, and a black vinyl dashboard.A custom center console houses the Lokar shifter, while aftermarket gauges have been integrated into the redesigned dash. A Billet Specialties steering wheel sits on a tilt column, and power windows add another modern convenience.AdvertisementAdvertisementAir conditioning and an upgraded Kenwood audio system further separate this Chevrolet from a period-correct restoration. Even the trunk has been fully finished, including a custom panel beneath the decklid that continues the attention to detail into an area that could easily have been overlooked.Vanguard Wants $299,900 For ItAt $299,900, this Chevrolet is asking buyers to value the quality and expense of the complete build rather than simply the collectibility of an original 1955 Chevrolet 150. That is substantial money even in the world of professionally constructed restomods.There is certainly plenty of hardware to back up the price, from the 650-hp LT4 and Roadster Shop chassis to the Wilwood brakes, custom cabin, and detailed underside. Whether those ingredients add up to nearly $300,000 will ultimately depend on the buyer who wants this particular combination badly enough.For someone with the budget, it offers a very different experience from preserving an untouched Tri-Five Chevrolet. This 150 keeps the unmistakable 1955 silhouette while replacing much of what lies beneath it with components intended to make the car faster, more comfortable, and far easier to use on modern roads.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
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