For Sale: 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air in Concord, North Carolina

The 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop coupe is one of the most sought-after Tri-Fives around, and this one maximizes all the reasons why. The appeal here comes from an appreciation of classic details, the right cruiser upgrades, the correct V8 power, and a terrifically coordinated color combo inside and out.

The trim tag tells us this was born Sierra Gold and Adobe Beige. So it's great to have its correct two-tone, but now it benefits from a modern professional respray that gives it an added gloss and shine. As you look over every inch, you'll notice the quality of the fundamentals - crystal-clear glass, straight panels, and good panel gaps. The iconic brightwork in places like the bumpers, trim, bezels, and hood ornament all have plenty of shine, too. So it's an excellent representation of a Tri-Five Chevy. But what makes the '56 so desirable are the touches that are exclusive to this year. The grille for these is a terrific touch that's wider than the previous year, but in a cleaner style that many people prefer over what showed up the next year. And the trim of the '56 Bel Air was the only time the factory was ever daring enough to have the trim run up the side like an arrow pointing the car forward. And the pleasing contrast of the two-tone really knows how to show this off.

The tan and copper color combo inside is factory-correct. It looks so good coordinating with the exterior, that we know you'll love leaving the windows down on this pillarless hardtop just so people can see the full package. The restoration was all about getting the vintage vibe right. You see it in places like the bench seats that have the '50s-style look right down to the cloth inserts, silver piping, and button-top presentation. A smooth dash, taut headliner, nice door panels, and plush carpeting all make this very inviting. You'll even appreciate the little details, like the clear gauges, artful steering wheel, and working dome lights. But if you look closely, you'll see the worthwhile integrated upgrades. There are provisions for modern air conditioning, but the system will need servicing to blow cold again. And while the AM radio is still there for display, you actually have upgraded driving music from the AM/FM/CD stereo w/iPod input hidden in the glovebox.

Under the hood is a vintage-style setup with the big air grabber and Chevrolet script valve covers. In fact, this 265 cubic-inch V8 is the year-correct block, and it's believed to be original to the car. Topped with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, this motor fires up and runs with the feeling of a well-maintained powerhouse. This has the right kind of features you'd want on a classic cruiser, like a Powerglide automatic transmission (also year-correct), power steering, and power brakes. Plus, this now has upgrades to be an even better cruiser, like front disc brakes, a rear sway bar, and a modern tread on those classic-looking whitewalls.

This is the iconic classic Bel Air that has been given the right investments to be both a shining classic and a terrific cruiser. That makes for an irresistible V8 hardtop. Call now!