Although the idea is unique, the execution is outstanding.
The Chevy 789. You might be mistaken if you don’t know the nameplate. It’s true that the 789 from Anaheim, California, is one of very few. Gene Langmesser owns them and they were featured in this episode Ridiculous Riders.
What makes the Chevy 789 so ridiculous? It was designed with three Chevrolet cars, the 1957 Bel Air and the 1958 Delray Ragtop, in mind. You can see what he did there.
Langmesser bought a new Camaro to create the hot mess. Langmesser then had to pour 1,500 pounds of clay onto it in order to create the body. It was made of carbon fiber composite and layers of fiberglass to give it a better finish.
Langmesser completed the build after 5,000 hours of labor. Langmesser stated that he wanted to build a classic car using today’s technology. He’s not sure which of his favorite classics will inspire him, so he chose all three.
The 1957 Bel Air’s front is the one that inspired the facelifted model. You can see the changes on the lower bumper. The 1958 Delray Ragtop is the middle section. It is the most famous, featuring the iconic “bird-in-flight” design from the 1959 Impala.
A 6.2-liter V8 powers the Chevy 789. It measures 15 feet 10 inches in length and is 6 ft 3 in wide. The final weight of the Chevy 789 is 3,685 lbs.
We think Langmesser’s idea is a little odd. But the final product was well-crafted and has great bodywork. This made it cool. Langmesser accepts commission work through N2A Motors if you love this as much as us.