The 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Known As Junkyard Dog
Post-WWII, most makers raced toward lower, sleeker silhouettes—Chevy waited until 1949. When the all-new ’55 lineup finally arrived, the Bel Air became the poster-child of the Tri-Five era, and Ron Pratte’s Boyd-built ’56 “Junkyard Dog” proves why the hobby still worships those three years.
Where do we start? How about a GM Performance Parts 502-inch big-block—502 hp and 565 lb-ft of torque straight out of the crate. Add Boyd’s polish work and you’re north of $10K before the first gallon of 93-octane goes in the tank.
All that twist is channeled through a Richmond 5-speed and heavy-duty clutch to a bullet-proof Ford 9-inch, while Wilwood 4-piston calipers on every corner make sure the Z-rated Goodyears out back have a fighting chance against physics.
The cabin keeps factory lines but hides modern amenities; the body wears flawless PPG pigment over laser-straight steel. Expect the bidding to get fierce when “Junkyard Dog” rolls across the Scottsdale block this January—beauty, brawn and Bel-Air royalty rarely come in one package.
Want more Pratte pieces? See the full list here.
