Vehicle Description
Cars like this dialed-in 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air are ideal hobby
vehicles. Packing a strong-running 283 cubic inch small block under
the hood, a quick-shifting 4-speed manual managing the gears, and a
'50s perfect two-tone color scheme, this is a car that almost
everyone can appreciate. Fast, reliable, and very attractive, it's
everything the original designers knew the 1955 Chevy could be.
Wearing a gorgeous color combination that tantamount to India Ivory
over Light Blue (if we want to describe the blue using 1955-era
colors, this powder blue shade looks like a mixture between Skyline
Blue and Regal Turquoise), it's every bit as eye-catching today as
it would be in the Tri-5 era, where pastel-colored 'Shoe Box'
Chevy's were all over the road. The bodywork was very nicely done
with no modifications made to the original design, precisely set
gaps, laser-straight panels, and doors that sit flush - suggesting
that the builders really took their time to get the car done right.
The paint was refinished to a top driver quality standard, and the
net results are that the car has a soft glow that is perfect for
the era and helps camouflage the machinery that lurks underneath.
Sure, there are some minor imperfections here and there but a
buff-and-wax would probably remedy the few that you may find, and
don't get us wrong, this is still a very nice paint job. It's miles
deep, consistent throughout, and has a wonderful shine that really
comes to life out in the sun. Using Art Deco-era colors is always a
smart choice, particularly on a Tri-5, because it doesn't have that
modern, awkward look that some resto-mods get with modern hues. All
the original '55 Bel Air trim is intact (and there's a lot of it),
which also means someone spent enough restoring it to put a kid
through college and it took a lot of elbow grease to get all the
stainless that bright. Chrome bumper fore and aft are the perfect
endcaps, all the badging looks new, and the imperfection-free,
super-clear glass all-around the car is in excellent shape as
well.
The interior has been restored and uses the same bright '50s color
scheme as the exterior (although admittedly, the Turquoise might be
a tad bit darker) to give it a very appropriate look. The power
buckets seats up front and wide bench in the rear wear newer seat
covers that match the body and replicate the factory-style pleated
patterns, and the door panels were stitched to match - all using
durable and easy to maintain vinyl. It's not a $50K interior, but
it certainly gets the job done and looks great. Fresh teal-green
carpets show expert binding work, and you'll note there's a correct
vinyl floor mats that helps keep things looking good for the long
term. Splitting the front buckets is the most exciting part of this
interior, a cue-ball topped shifter that manages the 4-speed manual
transmission below. The original gauges look great inside the
all-in-one factory bezel right behind a leather-rimmed, billet
steering wheel mounted atop a polished tilt column, and those
rudimentary dials are augmented by a trio of auxiliary gauges under
the dash and a SunPro tachometer. There's also a retro-style
AM/FM/Cassette/AUX stereo head unit in the dash and it almost looks
like it was born there, and it teams with the amplifier mounted in
the trunk that power the speakers stashed inside the cabin. The
trunk is spacious and was coated with black spatter-paint that
shows off just how solid the panels on this '55 really are.
Power comes from a 283 cubic inch V8 that's built to run rather
than sit around in parking lots. With an Edelbrock 4-barrel carb
atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake, an updated ignition and
distributor, and a shiny set of ceramic-coated long-tube headers at
the flanks, it's a snap to maintain and drives extremely well.
Liberal doses of chrome plating make the engine bay look like
someone always meant to show this baby off, with Chevy Orange paint
on the block and polished Chevrolet valve covers and a custom air
cleaner up top. Power steering and power front discs brakes are
smart upgrades that make this a car you could drive every day,
ditto for the upgraded front clip and shocks all around that make
this Bel Air a top-flight cruiser. A quick-shifting 4-speed manual
transmission turns the fun-factor of this Tri-5 up to 11, and it
feeds a stock-style rear end out back that can easily handle the
power. An upgraded dual exhaust system with glasspack-style
mufflers turns down well ahead of the rear axle and gives this Bel
Air a lot of bark to go with its bite. Finishing off the killer
look, this beauty rides on a set of modern US Mags wheels staggered
with 235/45/17 front and 285/40/18 rear Nitto performance
radials.
For all you guys and gals looking for a well-built car that you can
drive without worries, this '55 Bel Air definitely delivers. It's a
car that will delight you every time you see it in the garage or
climb behind the wheel, which is what this hobby is all about. Call
today!