1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Door Hardtop
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.
Exterior
The 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.
Interior
A 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 B&M shifter grows from the black carpeting. Headliner is near perfect and also shows in white.
Drivetrain
A 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 brand spanking new 3-speed TH350 automatic transmission. The rear axle weighs in at a 3.36 gear ratio and our consignor states it was rebuilt 300 miles ago.
Undercarriage
A 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-Ability
This 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. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
A restoration and minor modernization, later model 307ci V8 and a new 3-speed automatic 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!).
C55B055309
C-2400 Series Bel Air
55-1955
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
055309-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 55 1037D-1955 BelAir 2 Door Hardtop
BODY NO M22432-Baltimore Body #
TRIM NO 513-Ivory & Turquoise Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT NO 612-India Ivory & Regal Turquoise
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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