Vehicle Description
If you like to walk off the beaten path a bit, perhaps this 1952
Chevrolet Bel Air convertible will appeal to you. It's still got a
Stovebolt under the hood, but a few upgrades make it reliable and
fun to drive, and the look is straight out of the '50s, when this
was a daily driver for a lucky person who didn't know how good he
had it.
Fans of the more rounded '40s cars tend to gravitate to these
post-war Chevys for their generous curves, and they always look
best topless. The restoration on this car is a few years old, but
since it was completed it doesn't seem to have been driven much, so
it still looks fantastic and shows very little shelf wear. The
light blue paint is code 477 Twilight Blue, which is this car's
original color and it definitely looks right on the vintage ragtop,
showing off the long, pointed hood and bulging rear fenders to
great effect. Lots of bright trim emphasizes the period look and it
appears that most of it has been polished or restored so it still
looks great, if not quite perfect. Just by looking at it, you'd
have a hard time believing that this was the least expensive GM
convertible you could buy in 1952
The two-tone interior resembles the factory patterns and presents a
wonderful contrast of light and dark blue accents. It's not quite
exact and shows some wear on the driver's side, but it doesn't make
a difference when you're behind the wheel and on the road. Gray
carpets with matching mats protect the floor and the two-tone dash
seems to sweep into the door panels to give it a dramatic look. The
big ivory-colored steering wheel helps make it easy to wheel
around, and it has been retrofitted with aftermarket turn signals
for safety. There's also an accessory clock in the center of the
dash and an AM radio underneath. The dark blue convertible top fits
well, but you'll probably never use it except in emergencies so
most of the time it'll stay under the fitted blue boot. The trunk
was also freshened to look like new, including a rubber mat,
cardboard bulkhead, and a matching spare tire with full jack
assembly.
The engine is a 235 cubic inch inline-six, which is the largest and
most fully developed of the Chevy sixes and it was standard
equipment with the PowerGlide automatic transmission. It's also
smooth and torquey, so it bops around town in a way that's
distinctly different from the usual V8. It has been recently and
extensively serviced, with a full tune up with new plug wires, a
carb clean-up, and fresh plug, so it starts and runs beautifully.
Wearing corporate blue engine enamel, it looks right and even
things like the hose clamps, air cleaner assembly, and wiring are
correct. You will, however, spot a modern alternator in place of
the original generator, a nice upgrade that ensures that it'll
always be ready to go. The PowerGlide 2-speed automatic
transmission shifts firmly right about the moment you think it
won't, and from there the strong-running six will pull this car
around effortlessly at highway speeds. The suspension rides and
handles quite well, with a polished feeling you wouldn't expect
from a Chevrolet. It's quite clean underneath and it sits on a set
of appropriate-looking wide whites that really dress it up.
A fun vintage ragtop that doesn't follow the usual formula. So if
you like them traditional, this Chevy is a fantastic choice. Call
today!
