---
title: "This Pristine 1953 Chevy Bel Air Restomod Is Powered by a Twin-Supercharged LS V8"
description: "Yes, those are suicide doors."
date: "2019-01-23"
modified: "2019-01-23"
authors:
  - name: "Eric Brandt"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/eric-brandt"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/26117/this-pristine-1953-chevy-bel-air-restomod-is-powered-by-a-twin-supercharged-ls-v-8"
categories:
  - "Chevrolet News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Bel Air"
  - "Build"
  - "Chevrolet"
  - "Chevy"
  - "classic"
  - "custom"
  - "Engine Swap"
  - "Restomod"
  - "vintage"
---

# This Pristine 1953 Chevy Bel Air Restomod Is Powered by a Twin-Supercharged LS V8

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/01/vortex-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Utah-based Weaver Customs specializes in taking classic American cars and working its magic in engineering and fabrication to make them bona fide [restomods](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/15727/check-out-the-1970-ford-mustang-boss-302-restomod-owned-by-robert-downey-jr>). Its latest creation is this gorgeous 1953 [Chevrolet Bel Air](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23784/man-tracks-down-brothers-1964-chevrolet-bel-air-surprises-him-with-restoration>) nicknamed “Vortex” with so many modifications, we’re not sure where to begin.

![message-editor%2F1548182141691-vortex2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1548182141691-vortex2.jpg>)
*Facebook/Weaver Customs*

![message-editor%2F1548182148302-vortex2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1548182148302-vortex2.jpg>)
*Facebook/Weaver Customs*

![message-editor%2F1548182154751-vortex3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1548182154751-vortex3.jpg>)
*Facebook/Weaver Customs*

![message-editor%2F1548182161099-vortex4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1548182161099-vortex4.jpg>)
*Facebook/Weaver Customs*

![message-editor%2F1548182168693-vortex5.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1548182168693-vortex5.jpg>)
*Facebook/Weaver Customs*

![message-editor%2F1548182176394-vortex6.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1548182176394-vortex6.jpg>)
*Facebook/Weaver Customs*

Under the hood is always a good place to start. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that an [LS V8](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/26038/this-1972-chevy-cheyenne-powered-by-a-supercharged-ls-v-8-is-the-business>) was chosen to power this thing, specifically a 6.2-liter LSX376-B15. This crate engine straight from Chevy Performance makes 473 horsepower and 444 pound-feet of torque, but the one we see here is topped off with a very unconventional twin-supercharger setup. It’s technically one unit which the owner calls “siamese superchargers.”

They’re twin Magnuson 122 superchargers in one piece. This is a vintage oddity that was discontinued long ago and the owner estimates that there are only about four of these left in the world. We’d say this is a pretty good use for one of them.

Here’s the engine doing some revving and whistling.

The power goes through a TH350 automatic transmission into a Ford 9-inch rear end. Power and torque figures are a mystery, but we’re guessing it’s a healthy upgrade over the stock numbers for this engine.

It’s not hard to see that a lot of fabrication work was done on this body. It’s been chopped, channeled, and widened to give it a menacing presence and it rides on an Art Morrison chassis. It even has a rear diffuser giving this American classic a touch of supercar flair. Perhaps the coolest part of the body is the custom suicide doors.

https://youtube.com/embed/D_36DJpfx4U

Weaver Customs has a beauty on its hands with this custom Bel Air and, by the sounds of it, it'll be up for sale at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale next year.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/brandt004>)