Stunning LS Powered '56 Bel Air from RMD Garage

This build is stunning! The looks. The sounds. The drive. Every detail is beautiful on this one. And, the backstory is as good. Grandpa's car passed down through the family until the youngest owner of the family decided to do a full build with none other than Ralph Holquin and his company RMD Garage. The result of it all is perfection. This could be one of the nicest 1956 Bel Air's I've ever seen.
Sit back and enjoy the ride...
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Paul Welsh - Videographer + Technical support: / mr.paulwelsh
Edited by Kyle Simon:
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• 1000 WHP Million Dolla...
Vehicle Owner Social:
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Music:
"Car Songs" - Epocha
Epidemic Sound
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Thanks for watching and help spread the word by telling your friends to check out AutotopiaLA! New episode every Tuesday and Friday at 5 pm (pst).

[@sparkyentertainmentstudios2380]

We had a bel air sitting in our grandpas garage for 2 years now, we got i from a old dude for 7000 and suprising still run. My dad had restored cars for years and makes them look brand new and now i cant wait to restore our as my first car

[@hent1438]

This is an absolutely gorgeous build. The 55 & 57 Bel Air models always seem to get the notoriety, and it's so nice to see a 56 representing that nameplate so beautifully. I really love how it stayed in the family for all these years. Great car & vid.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed all the way here. Thanks for the comment and compliment 👊

[@keithusace4352]

This brings back memories. Fifty years ago I bought my first car at 17. As with your grandfather I got my 56 from the original owner and 2 months later shipped off over seas and could not wait to get back home to drive it. Great job young man

[@AutotopiaLA]

Awesome!! The story and respect with Dave and his car is great

[@jeffmiller2682]

This is perfection kept the chrome and deleted the perfect amount of barbs the body is smooth interior is perfect and not over the top hp , RD nailed it beauitiful

[@shfr1747]

SO easy on the eyes. I wrote down the colours immediately for future builds.Thanks Shaun.

[@AutotopiaLA]

This is a stunner. Truly beautiful build and the color choices are impeccable

[@cliffonator1111]

Tri-Five's are my favorite. A car like this is a dream for me

[@AutotopiaLA]

This car is truly stunning and I love that Dave and his wife take it out all the time

[@johnbehneman1546]

I am impressed !!!!! Excellent craftsmanship and engineering!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

This one is stunning with a great backstory

[@sbrown9020]

You guys consistently show the best cars... Love the Caliper color

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thank you. We’re always in search of the best customs around

[@gerrydillon8761]

Brilliant

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed 👊

[@chubbtonihi5587]

Awesome story. Excellence in restoration. Great eye to detail. Much appreciated. Mermaid. Westgate marina. Auckland. New Zealand. Ti hei moari ora !!!.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Love this build and backstory too!

[@Chewygsxr]

I love the Ghost ring headlights.

[@kevinmurphy9982]

Beautiful beautiful Bel Aire. Doesn't appear to have to much get up and go from the stop. Throw the Kindigs out and build them into the trim.

[@AutotopiaLA]

It’s a cruiser and makes plenty of power for that. He wasn’t going for anything else and they nailed it on all the details and choices

[@kevinmurphy9982]

Not dogging the build at all...just my $.02. Keep up the great videos brother.

[@scotty2036]

Just when u think the cars can't get any better on this show 👌

[@daniel.gilliss6030]

April to October!!! They had all hands on deck building that car. Fantastic work. Everything including the trunk blows you away.

[@turbo6598]

Fabulous fabulous fabulous.. just like one of those old Thomas English Muffins commercials every nook and cranny has been well done To perfection Sean you knocked it out of the park with this video of this slick 56

[@ruialmeida5755]

Fantastic car! Impossible to say anything, but - what a wonderful car!

[@YOUR_MOTHER_WENT_TO_COLLEGE]

Beautiful 56, my favorite year of the Tri-5's. I'm building a radical 56 hard top Bel Air myself, can't wait till its done. Nothing but burning off tires and causing whiplashes as I drive by.😁👍🏼

[@chazg8489]

Beautiful

[@johnnyboy1586]

Perfect wheels for the car 🙂

[@AutotopiaLA]

This whole car is pure beauty

[@johnnyboy1586]

@@AutotopiaLA fully agree 😊

[@thechosen1536]

This is awesome, you should post if any of these people you interview are ever willing to sell their cars. I’d be interested in buying a nice custom classic car like that.

[@brandongasper4915]

i love the 56 chevy

[@AutotopiaLA]

And this one is about as good as it gets

[@larrydohanos5893]

What can you say other than BOOM. What a build best I’ve ever seen

[@CJColvin]

Man that's one beautiful 56 Chevy Belair.

[@davidcontreras5249]

Badass 56

[@oneofakindkev5259]

My dream car .... one day

[@dadstoygarage1878]

very nice execution of the build! every thing flows very nicely.

[@eliteharrington7377]

Nice Car...lataz 👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾

[@gdub454]

Beautiful build there dude..but Borla as your choice of exhaust system was not good..Borla exhaust sounds too raspy when you rev it up...Magnaflow would've sounded better and I dont get the dull grey wheels..but everything else is on point..and that interior is just as beautiful as beautiful gets ...badass car dude

[@AutotopiaLA]

I like the way it sounds on here and love the wheel choice. But different opinions are what makes the world go round. Regardless it is a flawless work of rolling art

[@scotmandel6699]

Not my choice for wheels also but sweet build regardless.

[@pedrofernando176]

Top top demais👍👍👍👍👍👍Brasil

[@AutotopiaLA]

It is a stunner for sure. Thanks for always watching and commenting 👊

[@diancastillo8289]

I never like that model but damn this guy did an amazing job with the car everything it's just perfect he has a great taste I wouldn't change anything about it again WOW

[@larryabner3709]

Don't like the rims but it is one nice looking car real good job guys

[@Golem339]

WOW WOW WOW.👍👍👍

[@celioafonsochagas]

my consumer dream😊

[@gustavorivarola6892]

😎👏👏👏Felicidades x esa máquina

[@jb2oldies69]

Nice Chevy

[@josevilarim7010]

Parceiro vc é o rei dos carros lindo e top parabéns gostei muito

[@mortenhansen3455]

So now that we've invented carbon for wheight. Can we PLEASE go back to these types of car designs, PLEASE! Everything today looks like a fish out of water. Or even a spaceship. These cars has lines that would dupe any passing good looking female. Plus she gets the sound of an angry tiger when reving it! GOTTA LOVE IT!

[@dogsense3773]

O good no painted out chrome

[@AutotopiaLA]

This one retains the classic look with a lot of modern upgrades

[@davidlotspeich5547]

Needs some supercharger whine to really set it off.

[@AutotopiaLA]

He wanted it to be a cruiser not a big power car

[@carbonfibercreationswashin7213]

It's nice to see such a beautiful restored Chevy. Just think the funds they spend to rebuild these cars is all pumped back into our economy creating jobs etc.

[@AutotopiaLA]

It is a beautiful build for sure. And yes on pumping $$ back into the economy and hoping people are back working soon!

[@jimbo4589]

cool

[@OOICU812]

Not a fan of the wheels, but love the car.

[@gelandewagen4376]

Russian Russian Volga M21 similar and I also like this genre of cars and of course like I put for the legendary and reliable car and let's translate into Russian make the ATO nothing is clear OK bro

[@timmygiles9554]

10 1/2 border line 11

[@fajabur]

I need to know. What a out side mirrors?

[@AutotopiaLA]

He went without them for the look

[@mistervacation23]

How much do you want for the little Jewel

[@AutotopiaLA]

Doubtful he’s ever selling this as it’s been in his family since early 60’s

[@mistervacation23]

@@AutotopiaLA oh ok. Sure wish I had one

[@cameronbrewster7348]

Enjoyed this episode is an understatement. This is the coolest '56 Bel Air on the road! The '56 is my favorite of the tri 5 Chevys 👍

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thank you! This is pure rolling art. Love it!!

[@sforza209]

That interior is out of this world beautiful!! Holy hell! Not a single part wasn’t touched on this build!! Simply stunning!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Truly a stunning beautiful build

[@wilsontavares4713]

Muito bonito mas se tivesse encosto mais altos e encosto de cabeça nos bancos dianteiros , ficava perfeito

[@rbszx14r56]

WOW that is the most beautiful 56 I've seen love the colors . Great job on the build. A 56 was my 1st car

[@AutotopiaLA]

I agree all the way here!

[@fogtown3027]

So cool grandpa got to see it finished! 👍

[@AutotopiaLA]

I know! The whole story and final build are great!

[@efirce]

I have to Honestly say, the 55, 56 and 57 Chevy was the Best looking cars Chevy has ever made, sad you can't buy a remake of one with today's technology in it, Love the Body style, it still turns heads to this very day.

[@slowvette7189]

Not sure why people don’t like the rims. The rims look great in that color. Gives the car a modern muscle look

[@AutotopiaLA]

These wheels are perfect on this car as is every other choice made. Absolutely beautiful build

[@fajabur]

I have to agree. I'mll looking fowarfld to find whells like thoose to my Classic here in Brazil

[@sanfranciscobay]

Important questions? How much was the car worth before and how much did it cost to build?

[@AutotopiaLA]

Good questions. I’d imagine well over $250K for the build and the original car had little value other than sentimental

[@williambutler8624]

Beautiful 56, one of the sharpest interior I have seen in these cars, love the Belair speaker in console, one of the best car stories I've seen, glad his grandfather got to see it finished, the smile on their faces showed what it meant to them, great video guys, thanks for taking us along on this beautiful 56.

[@tmr626]

Super nice '56 Chevy! Shawn, last night I found a great video for you and your gear head commenters. This video shows the inner workings of a brand new expensive billet sequential 6 speed trans. Anyone interested should check out: First Look Inside a Billet Sequential Trans For My C10! (posted by: Finnegan's Garage).

[@AutotopiaLA]

I will definitely check it out. Thanks for the recommendation

[@edm1004]

Love what you're doing!! Your channel is like Jay Leno's Garage on steroids with more Attitude, it's Awesome! Some suggestions: talkin about cost is killing the fantasy for some of us. (Time and energy, details details, great!!) But cost or value starts to kill it. You may want to limit cost talk to every 5th video or so. Jay Leno's Garage doesn't talk cost very often. Try to remove any cursing, keeps your audience as big as it can be :-) Keep doing what you're doing, lt's Great!!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks for the input and we almost never talk cost anymore. We did that in our earlier vids but it made things weird

[@edm1004]

@@AutotopiaLA seriously just trying to help you grow the channel. I think you have the potential to be one of the big boys for sure, thanks for listening and keep up the good work!!

[@2quedogg]

Everyone loves the 57 the most. But, classifying the Tri-5 in order of my preference is 55 first, because I have one. Then 56 second and lastly 57. This is a beautiful car and sounds mean.

[@AutotopiaLA]

The build quality on this car is amazing and the sound is perfect. Absolutely love this build

[@billygoatgruff2900]

Are you adopting?

[@AutotopiaLA]

😂😂

[@lenwoodcruze3594]

I wish that auto manufacturers would do more to support keeping their oldschool vehicles on the road... Yes,I'm dreaming, sue me.

[@AutotopiaLA]

It’s a good dream though!

[@mistermood4164]

There no money in that

[@nasernaeem9977]

When the trunk interior is nicer than your whole car interior 😂😅

[@jdtankvideos2584]

now that is totally awesome video about 1956 bel air ls powered love that car .. can't wait to see more totally awesome videos ok

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thank you and I agree...it’s a flawless build

[@adnanlatif1722]

Amazing build what was the cost on it ?

[@AutotopiaLA]

I didn’t ask but had to be north of $250K given the parts and work on here

[@craighighmore4302]

There are so 56 & 57 Chevy’s done in the past but this car is incredible …..super impressive. Great video Shawn keep em’ coming brother!

[@AutotopiaLA]

This really is a stellar build. I’m not a big tri five guy but this one is impressive

[@koolkev75]

Proper Bel Air ⚡️⚡️⚡️💨💨💨🔥🔥🔥🔥👍

[@AutotopiaLA]

Yep. It’s a true work of art

[@Slingshotgixxer]

The quality and variety of builds on this channel is outstanding, jaw dropping, keep up the amazing work!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thank you! Lots more to come as SoCal is bottomless for custom badass vehicles

[@TOBYH]

I DON'T SEE ANY SEATBELTS IN THERE! ARE YOU CRAZY?

[@32phoenixx]

Simply stunning! My favorite car on your channel.

[@AutotopiaLA]

It is an incredible build. The taste and quality of work is flawless

[@zlavik2009]

Great job! A very stylish car! Bravo!

[@ronaldvangulden7314]

Awesome, build and stunning looking car! And the heritage of the car makes it just that more special. Also love the amount of high quality content you guys keep turning out, making shure no detail gets missed on these cars and giving us a taste of the driving experience through the audio that's always on point. Thanks Shawn and all others that are involved!👍

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks for this comment. I’m proud of what we’ve been doing and always trying to get the best customs and the team is always striving to make better content. Thank you!

[@post-leftluddite]

Guys wearing a shirt of the band Tool....awesome

[@MegasXLR]

Ever since I saw the Bel Air in Knight Rider 2000 movie from 1991 I love it :) Would be great if you shoot a KITT replica sometime.

[@AutotopiaLA]

I’m hoping sooner or later to shoot a real one. I had one stored at my shop for about a week but didn’t get the opportunity to shoot it

[@narcisosalazar4403]

Rafael en David kingdiger the best in the business 👍👍👍

[@papolaboy]

265 engine. Same that my first car 55 BelAir 3 on the column... THIS IS AN AWESOME CAR..love it

[@AutotopiaLA]

Killer build. Stunning!

[@centenoj85]

Salute and much success

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks!

[@robertpintaric1033]

I am def. in the wrong country - what a wow car -greetings from Austria

[@bray7607]

Absolutely beautiful car, I don't think they could have chosen a better colour scheme and that interior is just killer. That LS3 looks and sounds great it's nice and peaceful just cruising around but loud and proud when you hit the gas =)

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed all the way here. Stunning car and a perfect cruiser

[@2414kels]

Simply amazing. Everything just goes together the color combo and the engine bay is so clean. He really nailed it 👍

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed. Just perfection on wheels

[@chrisschultz5553]

??? The headlights are grate. What kind are they??? Sweet Ride

[@AutotopiaLA]

His info is in the description so hit him up for the brand

[@storyteller1749]

Love LOVE this car man!!! Great color choices. The interior is beyond perfect. Iy looks so freakin comfortable. Great choice for the engine (I'm sure that some would disagree). But it sounds great when he gets on it. An all around awesome car. P.S. There's no link for your merch in the description?

[@AutotopiaLA]

The link is www.atlamerch.com and it’s there in the description. You just made me look 😂 And yes, this is a stunning build and flawless execution

[@TOBYH]

NO NO NO, IT REALLY NEEDS CHROME DOOR HANDLES! ONLY MISTAKE I SEE. THE REST IS AWESOME.

[@raullima4094]

Belíssimo Bel Air sensacional galera tudo nos mínimos detalhes tapeçaria mais que perfeita realmente incrível incrível de muita perfeição mesmo merece sim aplausos de pé

[@tomnekuda3818]

I used to ride to school in a '56 Chevy with 265 c.i. engine......what a really nice little car. I dunno why the '56 never attained the limelight that the .57 did. Both were just beautiful. Really great hardtop and the color is so right! I've loved the wheels since they came out and it seems to me that they look good on almost anything they're put on.....just a plain, attractive rim. I've been watching your channel since the Earth's crust cooled and this is the nicest ride(for me) that I've seen.....just SO clean, sweet and complete!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Loving this comment! Thanks for being here with us and I promise we’ll continue showing great cars and making our shots, sound and editing better. Thank you!

[@tommyforbidden3219]

WOW ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS AMAZING BUILD 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻PERFECTION

[@ozmunky]

Should take over to Havana and see what they think!

[@mk_imdabesss6609]

This video gives me hope. Last 22 years of my life my Vietnam vet grandfathers 56 4 door has been collecting dust and kills me everyday. Nonetheless I already have my dream build vision which is similar to this build and my pa’s only request is he’s gonna be the first to drive it. Gotta get on it !!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Get it done while he’s still with you! This one is so beautiful

[@randallfrank5682]

A great story, a very cool car and I really like those headlights.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed all the way here

[@d-sifer7714]

My favourite by far … just perfect..!! Great work and excellent video.. thanks

[@brianspangler3771]

The 56 bel airs are like the middle child of the tri-five chevys, they get overshadowed by the 55s and 57s so it's nice to see one that's been built like this one.

[@johnnygeorgopoulos4072]

Old comment, but just had to say, my favorite of the Tri-Fives is the 55, then the 56, then the 57....but if given the chance, I'd rather have a 54 over a 57 (but never over a 55 or 6)...then, IMO, Chevy ruined them all the way up until 62, from 58-60 they were hideous, 61 got "decently acceptable",(unless we're talking about the 61 Impala Bubble), then in 62 they knocked it out with the Bel Air bubble, god that bubble top.... what I wouldn't give to have a 62 Bel Air, or Impala, with a 409 W-Block and a 4spd 😖

[@albertgaspar627]

the original engine was 265 cid--the smallest Chevy block was the 262 in the 1970's, followed by the 267. both junk, they were really thin just to get fuel economy but avoid the V6 vibrations. My father had a '56 convertable in two shades of blue, with the Power Pack 265 option. Personally I like the bumpers flipped over for a "rolled pan" look , so the first thing I noticed was the lack of license plate brackets :) Maybe they just got laid on the dash and package tray for the drive.

[@davidsmall1128]

Gonna build 55 chevy with a ford cammer 427 SOHC...then yeah about it!

[@walterburroughs8515]

Love all the car just wish I had one

[@vincentcook5089]

One of my favorite episodes. The colors are perfect! The stance is perfect. Love the 55 and 56's, just iconic styling from that period in the US.

[@AutotopiaLA]

This build is as good as its backstory and the owner Dave is such a cool guy. Awesome shoot!

[@vincentcook5089]

@@AutotopiaLA , just amazing to have one car that's passed through the same family. And the end result is just perfection IMO. I wouldn't change one single and usually I can at least nitpick some things. Not this car.

[@downtoearth5108]

56 the best looking of the tri five chevy's. One of the nicest looking cars to come out of the fifties. This is a beauti. Cheers.

[@AutotopiaLA]

This one is really beautiful with a great story

[@MF-Rell]

Big Dawg you spoke the truth about the wheels, I'm not a fan either but they look awesome on a Bel-Air 🤟💯

[@paulspangler2088]

Absolutely gorgeous car! Colors are perfect together. Ive been loving these bel air more and more

[@AutotopiaLA]

Same for me. This is one of the best I’ve ever seen by far!

[@PK46222]

This was an amazing build would love to have it in my collection

[@AutotopiaLA]

Beautiful build for sure and the story is as good

[@sanfranciscobay]

What's the monthly cost to store a car indoors in Los Angeles?

[@AutotopiaLA]

It’s $500 per month at my place with a few services included. Some places go as high as $1000 per month

[@i-tiyahman6519]

American Muscle Happy days the Fonz

[@solidsnake3861]

perfect build

[@AutotopiaLA]

Agreed 👊