Vehicle Description
The true measure of a great design is whether it ages well. In the
case of this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-door sedan, the answer is
unquestionably that it is one of the greatest automotive designs of
all time. Beautifully finished only 6019 miles ago, it's packed
with upgrades including a powerful 350 V8, an automatic
transmission, desirable options, and a slick-black livery wrapped
around a gorgeous A/C interior. This shoebox Chevy is a
high-quality piece that is equally at home on the show field or the
highway, and with looks that could kill, it won't last long.
Finished in diabolical Tuxedo Black, there's no mistaking a Tri-5,
especially a 1955 Bel Air, for anything else in the classic car
landscape. The design was game-changing when it was new, and even
today it remains a benchmark for all car guys. Sooner or later, all
car guys and gals want to own a Tri-Five Chevy, don't we? The
classic lines and 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 it and make sure he was
careful with it. Granted, he upgraded the color from Glacier Blue
to the slick black finish you see today, but no one could blame him
for such a marked improvement. Paint and bodywork are quite good,
with a finish that's largely just a cut-and-buff away from being
one of the best in our inventory, despite being finished a few
years ago. We're talking well above average driver-quality here,
with only minor imperfections and couple of light touch-ups to
speak of, but from just half a step back, even folks with 20/20
vision won't be able to spot anything to complain about. Gaps are
good all around, and the entire car fits together in a way that
modern cars just can't seem to duplicate; pull the door closed and
you'll know what I'm talking about. Sure, it's got a few signs of
use, after all it has been driven for over 6K miles, but that's
nothing in the lifetime of a quality build like this, and the
professional workmanship and excellent care work together to make
this a very appealing car even today. The chrome has been
professionally restored or replaced with exact reproductions, and
the car proudly wears 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.
Inside, this slick 2-door got a nice upgrade in the form of
handsome white upholstery and black checkered inserts on the
original seats, stitched into very 1950s-appropriate patterns.
Matching door panels and blacked-out carpets and floormats complete
a very tasteful passenger compartment that's easy to love. The
original gauge pod was replaced with a bright, billet panel that's
now filled with elegant Classic Instruments units, and a
Camaro-style steering wheel mounted atop a tilt column adds a
sporty touch for the driver while making it much easier to get
comfortable behind the wheel. A retro AM radio is fitted into the
original radio's location, and a period-style under-dash A/C unit
was also included in the build and comes backed with modern
hardware so it's blowing nice and cold. A custom center console was
purpose built just for the car, and a racing-style shifter was
installed inside to manage the shifts, and it looks so good almost
everyone assumes it's a 4-speed manual at first glance. With so few
miles there's not much wear and tear inside, and the seats are
still firm and comfortable, the headliner looks great, and even the
rear package tray was properly attended to. There's also plenty of
room in the trunk for all your gear plus a full-sized spare tire
and jack.
Power comes from a great-running 350 V8 hooked to a TH350 3-speed
automatic transmission, making this an ideal car for road trips.
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
faster and more reliable than any stock '55 ever was. A Summit
4-barrel carburetor was installed atop and Edelbrock aluminum
intake up top, long-tube headers are at the flanks, and shiny
Edelbrock valve covers and air cleaner really make the block pop
out from the slick-black engine bay. Options are plentiful, from
the dual circuit power front disc brakes to the power steering
system and to the chromed alternator out front, meaning this is a
car that can be driven daily without worries. Underneath, it's very
clean and tidy, but not so over-detailed that you're afraid to
drive it, and you'll never get tired of the purring dual exhaust
with those throaty Flowmaster mufflers. Torque Thrust-style 'Old
Style' wheels with spinners look amazing on just about anything,
especially a Tri-5, and they come wrapped in 225/70/15 front and
235/70/15 rear radials with plenty of tread of left.
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!
