Vehicle Description
The true measure of a great design is whether it ages well. In the
case of this dialed-in 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, the answer is a
resounding confirmation that the Tri-5 is one of the greatest
automotive designs of all time. Beautifully restored to a
high-level with several choice upgrades, this shoebox '55 Chevy is
a high-quality piece that is ready to rock.
Finished in two-tone silver-on-gray with a gloss that can almost be
seen two towns over, there's no mistaking this 1955 Chevy for
anything else. The design was game-changing when it was new, and
even today it remains a benchmark for all car guys and gals. Sooner
or later, all of us want to own a Tri-Five Chevy, don't we? The
classic lines and somewhat restrained use of chrome and brightwork
make it difficult to improve on the original, so the builder of
this 2-door coupe wisely chose to simply restore the exterior back
to specs and to an extremely high driver-quality standard not long
ago. Paint and bodywork are really great, with a sharp finish
that's showing only very minor imperfections, but nothing major
that needs any attention in our opinion. Nope, this '55 looks just
right. Gaps are even all around, and the entire car fits together
in a way that modern cars just can't seem to duplicate. During the
comprehensive restoration, the chrome and stainless was all
restored or replaced with exact reproductions, and the car proudly
wears all its trim like jewelry. Even the red, white, and blue
Chevy emblem on the nose is a wonderful piece that offers crisp
details and bright colors, and the lightly tinted glass is crisp,
clear and without any imperfections to speak of. Bottom line, this
Tri-5 is ready to be shown-off and envied all around town.
Perfectly complimenting the two-tone exterior is a wonderfully
comfortable matching two-tone cloth interior, a subdued combination
that would look right at home in a much more expensive vehicle. The
original-style bench has been stitched in upgraded patterns, with
vertical interior pleats that mirror the feel the exterior color
combination. Stylish door panels were tailored to match, and they
worked hard to make it look close to OEM, with silver paint on the
dash, window moldings, and steering wheel. The original dash is
intact, with modern Classic Instruments gauges ahead of the
restored steering wheel that's perched atop a polished tilt column,
and the machined-turned shiny trim strip that spans the entire
width of the dash really brightens things up inside. Cold blowing
A/C has been added, with power windows, seatbelts, and a
column-mounted shifter rounding out the options inside.
Entertainment comes from an AM/FM/Cassette stereo radio with a
Kenwood CD changer hidden out of sight in the trunk. The carpets
are plush and insulate the cabin from road noise, the headliner
above was neatly finished, and the backseat likely hasn't hauled
anything outside of a cruise-in trophy and the occasional
grandchild out on a Sunday afternoon trip with the family. Out
back, the cavernous trunk is carpeted to match the cabin, and has
plenty of room to accommodate all travel plans thanks to a
tucked-away Optima battery.
Power comes from a great-running 383 cubic inch V8 crate motor with
electronic fuel-injection hooked to a 700R4 4-speed automatic
transmission. And while there's nothing more traditional than a
small block Chevy in a 1955 Bel Air, the many upgrades under the
hood make this car safer and more reliable than any stock '55 ever
was. Fuel injection from a Holley Sniper EFI unit atop an aluminum
intake means it starts easily and idles well, hot or cold, and with
aluminum heads and ceramic-coated shorty headers, the torque curve
is legendary. Other upgrades include a serpentine belt system that
drives the components, an aluminum radiator that keeps the whole
show nice and cool, along with Tubular A-arms up front, coilovers
at the corners, and power steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes -
making this a car that can be driven daily without worries and
taken on cross-country trips at the drop of a hat. In the sparking
engine bay and underneath the car it's clean and tidy, but not so
insanely clean that you're afraid to drive it, and you'll never get
tired of the shorty headers and rumbling dual exhaust singing their
song. That upgraded suspension adjusts the attitude of the stance
and it rolls on classic set of oversized Rally-style wheels with
225/60/17 front and 235/60/17 rear Uniroyal radials for a subtle
upgrade on the traditional Tri-5 look.
No, it's not radical, but there's no question this 1955 Bel Air is
timeless. Put it in your garage and I guarantee you'll never run
out of reasons to take it for a spin. Call today!