BangShift reader Scott VanderSchorr, metal worker extrodinare sent me this link via Facebook and suggested that I may want to have a look-see at it. Scott knows me and my weakness for things large and weird all too well and he was dead-nuts on the fact that I’d fall in love at first sight when I laid eyes on this ’54 Chevy mud racer known as the Bel Air X-Press. For sale in Minnesota, the car looks to reside on the back of a seriously awesome vintage International straight truck. The truck does not appear to be part of the sale which is saddening but it does not take away from the goodness that is the Bel Air.
The body is set atop “International running gear” and is powered by a 350 engine that has headers and an aftermarket carb bolted to it. When you look under the car to see the frame it looks like this baby is riding on a 2-ton of heavier set of rails. The wheels and tires are serious business and while the top speed is probably glacial, it looks like it would be awesome to slog though mud pits and mire wherever you could find it. We really love that the photos were shot in the middle of a forest, giving the whole situation a very Harry and the Hendersons feel to it.
The machine does have some issues in that the transfer case mounts are broken. The transfer case itself needs to be remounted apparently due to really steep driveshaft angles that may be killing universal joints. The guy does not specify why, but that is our guess. It looks like the front fenders were bashed/rolled in to handle the big tractor tires but the rears are as right as rain. The whole thing is really, really neat and we want it bad!
SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS AND THEN HIT THE LINK TO SEE MORE PHOTOS AND DETAILS –
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 1954 BELAIR X-PRESS MUD CAR AND THE SWEET INTERNATIONAL TRUCK THAT IS IT ON — BUY THIS THING!
It would be so awesome to paint it with a nice stock appearing black and white two tone and mount poverty caps on the wheels somehow. Maybe a little tuck and roll in the interior. Then cruise the Sonic. I would even buy one of those car show “crying kids” to lean on the bumper whenever I parked it.
trars are not so uncommon here in the great northwet (washington state)—there’s one near to where i live,appears to be a 70’s rice burner of some kind,mounted on probablly a jeep frame,pretty serious lift—-remember one as a high school lad,a really sweet 65 barracuda,same deal(probably get you stoned by the mopar mafia today)
That’s badass. It has more appeal than any ride at SEMA this year:(