This Classic Bel Air Is Actually A Tesla Under The Skin

Like peanut butter and jelly, a Chevrolet Bel Air and Tesla Model 3 are vastly different. Yet, they have been successfully brought together by West Coast Customs in a wild build that's seen the Bel Air's classic design combined with the electric powertrain and technologies of a Model 3. In the restomod world, few are as intriguing as this. This Chevy build was commissioned by a man looking to convert all his cars, including muscle cars, into EVs. He provided West Coast Customs (WCC) with his classic Bel Air and a grey Tesla Model 3, and let the famed California firm go to work. 

The first thing WCC did was strip out the Model 3 and cut off the body, leaving behind the skateboard-style architecture. The team then pulled the Bel Air's body and transplanted it onto the Tesla's chassis. As you can probably imagine, significant modifications were made to the Chevy so it would fit because the Bel Air and Model 3 have different wheelbases, among other things. West Coast Customs rectified this by stretching the rear wheel well and eventually got to a point where the body mated to the Tesla surprisingly well.

Most of the Tesla Model 3's interior has been retained, as it was carefully cut out alongside the chassis. The steering wheel, the seats, and the infotainment screen have been carried over to give it that modern car aesthetic, though a variety of modifications had to be made to the dashboard so everything works the way it's supposed to. West Coast Customs then added extra flair to the cabin by re-trimming the seats with hexagon stitching, inspired by the current crop of Lamborghinis.

There's no mistaking the exterior of this Bel Air from an original one, as it's been repainted in matte red and has a slew of black accents. These include the front grille, the bumpers, as well as the headlights and taillights. It also now includes a small, discreet charging flap, meaning it can be easily plugged into a Tesla Supercharger.