Vehicle Description
1953 Chevrolet 210 2-Door Sedan
The Chevrolet Two-Ten, or 210, was the midrange model of the
Chevrolet car from 1953 to 1957. It took its name by shortening the
production series number, (2100), by one digit in order to
capitalize on the 1950's trend toward numerical auto names. The
numerical designation '"210"' was also sporadically used in company
literature. It replaced the Styleline DeLuxe model available in
previous years. The Two-Ten was discontinued after the 1957 model
year to be replaced by the Biscayne. The Two-Ten shared the
wedge-shaped side trim with the Bel Air, but unlike the Bel Air,
(which had the wedge filled with an aluminum trim panel), the
Two-Ten's wedge was painted either body color, or top color with
the optional two-tone paint package. "Chevrolet" in script was
mounted inside the wedge.
If you are thinking about owning a classic Chevrolet form the early
1950's, you know something you can hop into and go for a cruise
down to your local McDonald's, (it started in 1954), or just
wasting gas cruising listening to Bill Haley and The Comets, or
maybe showing off your girl's new poodle skirt, all in near
showroom style, then this 210 will grab you and never let go.
Immaculately kept it is hard to see any fault on this 3-owner
patinaed survivor.
Exterior
Large rounded over steel slab sides, fenders and rear quarters are
peppered with an abundance of chrome for this overall concerto of
Chevrolet engineering from 1953. Saddle Brown paint shows as slight
dulling but overall is in good condition with just slight areas of
previously repaired rusting and some chip offs on several of the
lower edges of this car. From its sleek styled jet age chromed hood
ornament to the headlight bezels, bumpers and mirrors and handles,
all chrome on this car has retained its shine with just a few minor
areas of dulling particularly in the tail light bezels. Looking at
the profile we see a front to rear trim spear that slices right
through the mid-section of this car. A bullet-like bulging rear
quarter has a large trim piece curving with its profile on the
bottom, and a small topper spear that looks rearward. Also breaking
up the Saddle, (root beer), Brown are chromed rocker trim pieces.
Car manufacturers of this era quickly realized that chrome sells,
and this car has an abundance of it including around all windows,
and completely wrapping the car at the beltline which frames the
bottom of the roof which presents in a wonderful warm Sahara Beige
color to contrast the saddle, (root beer) lowers, kinda like the
foam on a root beer float! Bringing up the rear, just aft of the
wrap-around rear glass all framed with wide stainless, is a large
bulbous trunk lid. A lower chrome bumper with guards in the center,
oval bezel tail/backup lights and Chevrolet central badging on the
back of the trunk. Wide whites are on all 4 corners and are covered
with dog dish bowtie badged chromed covers.
Interior
A swing of the doors and we see some early jet age influence in the
form of light brown stitched vinyl lowers on the door panels with
some gold colored zig zag subtle pattern tweed broadcloth uppers.
The sills are dark brown and there are nice chrome trimmings
delineating the broadcloth from the vinyl and adorning the
actuators and cranks. Also noted we are all clean and chromed in
the handle and crank department. Moving inside, we see 2 large
benches, one split in front and another in the rear stretching from
C pillar to C pillar. The front bench is covered in root beer brown
smooth vinyl uppers and have a piping delineation between the mid
uppers and lowers and seats which are covered in slightly darker
brown textured vinyl. This vinyl appears in excellent condition and
is believed to be a recovering based on the back seat design. Here
we see a snappy multi tone plaid broadcloth for the back lowers and
seat, with a stitched arched pattern brown vinyl upper which could
possibly to be from the factory. A two-tone dash in dark brown and
a lower strip of beige steel presents as original with plenty of
vertical ribbed chrome trim, and a nice clean instrument cluster
all with black faced gauges with white lettering. A large brown
bakelite steering wheel with a circular horn ring in the center and
chevy badged hub is fronting this dash. Above the central chromed
ribs is a Chevrolet badge in grandmother's handwriting, and within
the thin beige band on the lower dash is a factory AM radio. Up top
the headliner is tight and original mohair presenting with a warm
faded with age look that presents a beautiful contrast to the new
front seat covering. New brown carpeting floods the floors and is
very clean.
Drivetrain
Sitting within an unrestored, patina, all original engine bay is a
235.5ci inline 6-cylinder engine. This has a 1-barrel carburetor
atop, and a resealed last year 2-speed Powerglide automatic
transmission on back. The very back has a 3.55 geared rear. Our
consignor states a new battery, spark plugs and wires as well as a
distributor cap and points have been installed into this 6 volt
system.
Undercarriage
Underneath shows passage of time in a dry environment with slight
surface rust and plenty of black steel with patina finish.
Independent coil spring suspension in front, and leaf spring
suspension in the rear with 4-wheel drum brakes makes up this
simple undercarriage.
Drive-Ability
A comfortable interior with a slow crank, but quick fire up to idle
as it came to life and I headed to the test track. I experience a
2-speed that shifts smoothly, and a car that drives very nicely.
Overall a great cruiser that has nice power as one lets it go up
through the 2 gears forward, and this car handles well despite its
weight. The radio wouldn't belt out any AM tunes and the clock does
not keep the time. Also, the consignor states and we can verify
that it developed a heater core leak on the way up here from
Delaware.
A well preserved car throughout its lifetime, as it has been well
cared for, has a few faults but considering this year it will be 70
years young still looks great. A new front seat and that fab
original back seat, two tone color and plenty of 50's chrome
adornments, how can you go wrong? You ain't nuthin but a hound
dog!
B53B007372
B-2100 Series
53-1953
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
007372-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE 53 1011W-1953 2100 Series 210 2 Door Sedan
BODY M1313-Baltimore Body #
TRIM 244-Light Tan & Brown Pattern Cloth
PAINT 504-Saddle Brown
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.
