Tri Five Chevy 150 – Black Widow Inspiration

Scott Miller’s Black Widow-inspired Tri Five Chevy 150 has it all – iconic ‘57 Chevy body lines, plenty of power under the hood, and a healthy dose of attitude. Everything on this ride is finished to the nines and showcases perfectly what Scott and his crew at Miller Brothers Hot Rod Barn can accomplish at their Wilkesboro, North Carolina shop.

The 150-series of the 1957 Chevrolet line was the economy and fleet model, popular among police departments, state governments, small businesses and the occasional economy-minded hot rodder. The Black Widow was a race-prepped version of the 150 – getting “unofficial” factory input funneled through Nalley Chevorlet in Atlanta. They had the rear seat delete, a fuel-injected 283c.i. V8, 3.90:1 gears, dual shocks, and other heavy-duty upgrades, along with distinctive black-and-white paint. Like their namesake, Black Widows were lethal on the track.

Miller’s ’57 borrows from the Black Widow playbook with potent power under the hood – a perfectly polished Magnuson-supercharged LS V8 flanked with polished one-off valve covers, fuel rails, intake tube and a custom air filter assembly. MSD ignition ignites the fire while polished stainless headers mate to a custom stainless exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers. A Tremec T56 transmission is engaged by a Hurst shifter and delivers the 550-plus horsepower to the rear wheels through a Centerforce clutch.

Manhandling all that horsepower and getting it to the pavement is a custom frame built by Kris Kanupp using a polished Heidts front suspension and a four-link-suspended Currie 9-inch rearend. RideTech Shockwaves are bolted on each corner and set the stance for show and go. Wrapping up the chassis are 18×7- and 20×12-inch Billet Specialties Bonneville wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport tires and backed by 14-inch Wilwood six-piston disc brakes.

Scott and his team updated the sheet metal by shaving the drip rail moldings, door handles and trunk emblems, installing one-piece door glass, smoothing the dash and hood, and making engine compartment panels. When the work was completed, PPG black and white paint was laid down by Loop and Donny Perry in that timeless Black Widow style.

Unlike “no frills” 150s back in ’57, Scott’s version features a Kirk’s Custom Upholstery interior using black leather with cobblestone inserts draped over power bucket seats with a full-length console. Dakota Digital VHX gauges were installed in the smoothed dash, while Vintage Air controls, a Hurst shifter and a Kenwood stereo fill the console. A Con2R steering wheel was rewrapped and fitted with a custom center cap featuring the Miller Brothers shop logo.

Scott and his longtime friend Donnie Perry began building and restoring cars fresh out of college back in 2004. Since then they have tackled over 100 projects, but this Tri Five Chevy 150 tops the list. We’re looking forward to seeing the next hot rod to roll out of the Miller Brothers Hot Rod Barn. As you can see, they know what’s up!