This is Ryan Miller’s 54 Bel Air. And Ryan’s thought process is: There’s a coolness to anything with four wheels. Some cars we build for driving, other cars we build for cruising. And ALL cars, we build to connect us to moments. Sometimes we work on a car because of a sentimental and/or nostalgic pull. And sometimes – it’s just for our own therapy & centeredness. I say it time & time again, but cars are like time machines. The sounds, the visions, the smells… they hit all your senses and boom… you’re back in its era. You’re caught in its energy. It’s almost a telepathic connection. And that’s either in you… or it’s not.

The attraction of a 54 Bel Air…

Truth is, it’s highly likely that the best cars are in the rearview mirror. Just look at this 54 Bel Air. This was how America envisioned an average sedan in the 50s. There was no average. Everything was more than it needed to be. Authentic embellishments. Style was instinctual. What happened to that? As a culture, how did we let ourselves get lost in efficiency, mediocrity, and convenience. We’re living in a connected world, yet we’re so utterly disconnected from it.

Why did we take ART off the streets? How did we buy into the scam of replacing art with ‘appliance’. An appliance that’s drastically more expensive, more complicated, and less interesting. Your guess is as good as mine. And that’s why our spirits are drawn back to the old stuff. I mentioned some cars are for driving, and some cars are for cruising. And I said that – because Ryan Miller’s other car is an E30 BMW that was featured in the final printed issue of S3 Magazine. That car is for driving; it’s a connection to the road. But this 54 Bel Air is a connection to the soul. It’s for cruising… the great American pastime.

From Ryan Miller… about his 54 Bel Air.

Honestly, I was looking for a 59. I wanted a classic bubble car. After doing import shows for so long, it just felt like a change was needed. I’m not one to drive something I didn’t build. And this car kinda just fell into my lap as a great deal on a barn find. It was mostly original, and the patina was perfect… so I went for it. I got this Bel Air back in 2018-19, and cruised the car as is for about a year. At which point, I decided I wanted more power than the 235 & Powerglide had to offer. So naturally I went crazy.

This 54 Bel Air is a frame-off mild restoration…

It now has a 2-link rear suspension with a G-body rear axle. In the front, it got a Gambino Customs front-end with Fatman fab front crossmember (Mustang II but with bags). Airlift management is on all 4 corners.

The engine is a modern 5.7 LS…

With a Comp cam and 4L60 transmission. We custom-built a trans/driveshaft tunnel & the rear tubs. Wiring-wise, we did a complete rewire of the whole car. This was all with help from @detrichrodandkustoms… local hot-rod builder & good friend. Pretty much everything is fabed or modified. It also has a Vintage Air AC setup, but we still have yet to finish that. Also – it’s got a Dakota digital gauge cluster. This was mostly just built to be a rowdy-sounding cruiser. I’ve got a few things to finish up, and the interior is next on the to-do list. But basically, I love all types of cars. There’s coolness to everything with 4 wheels. But classics, no matter the maker or origin… are just a little cooler. 😉