1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

With GM hitting its stride in the mid 50's with the advent of the Tri- Five era, and eventually hitting a home run, they had several tried and true theories that they stood by to make the car so popular. A few items of note are they embellished the car with brite work so as to make it outshine the Cadillac, the 55 Bel Air weighed over 3400 pounds, and was over 15 feet long, and some wild options were available including an electric shaver to get business done while in traffic, and an ashtray that sucked the ashes into the tray...now that's class!

Forget about these fancy overdone "resto-mods" with their perfect lines, and little attention to the original. Let's keep it simple with this 55, and keep it original, even if not perfect, and all the while make it a reliable driver, to actually turn heads when you are rolling down main street. I give you this restored and updated first year Tri-Five.

ExteriorThe recipient of a restoration with all panel work completed the body is now bathed in Turquoise and Ivory, and it does not get any more Mid-Century Modern color-wise than this. Paint presents well, as does attached correct brite-work, badging, and chrome. This car oozes simplicity as the first version with its simple chrome Ferrari-esque grille, bumpers, and a streaking jet hood ornament that has flown its way to the end of the hood to announce the cars arrival into the jet age and yours at the drive in. Nicely done taillights, a lack of any fins, and wonderful stainless window trimmings and dueling side spears that break up the tutone paint job, add to the aura with the wonderful paint. We bottom out with some black walls, wrapping American Racing Outlaw 1 shiny wheels on all 4 corners.

InteriorA new full interior, consisting of the door panels, headliner and seats, all have been installed during the restoration. Black vinyl with a factory correct tuck and roll pattern are on the door panels which are like new. Inside a black vinyl bench with door matching tuck and roll horizontal inserts sits in a now black factory seat frame. The rear bench presents the same and has easy access with the flip of split front bench. The all-original steel dash, fronted by a turquoise steering wheel and column with an aftermarket tachometer attached, which has undergone restoration sits in front of the benches in its dual fan bumped, turquoise and repeating stamped bowtie pattern stainless banding presentation. An aftermarket AM/FM radio, (a radio was not standard on any of the Tri-Fives), center mounted glove box, and lots of shining knobs and levers add to the dash, along with a nice speedo in the driver's side fan and a speaker in the other, emblazoned with the 50s style type font actually named Bel Air, but I like to call it your grandmother's handwriting! Some aftermarket gauges hang below the dash and just below and a chrome handled Hurst shifter grows from the black carpeting. Headliner is near perfect and also shows in white.

DrivetrainA nicely restored and painted engine bay receives a newer Chevrolet engine in 307ci form and is topped by a 4bbl Edelbrock carburetor, and now on back is a Saginaw 3-speed manual transmission. The rear axle weighs in at a 3.36 gear ratio and our consignor states it was rebuilt 300 miles ago.

UndercarriageA restored undercarriage with new floor pan, black framing and suspension components shows with only minor rust on the usual suspects. One area of concern is the rear frame cross member which has been repaired with pop riveted angle iron. Power disc brakes are now upfront and power drums for the rear. A nice dual exhaust system with glasspack style mufflers has been installed for the exhale.

Drive-AbilityThis beauty fired right up and ran like a top. Fab acceleration, bias free panic stopping with those power brakes, and good handling with no creaks or groans. All functions were working just great inside and out save for the heater blower and the reverse lights.

A restoration and minor modernization, later model 307ci V8 and Saginaw 3-speed transmission, you can confidently pull up to any establishment, and you will immediately be engaged in a nostalgic conversation about your classic first edition Tri-Five! The two 5 version (55 kids!).

VIN DECODEC55B055309C-2400 Series Bel Air55-1955B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant055309-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.