Story and photos by Gary Rosier
I’d like you to meet Greg Tyler and his wife Rita who reside in Port Orange, Florida. They own this gorgeous 1955 Chevy Bel Air: 1FINE55, a license plate that became available when their friend turned in his specialty tag from a recent sale of his car. Greg was quick to jump on it and got it as specialty tags and their respective slogans can be hard to come by. Greg still resides part-time in Mattituck, Long Island, NY - hence the New York Tag.
Greg bought the car in 2002 from a Goodguys show he was spending time at in Rhinebeck, NY. He completely dismantled the car starting in 2005, stripping it down to bare metal. It originally was a dark red/white, but he changed it to a Porsche Guardsman Red with a 2005 Nissan Pearl White on top. While Greg did nearly all the work himself, the interior was handled by Michael Sweeney of Southhampton Auto Upholstery in Long Island. Greg also gives a lot of credit to Michael for helping put the car together. Michael's son, Joey, was responsible for laying down the paint.
Parts were collected from 2002 - 2005 from various shows, swap meets too including many trips to Carlisle, PA. The chrome frames and glass are all new pieces, but the trim, which was hiding under some previous interior work, was restored with some polishing and is all original.
While Greg was a retired Heavy Equipment mechanic, he had no idea far into the “Heavy” department he was about to go! A new engine (a 350 Chevy, bored .60 over) was installed in 2008. Airflow Research aluminum heads, a Competition Cam, headers (Holley), and a 750 Holley Dual feed carburetor rounded out the go-fast goodies, which are backed by a Muncie M-21 4- speed out of a 1966 GTO. Gasses are spent via 2.5 inch Flowmaster exhausts with 40 series mufflers. Power is put to the pavement by a Ford 9inch Posi-rear with 3:50 gears and rolls on BF Goodrich 15in 225/70’s in front and 235/70’s in rear over American Racing Wheels (7in width) with spinners. Stopping is handled by front slotted disc’s and rear drums and steers by a new Ididit Steering column capped off with an Impala 15in wheel (reduced from 17 inches originally).
The '55 gets everyone’s attention by stopping with LED taillights, LED third brake light and eyes by halogen headlights. Monitoring all the vitals is a Sun Tach and gauges that help Greg watch water, oil and voltage readings. “She ain’t HEAVY," he says. She is however, fast, reliable and one FINE ‘55!