Vehicle Description
For sale in our Denver showroom is a one family owned 1956 Sierra
Mist and Cream Chevrolet Bel Air. This beautiful two-toned beauty
has: New paint, rebuilt 283, new radial tires, new shocks, new
belts and hoses, radiator re cored to modern specs, new water pump,
new fuel tank sending unit, new thermostat, new ball joints,
rebuilt carb, interior steam cleaned, tune up, new floor mats,
rebuilt brakes. 1956 is the second generation of the Bel Air. The
1956 Bel Air received a face-lift with a more conventional
full-width grille, pleasing those customers who didn't favor the
Ferrari-inspired '55 front end. Distinctive two-tone bodyside
treatments and graceful front and rear wheel openings completed the
"speedline" restyling. Single housings incorporated the taillight,
stoplight, and backup light, and the left one held the gas filler -
an idea popularized on Cadillacs. Among the seven Bel Air models
was a new Sport Sedan, a pillarless four-door hardtop that looked
handsome with all the windows rolled down and allowed easy entry
into the back seat. Production exceeded 103,000, compared to
128,000 two-door hardtops. Shapely two-door Nomad wagons topped the
price chart at $2,608, but now carried the same interior and
rear-wheel sheet metal as other Bel Airs, lacking the original's
unique trim. Only 7,886 were built. The least costly Bel Air, at
$2,025, was the two-door sedan. Seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, and
a padded dashboard were available, and full-size cars could even
get the hot Corvette 225-horsepower engine. In 1956 sales material
there was an optional rain-sensing automatic top, which was first
seen on the 1951 LaSabre concept car. However, it is believed that
it was never installed on a car. Popular Mechanics reported only
7.4% of owners in their survey ordered seat belts. During that same
year 1956, iconic Rock 'n' Roll performer Elvis Presley released
his first pop single "Heartbreak Hotel." Elvis recorded the track
earlier in the month at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee not long
after he had signed his major recording contract with RCA.
"Heartbreak Hotel" soon became the number one song on the Billboard
pop charts for eight weeks after its release, it also hit number
one on the country singles chart. This was also his first single to
sell over one million copies. What a great track to listen to as
you cruise down the road in this gorgeous Bel Air. To view the car
in greater detail, including an HD video and 100+ HD pictures
please visit www.gatewayclassiccars.com or our Denver showroom.
Call 303-872-4722 for more information.
