Vehicle Description
Go to any car show and the field will be full of 1955-57 Chevy
hardtops and convertibles, but where are the four-door sedans? They
made more of those than any other body style, but a lot of folks
have never even seen one. Well, this lovely 1955 Bel Air sedan is
the solution, and with a lot of upgrades, it's a solid car that's
been restored as needed over the course of the last six
decades.
With just 4209 miles on the most recent part of the restoration,
this car looks and drives great. Most of the cosmetics were
freshened at that time, including fresh Cashmere Blue and India
Ivory paint and much of the trim, so it looks great today with an
authentic 1950s pastel color pallet that always works well. The
4-doors' proportions are as handsome as any of its siblings and the
clever use of trim disguises it quite well. And as a solid,
no-nonsense, well-restored car, it has that undeniable
all-of-a-piece feel that the best cars exhibit. All four doors fit
well and close with that reassuring sound that old cars do so well,
and there's no sign that this car was ever rusty or an accident
victim during its first sixty years of life. The mileage indicates
that it was not driven extensively since the restoration was
completed, just enough to keep it healthy and in top mechanical
condition, while the cosmetics remained quite good If you really
wanted to take it up a notch, a professional wet sand and buff
would really make this car sparkle, but even the way it sits, it's
going to get attention. Other things like the glass and stainless
trim are decent original pieces, so it's not perfect but has a nice
patina that works well with the rest of the car.
The Glacier Blue interior is also well restored and in great
condition. The seat covers are the correct fabric and vinyl and
show few signs of age or use aside from some minor stretching. The
door panels and headliner are also quality reproduction pieces and
in great shape, showing the level of detail that cut-rate pieces
can't quite duplicate. The carpets and kick panels are replacements
that blend in seamlessly with the rest of the interior pieces.
Other equipment like the bright instrument panel trim, the gauge
cluster, and even the radio are original and the steering wheel is
so nice, it just has to have been restored. Aftermarket A/C was
added under the dash and there's an AM/FM radio that looks so
authentic, you might not even notice it's there. There's also a
correct rubber mat in the trunk, as well as a full-sized spare and
jack assembly.
Mechanically, the 265 cubic inch V8 is a fantastic runner and gives
this Bel Air some great road manners. It's correctly fitted with a
2-barrel carburetor, which is good for torque and fuel economy, and
if we had to guess, we'd say that it's been maintained but not
necessarily rebuilt. Nevertheless, it starts well and pulls the
sedan around with enthusiasm, and today needs nothing but a good
cleaning to really live up to its potential. A big electric fan was
added to help with the A/C, as well as a modern dual reservoir
master cylinder and power brake booster. It's also fitted with
power steering, so it's a joy to drive. The PowerGlide 2-speed
automatic transmission was flushed but needed no other work to be
ready to enjoy, and the rest of the chassis is, as you can see, in
excellent order, albeit showing signs of use. Fresh 6.70-15 wide
whitewall tires have been installed that look right, and an extra
is included with the car.
Give the four-doors a chance. It's just as handsome as its
siblings, and with V8 power, it's every bit as fun to drive. Add
the appeal of a well preserved car that's been properly freshened
and this Bel Air makes for a wonderful alternative to the same old
stuff. Call today!
