SKJ Performance Engineering's '55 Chevy Is A Sight For Sore Eyes

SKJ Performance Engineering’s ’55 Chevy Is A Sight For Sore Eyes

December 21, 2018

Merry Christmas, one and all. If you’ve not seen it already, we’ve published our 2018 In Review, with the ten best restomods of the year. If it had been publicised a touch earlier, this Chevy would have featured on that list. Built by SKJ Performance Engineering of Monroe, Georgia, it is exceptionally good-looking. We’ve talked about the incredible Tri-Five Chevys before, and the ’55 Bel Airs are among the prettiest. Owned by Steven Kirk Sr., it was built by his son Steve, making the Chevy a real labor of love.

When the car was found, in the nearby town of Social Circle, it was pretty much stock, bar an engine-swap to a 327 small-block. Steve worked on it between other jobs in his shop, removing the frame and starting from the bottom up. The body panels were refitted, with a strong attention to detail, making sure everything sat perfectly. The frame rails were left alone, which made fitting the car’s LS3 crate engine a challenge. The frame was scalloped, and profiled for strength.

Thanks to a lot of talent, the engine was able to fit inside the Bel Air’s bay, but if you think this is a simple restoration and an engine swap, think again. The engine is hooked up to a Tremec six-speed transmission, which is topped off by a Hurst shifter. The old driveshaft has been replaced with a 1350 carbon fiber model, which is connected to a nine-inch rearend. The wheels, too, are custom, and are made by Budnik. Inside, there’s a Dakota Digital dash, a satellite radio which outputs through JBL speakers, power seats, power windows, a tilt wheel, and upgraded AC. Everything is finished in a bright red which matches the exterior beautifully. It’s not a shock to discover this car has won multiple awards. We look forward to seeing more from SKJ in the future.

Battle of the Pony Cars: Camaro vs. Mustang

October 29, 2025

The battle between the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro is the biggest, most lasting rivalry in American car history. These two cars didn’t just…
Read more
The RM32 Ford Fastback Mustang Build Breakdown

October 24, 2025

The Ford Mustang: Historic Start The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic muscle cars in American history, capturing the imagination of car enthusiasts…
Read more
6 Things to Consider: Keep Your Classic Muscle Car Original or RestoMod it?

October 15, 2025

When tackling the big question that has become a debate on the internet: Is it better to keep your classic muscle car original or turn…
Read more

Show more articles

Become a Car Club Member

Car Club Members Get Entries to Win, Discounts in our Shop, Discounts with our Preferred Partners and more!

Membership benefits

By joining the RestoMods Car Club Today, you will receive amazing perks plus 15 bonus entries into our sweepstakes for every month you are an active member

Auto Discounts:Curated Discounts From Your Favorite Parts Companies
Restomods Monthly:Monthly Magazine With The Latest Industry News
Classified Ads:Get Free Postings seen by 300,000 enthusiasts monthly
Car Show Tickets:Check out the biggest vintage car shows on us.
Exclusive Car Deals:First chance to purchase any prize cars not selected