Vehicle Description
Go to any cruise-in or car show and the field will be full of Tri-5
Chevy hardtops and convertibles, but where are all 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
Chevrolet Bel Air 4-door sedan is the solution, and with a lot of
upgrades, it's ready to be enjoyed for decades to come.
With a solid restoration that was purpose-built for the open road,
this iconic car looks and drives great. Restored a few years back
to a driver-grade standard, mostly everything was attended to,
including the bright Blue Metallic finish and much of the trim, so
it looks great today with an upgraded look of the authentic color
pallet of the 1950s. The 4-door 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, driver-quality 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. Several signs
of use show this '55 has certainly been enjoyed since the
restoration was completed, but it's also been kept healthy and in
top mechanical condition, and while those cosmetics still show
decently and the car has plenty of curb appeal, a professional wet
sand and buff would really make this car sparkle that much more.
But even the way it sits, it's going to get attention everywhere it
goes. Other things like the glass and stainless trim are in good
shape as well, with an overall solid, yet not too flashy quality
that works well with the rest of the car.
The two-tone, blue-and-white interior is also well restored and in
great condition featuring durable yet stylish materials that really
match the exterior set-up wonderfully. The seat covers on the front
and rear benches are designed with a custom, stylish vinyl pattern
and show very little signs of use, and they're so comfortable
you'll want to drive around the block a few more times before you
park. The matching door panels and headliner are also quality
pieces and in great shape, showing the level of detail that
cut-rate pieces can't quite duplicate, and even though the carpets
below are quite plush they could use a nice detail to match the
rest of the interior. That bright strip of trim that runs across
the instrument panel is actually tiny Chevy bowtie emblems, the
original gauges are still in place ahead of the driver, although
they've been further augmented with a couple auxiliary units below
to help keep an eye on the engine up ahead. Other upgrades include
the wood-rimmed steering wheel and a retro-style AM/FM stereo head
unit that powers upgraded speakers installed in the rear package
tray. The rear bench shows almost zero wear, and out back that
beautifully carpeted trunk is ready for your next road trip.
That's a small block Chevy crate motor under the hood from Summit
Racing, and this one displaces a nice, round 350 cubic inches
making it feel like a big block when you dip into the power. Topped
by a 4-barrel carburetor and performance intake manifold, this
sucker is built for torque. Nicely finished with matching Blue
Metallic paint on the firewall and inner fenders, the block really
pops out with black finned valve covers and a chrome Edelbrock air
cleaner. An updated ignition system and chrome alternator help the
block spark with ease every time, and the big aluminum radiator up
front keeps the whole show nice and cool. A TH350 3-speed automatic
transmission is part of that equation, and it spins an original
style rear end that's more than capable of handling the added
power. Long-tube headers feed a Flowmaster dual exhaust system
underneath that sounds devilishly throaty, and with new shocks all
around, this '55 feels great out on the road. Chrome 'smoothies'
add a little more flash without taking anything away from the
original spirit of this Bel Air, and they're wrapped with 205/75/14
whitewall radials that finish the look perfectly.
Nicely finished with a great all-of-a-piece look, this '55 Chevy is
the kind of hobby car that does everything well. Call today!
