Vehicle Description
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan
With GM hitting its stride in the mid 50's with the advent of the
Tri- Five era, and eventually hitting a home run, they had several
tried and true theories that they stood by to make the car so
popular. A few items of note are they embellished the car with
brite work so as to make it outshine the Cadillac, the 55 Bel Air
weighed over 3400 pounds, and was over 15 feet long, and some wild
options were available including an electric shaver to get business
done while in traffic, and an ashtray that sucked the ashes into
the tray...now that's class!
Forget about these fancy overdone "resto-mods" with their perfect
lines, and little attention to the original. Let's keep it simple
with this 55, and keep it original, even if not perfect, and all
the while make it a reliable driver, to actually turn heads when
you are rolling down main street. I give you this frame off
restored first year Tri-Five.
Exterior
The recipient of a frame off restoration in 2005 which now bathes
it in Robin's Egg Blue, and it does not get any more Mid Century
Modern color-wise than this. Paint presents well, as does attached
correct brite-work, badging, and chrome. This car oozes simplicity
as the first version with its simple chrome grille, bumpers, and a
streaking jet hood ornament that has flown its way to the end of
the hood to announce the cars arrival into the jet age and yours at
the drive in. Nicely done taillights, a lack of any fins, and
wonderful stainless window trimmings and dueling side spears, add
to the aura with the wonderful paint. We bottom out with some new
black walls, wrapping American Racing Torque Thrust shiny wheels on
all 4 corners.
Interior
Appearing to be like the originals with the condition of the door
panels, headliner and seats, all have been restored while the frame
was off. Two tone robin egg blue and dark blue are on the door
panels which are like new. Inside a broadcloth horizontal pattern
insert with a sideways "parenthesis" design on the backs and robin
egg blue bolsters and upper backs. The rear bench presents the same
and has easy access with those second set of doors. The all
original steel dash which has undergone restoration sits in front
of the benches in its dual fan bumped, blue and repeating stamped
bowtie pattern stainless banding presentation. An aftermarket radio
( radio was not standard on any of the Tri-Fives), center mounted
glovebox, and lots of shining knobs and levers add to the dash,
along with a nice speedo in the driver's side fan and a speaker in
the other, emblazoned with the 50s style type font actually named
Bel Air, but I like to call it your grandmother's handwriting! Some
aftermarket gauges hang below the dash and just below and a B&M
shifter floats in its own console within dark blue carpeting is
under foot at every station. Headliner is near perfect and also
shows in blue.
Drivetrain
A perfectly restored and painted Robin Egg Blue engine bay receives
a newer Chevrolet engine in 350ci's and its from a truck circa
1978. It is topped by a 4bbl Holley Carburetor, and now on back is
a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission. The rear axle weighs in at
a 3.36 gear ratio. Headers are now seen on this well presenting red
painted block mill.
Undercarriage
Beautifully restored white the frame was off, we see Robin's Egg
Blue floorpans and rockers, and black framing and undercarriage
drive train parts with no rust. Power disc brakes are now upfront
and power drums for the rear. A nice Flowmaster exhaust is snaking
its way rearward.
Drive-Ability
This beauty fired right up and ran like a top. Fab acceleration,
bias free panic stopping with those power brakes, and good handling
with no creaks or groans. All functions were working just great
inside and out.
A frame off completed restoration, new drivetrain courtesy a '78
truck, and new TH350 transmission, you can confidently pull up to
any establishment, and you will immediately be engaged in a
nostalgic conversation about your classic first edition tri-five!
The two 5 version (55 kids!).
VIN DECODE
B55T103595
B-2100 Series 210
55-1955
T-Tarrytown, NY Assy Plant
103595-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 55 1019D-1955 210 4 Door Sedan
BODY NO T48947-Tarrytown Body #
TRIM NO 510-Green Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT NO 587-Neptune Green
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
