A heavily modified 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air limousine is drawing attention online after a Florida automotive creator transformed the unusual classic into a 1,500-horsepower performance machine.
Garrett Mitchell, widely known by his online persona Cleetus McFarland, purchased the stretched Bel Air through Facebook Marketplace for $9,900 before rebuilding it into one of the most unconventional limousine projects in recent memory. Mitchell operates a popular automotive YouTube channel with more than 4.5 million subscribers and is known for building extreme vehicles and hosting high-powered motorsports events at a private airfield he calls the Freedom Factory.
The limousine itself was already an unusual starting point. A previous owner had extended the classic 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air by approximately 140 inches, creating a dramatically elongated version of the iconic American car before abandoning the project and listing it for sale.
Instead of restoring the vehicle in traditional fashion, Mitchell and his team decided to push the concept far beyond its original form. The group removed the existing powertrain and installed a massive 10.3-liter big-block V8 engine fitted with a supercharger. In an unconventional twist, the engine was mounted directly inside the passenger cabin rather than under the hood.
The alcohol-fueled engine is reported to produce around 1,500 horsepower, turning the already unusual limousine into a high-powered custom machine. The engine sits prominently among the seating area, surrounded by wooden bench seats that allow passengers to ride alongside the exposed powerplant.
Despite the extreme mechanical changes, the exterior maintains classic Bel Air styling cues. The car is finished in a two-tone red and white paint scheme accented by chrome trim, with the recognizable 1957 taillight design still in place.
Mitchell showcased the limousine in a video documenting the vehicle’s first outing. During the debut drive, he and a collaborator wore suits and introduced a set of humorous rules for passengers while attempting to operate the oversized limo on public roads.
The outing included a series of mishaps, including running out of fuel during the trip and accidentally activating a kill switch while stopped at an intersection. The journey eventually concluded with a celebratory dinner.
The limousine may have begun as a budget purchase on an online marketplace, but after extensive modification it has become one of the most unusual creations associated with Mitchell’s collection of high-powered automotive builds.