Vehicle Description
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
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 restored and
updated first year Tri-Five.
Exterior
The recipient of a restoration with all panel work completed the
body is now bathed in Turquoise and Ivory, 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
Ferrari-esque 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 that break up the tutone paint
job, add to the aura with the wonderful paint. We bottom out with
some black walls, wrapping American Racing Outlaw 1 shiny wheels on
all 4 corners.
Interior
A new full interior, consisting of the door panels, headliner and
seats, all have been installed during the restoration. Black vinyl
with a factory correct tuck and roll pattern are on the door panels
which are like new. Inside a black vinyl bench with door matching
tuck and roll horizontal inserts sits in a now black factory seat
frame. The rear bench presents the same and has easy access with
the flip of split front bench. The all-original steel dash, fronted
by a turquoise steering wheel and column with an aftermarket
tachometer attached, which has undergone restoration sits in front
of the benches in its dual fan bumped, turquoise and repeating
stamped bowtie pattern stainless banding presentation. An
aftermarket AM/FM radio, (a radio was not standard on any of the
Tri-Fives), center mounted glove box, 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 chrome handled Hurst shifter grows from
the black carpeting. Headliner is near perfect and also shows in
white.
Drivetrain
A nicely restored and painted engine bay receives a newer Chevrolet
engine in 307ci form and is topped by a 4bbl Edelbrock carburetor,
and now on back is a Saginaw 3-speed manual transmission. The rear
axle weighs in at a 3.36 gear ratio and our consignor states it was
rebuilt 300 miles ago.
Undercarriage
A restored undercarriage with new floor pan, black framing and
suspension components shows with only minor rust on the usual
suspects. One area of concern is the rear frame cross member which
has been repaired with pop riveted angle iron. Power disc brakes
are now upfront and power drums for the rear. A nice dual exhaust
system with glasspack style mufflers has been installed for the
exhale.
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 save for the heater blower and the reverse
lights.
A restoration and minor modernization, later model 307ci V8 and
Saginaw 3-speed 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
C55B055309
C-2400 Series Bel Air
55-1955
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
055309-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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.
