By: Staff Writer.
"When Chris Williams was a youngster he used to travel around San Diego, California with his grandfather in a '49 Chevy Coupe. He has fond memories of the great times he had in this coupe. A few years ago Chris traded an old airplane for a '55 Bel Air convertible that was in good condition. The original ragtop was great driver, however, it was too slow for Chris's agressive driving style. Chris decided that the '55 needed improved performance so he started looking for a reputable shop. He took the convertible to Hot Rods & Custom Stuff (HR&CS) in Escondido and was pleased with the performance upgrade they performed.
"While cruising around San Diego in the new and improved '55 he decided that he wanted to build another rod at HR&CS, one that was really exceptional. The thoughts of his grandfather's old '49 Chevy came to mind, and after finding a rust-free example, the project was under way. This '49 started out to be a vehicle with several special features. Chris worked closely with HR&CS in the design of the car and what started out as a really nice street machine escalated into a rolling work of art that ended up winning the coveted Ridler trophy at the Detroit Autorama. Features include a completely redesigned body, a '98 LS1 Corvette engine and transmission, a tan leather interior with a variety of molded and contoured parts, and a completely polished and chrome plated independent suspension system. In order to win the Ridler Award, the coupe had to be extremely detailed and perfect, and that's exactly what this '49 Chevy is. It's beautifully styled, expertly crafted and deserves to one of Super Rod's 10 Best."
