Vehicle Description
1953 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Door Sedan
The Chevrolet Bel Air was a full-size car produced by Chevrolet for
the 1950-1975 model years. Initially, only the two-door hardtops in
the Chevrolet model range were designated with the Bel Air name
from 1950 to 1952. With the 1953 model year, the Bel Air name was
changed from a designation for a unique body shape to a premium
level of trim applied across a number of body styles. The Bel Air
continued with various other trim level designations, and it went
from a mid-level trim car to a budget fleet sedan when U.S.
production ceased in 1975.
For consignment, the first year of the Bel Air high end designation
set it apart from the 150 and 210 trims and a sedan to boot. This
example was restored over the course of many years, and includes
not only an upgraded drivetrain but also a 12-volt conversion and
still retains its luster and appeal to this day. Period perfect
chrome 15" wheels, a hand made custom interior, some new chrome, a
Nova subframe, and a snappy 2 tone paint job all come together for
us to give you a big chrome rounded exterior fender 1953 Chevrolet
Bel Air so named after the affluent suburb in Los Angeles,
California.
Exterior
The first thing you will notice about this beauty is the slow
disappearance of the exterior fenders protruding from the sides.
And with the 1950's progress they would be totally integrated. We
will bask in the late 40's early 50's styling using a large chromed
trim spear that starts on the front quarter, then streaks rearward
where it meets up with the oval bump out of the rear quarter and
wheel well. This bump out is adorned with a wider trim spear filled
with white, which goes to the tail and the front of the oval has
wide stainless trim. This, coupled with a thin rocker stainless
trim, adds plenty of bling to the sides of the car. Wide stainless
window trimmings frame the passenger compartment which features the
beginnings of the wraparound glass which will continue to expand in
later years to totally make the corner. Monarch Blue, a shade
similar to the one my lovely wife picked out for our guest
bathroom, covers the lower bulbous body panels and is complimented
nicely by the crisp Olympic White roof. Plenty of new chrome for
the front and back of this car with its crescendo of a big shiny
bumper in front framing a new chrome toothy grille, and yet another
trimming at the bottom of the bulbous hood. Newer blackwall tires
wrap spit shined 15-inch chrome steel wheels to finish off the
exterior.
Interior
A swing of the vintage design doors reveals a full panel with white
vinyl uppers and lowers sandwiching royal blue velour broadcloth
which is delineated by white piping and holds the padded arm rest
and chrome power window toggles. A look at the interior seating and
we see wonderful newhigh back buckets highlighted by puffy royal
blue velour broadcloth tuck and roll inserts and smooth white vinyl
bolsters. The seats front and back are pristine with a solid bench
in the rear stretching side to side. Racing between the front
buckets is a custom made console that holds multiple cup holders, a
storage bin, a quad of rocker switches, an aftermarket tachometer
and a Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo. For the dash, the designers of the
day used oval panels that now house a brushedaluminum bezel fitted
with white face VDO gauges. The dash top is full metal jacket in
Monarch Blue and has chrome aplenty for accenting in waterfall
format stretching across to the passenger. The dash lower is
finished in white and holds various dials and vents for the Vintage
AC/heater system. A 3 spoke white rimmed steering wheel is fronting
the dash and sits atop a modern tilt column. Wonderful blue
carpeting is covering the floors of all the 1950's menagerie.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a 350ci V8 that our consignor states is a 1974
version with 4 bolt mains. It sports a 4-barrel Holley 770cfm
carburetor on top of a natural aluminum finish intake manifold and
has the benefit of added "ram air" that helps the mill produce a
consignor stated 375hp. Attached to the back is a 700R4 4-speed
automatic transmission with a shift kit and 3,000rpm stall
converter. The rear axle comes to this car in 10-bolt form with
3.42 gearing from Yukon and heavy duty axles and Positraction. Spin
'em both!
Undercarriage
All solid with a black painted frame and black undercoated flooring
that present with only minor road dirt and surface rust. A front
subframe from a 1972 Chevrolet Nova provides the independent coil
spring front suspension, and leaf springs with coil over shocks for
the back provide the ride with power disc brakes in front and power
drums for the rear provide the stopping power. A 2 1/2" dual
exhaust system fed by ceramic coated headers with Flowmaster
mufflers on to handle spent fossils and we note the benefit of
power steering and a new heavy duty starter. That's Amore!
Drive-Ability
A wonderful experience in this like new retro space age influenced
interior, and all that exterior Detroit iron added up to a super
smooth ride, good acceleration, and bias free braking. All was
working order for this 53 Bel Air, however our consignor notes that
the fuel gauge is not accurate.
A nicely restored and upgraded Bel Air sedan that retains its
shine, is mechanically sound and is light years ahead of its
original format. With all the factory lines and charm retained,
this is a spectacle of design and all cool for this cat. How much
is that doggie in the CAM showroom window??
C53N085402
C-2400 Series Bel Air
53-1953
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
085402-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 53 1011WD-1953 2400 Series Bel Air 2 Door Sedan
BODY NO N9762-Norwood Body #
TRIM NO 245-Light Gray Ladder Pattern Cloth
PAINT NO 516-Sun Gold, India Ivory
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
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