Vehicle Description
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Door Hardtop
As advertising of the day states, "Noting without wings climbs like
a 56 Chevrolet BelAir!" As the best in class for this years Pikes
Peak Challenge, the Bel Air is flouting it. The ad asks whether
"you ever leveled off a mountain with your foot? Nothing to it,
just point it up at a steep grade and you'll see why its a Pikes
Peak record breaker." With its "silken rugged power" it will make a
peak seem like a roadmap, and with its "cat-sure cornering" you'll
take corners effortlessly.
For consignment, the middle car in the tri five craze, the 1956 Bel
Air. This former California car has been fully documented as to
various work, repairs and redos. Taken apart, sandblasted,
recovered and rebuilt, then repainted to perfection by noted body
shop out of Pottstown, PA, Denny's Corvette. Looking like a gem
found on the road to the summit of Pikes Peak, it's ready to go and
show. Just turn the key.
Exterior
A clean Gypsy Red paint covers the hood front and lower sides of
this beauty. It is delineated by a trim spear which we see
separates the red from the Shoreline beige. This spear eventually
widens and covers the rear quarter fins, trunk and roof line. Two
tones on steroids. The panels are straight, and gaps are good. A
jet age hood ornament is flying above the simplest of the grilles
for the tri five Bel Airs. Chrome bumpers are good and the trim is
shiny with nary a dimple. The Bel Air badging and Chevrolet script
in your grandmother's handwriting is good. A curved panorama front
and rear glass are used in this '56 design, and are all excellently
preserved. On back a Continental kit moves the spare to the
exterior bumper bump out, and continues with the snappy two tone
painting and some more chrome just for extra giggles. The rocket
nose tail lights are in rounded bezels on each of the rear
quarter's small fins flanking the trunk. Rear fender skirting in
the Gypsy Red and flow beautifully to frame the 15-inch highly
polished wheel covers that mimic dog dish style caps all wrapped in
wide whites and seen on all 4 corners. Rectangular chrome tipped
exhaust exits are noted below the continental bumper which is a
statement on to itself with all the amount of chrome on it.
Interior
Not to be outdone by the exterior, more red and cream for the two
tone vinyl and cloth inside. Starting with the doors which use tuck
and roll embossed uppers in red, then a cream streak runs through
the center with a molded armrest, some more red below in smooth
vinyl, and a cream lower. The two tone madness continues inside
with a front split bench with red bolsters and some nifty 50's
horizontal thin horizontal stitched "tweed" if you will in
broadcloth for the inserts. Piping is the delineation which forms V
patterns in the backs. The rear bench does the same and provides
plenty of romper room for the back passengers, or your viewing
couch to drive in movies...Necker checker!! Upfront the dual fan
dash, which is a fav of this writer as to the tri fives designs,
has some newer more wild gauges lined up in a horizontal ribbed
trimming which runs through full metal jacket red dash front
material. A newer radio is now in with an FM Tran-Sonic converter
below the dash. Also below the dash is a dealer installed chromed
Kleenex dispenser in front of the passenger. I think I'm gonna cry
its so kewl....hand me a Kleenex. Pristine red carpeting floods the
floors and above is a tight white headliner. A shout to the trunk
which is also perfection, lined with tan carpeting to match the
Shoreline Beige. Truly award winning.
Drivetrain
Now playing under the hood is a documented rebuilt red/orange
painted consignor stated 283ci V8 with cast ribbed valve coverings
that sport some red/orange painting as well. On top is a 4-barrel
carburetor, and on back is a rebuilt 3-speed manual transmission
with a new clutch and pressure plate. The pumpkin weighs in at 3.36
gear ratio. This mill has all aluminized exhaust pipes and
Flowmaster exhaust. A black factory air cleaner covering is still
hanging out on top, and looking great.
Undercarriage
An ever so scarce bit of surface rust is seen mostly on the edges
of the framing and some suspension parts. All else is coated in
rust proofing. Over his tenure as the owner there is a listing of
various upgrades and repairs done on the car. Some highlights are
replacing springs and shocks, a brake system overhaul, and a new
battery as well as a new radiator. Completely rebuilt power drum
brakes are in all 4 corners and are mounted to an independent coil
spring front suspension and leaf springs in the rear.
Drive-Ability
The car is an immediate starter and of course hit with this test
driver/crash test dummy, (although not today!). This car runs
smooth and quiet, accelerates nicely and shifts smoothly thanks to
the new clutch and pressure plate. It has a nice cruising altitude
if you will, and an overall comfortable seating and ride. The
odometer is not clocking mileage, and the clock is not clocking
time, however was not a big deal as I lost track of time on my test
drive. I Love It!
Just a lovely example of the high end Bel AIr, made even better
with the snazzy interior with new gauges, rebuilt engine, excellent
paint, and particularly the Continental rear bumper installation.
Definitely the 50's look, and who cares if it's a 56 which is in
this writer's mind is THE BEST year for the tri fives. Take it or
leave it. Best Exterior, best interior design, and the Continental
rear bumper is to die for.
VC56L080110
V-V8
C-2400 Series Bel Air
56-1956
L-Los Angeles, CA Assy Plant
080110-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 56 1011D-1956 Bel Air 2 Door Hardtop
BODY NO VN9191-Los Angeles Body #
TRIM NO 565-Green Cloth
PAINT NO 687-Onyx Black
EZ1-Tinted Glass
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.
