Joe and Sonia Napolitano purchased this 1957 coupe in 1997
from the US complete minus motor and box and started there ground
up rebuild by stripping the body back to a bare shell. One of
Joes friends Charlie converted the dash and added a smooth firewall
he also set the chassis up for the big block and installed a
new trans member he then relocated the rear leaf springs in
board and added a new shocker crossmember.
Once this was done Joe stripped and smoothed the chassis which
he painted in DULUX black 2 pak. Then set about rebuilding the
front end. Brakes are vt commodore twin piston calipers with
300mm rotors up front and F100 drum rear. The motor is a crate
454 with steel crank,4 bolt mains,LS7 rods,forged pistons,hyd
roller cam and large port big valve heads. A GM performer mani
and 750 HOLLEY hp series carb pumps fuel via a HOLLEY blue pump
from the 70 litre tank.
The motor produces 450 hp & 520 ft lbs of torque. Trans
is turbo 400 with stage 2 shift kit and HD clutches,2700 hi
stall and a B&M pro ratchet shifter. Rear end is a shortend
F100 FORD 9" with 3.5LSD,28 spline axels and steel hat
built by STREET & STRIP ENGINEERING. Wheels are billet specialties
15x10 with 285/70/15 BFG and 15x6 with 205/70/15 BRIDGY'S. Charlie
fitted mini tubs and filled all excess holes and Joe then painted
the under body in torquise 2 pak. The body was fitted back to
the chassis and sent to CROYDON DETAILING were Brendon &
Russel spent 6 months on the body and paint, the exterior was
painted in 2 pak torquise with a classic white roof. While this
all happened Joe was busy polishing all the stainless and had
BAYSWATER CHROME redo all the chrome. All new badges, lenses,
rubbers and original trim kit were purchased from Ron Wicks
at CLASSIC CHEV PARTS in coburg. Pat Mesiti at SUNSHINE MOTOR
TRIMMERS repaired the seat frames and fitted up the new black
and torquise trim. The chev has a 12 stack ALPINE cd player
and AUTOMETER 5 tacho,oil pressure,temp and fuel gauges fitted
and a new pearl steering wheel. 2" extractors and a 2.1/2"
twin system expels the gasses.
ROAD RUNNER installed tinted front rear and side glass to the
Chevy. The Chev took 2 years to build and has been featured
in many magazines including CRUZIN magazine and has won trophies
at the Melbourne motor show. GM day, Chev nats and all fins
day to mention just a few. Joes not afraid to give the chev
a good time and got in the top ten burnouts at the Easter nats
and has run down the quarter with a best of 12.6 at 107mph not
bad for a CRUZIN 57. Joe would like to thank Charlie Gaucci,
Ron & Karen Wicks, Brendon Burke, Pat Mesiti, and Joes brother
Mario and most of all his wife Sonia who he enjoys the pleasure
of his beautiful Chevy with at all times.
Thanks to our MISS ROAD RUNNER MODEL the super stunning and
extremely sexy EMMA for some of the best pics possible.
JOE SAYS CHEV RULE
Joe is considering a new project and may be persuaded to part
with the chev for the right money. If you are interested you
can contact him at sonzjes@hotmail.com.
