1957 Chevrolet - Current owner bonded with this regal Bel Air in '57

Dennis "The Big Bopper" Secara was only about 13 and even then he was car crazy. Then it happened. His neighbor came home with a brand new car. It was this very 1957 red and white Bel Air two-door hardtop.

Dennis basically bonded with it right then and there. He kept his eye on it over the years. In 1963 the car's owner traded it in for a newer Chevy. Dennis ran right over to that dealership and bought.

He enjoyed it for a few years as a 283 power pack model as it was ordered. In 1967 he up-graded it with a 327 V8 and a four-speed transmission. More fun was had with it until about 1972. Dennis parted with it and it went into the hands of a guy from Belleville. That guy put it back to a 283 Power Pack and painted it black over the stock red color. He also rebuilt a bunch of the systems.

Later on Dennis bough it back and the 283 was getting kind of tired with 100,000 on the odo. He took a while and totally has replaced every bolt, nut, part and piece all over it. He has again up-graded it to a brand new crate 350 V8, with a four-barrel carb, and dual exhaust, etc. Dennis also threw in a re-built set of 3:31 rear gears.

He opted to install the front disc brake conversion kit. He told old Scooter that it now stops on a dime and gives change even though its not vacuum power assisted.

Dennis has also resisted some more of the "back then" new fangled stuff. It still has manual steering. And it had no power windows or seats.

He has those cool SS Crager mags seven-inch Vette Rallys framed with brand new radials. He has a cold air conditioning set up in it and a really decent Deluxe USA stereo system. It figures, as our man of the hour is a car show, bike show, etc DJ who has been successful enough to have to have his own "gear" trailer and truck to haul it all with.

Plus. Dennis is an active member of the Lamont Classic Car Club. I met a bunch of these guys and gals and they are out doing it to the max and having fun in the same manner. Dennis tells me he still makes the time to cruise here and there to the tune of at least 2,000 miles per season.