Vehicle Description
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Door Hardtop
With GM hitting its stride in the mid 50's with the advent of the
Tri- Five era, and eventually hitting a home run, they had several
tried and true theories that they stood by to make the car so
popular. A few items of note are they embellished the car with
brite work so as to make it outshine the Cadillac, the 55 Bel Air
weighed over 3400 pounds, and was over 15 feet long, and some wild
options were available including an electric shaver to get business
done while in traffic, and an ashtray that sucked the ashes into
the tray...now that's class!
Forget about these fancy overdone "resto-mods" with their perfect
lines, and little attention to the original. Let's keep it simple
with this 55, and keep it original, even if not perfect, and all
the while make it a reliable driver, to actually turn heads when
you are rolling down main street. I give you this restored and
updated first year Tri-Five.
Exterior
The recipient of a restoration with all panel work completed the
body is now bathed in Turquoise and Ivory, and it does not get any
more Mid-Century Modern color-wise than this. Paint presents well,
as does attached correct brite-work, badging, and chrome. This car
oozes simplicity as the first version with its simple chrome
Ferrari-esque grille, bumpers, and a streaking jet hood ornament
that has flown its way to the end of the hood to announce the cars
arrival into the jet age and yours at the drive in. Nicely done
taillights, a lack of any fins, and wonderful stainless window
trimmings and dueling side spears that break up the tutone paint
job, add to the aura with the wonderful paint. We bottom out with
some black walls, wrapping American Racing Outlaw 1 shiny wheels on
all 4 corners.
Interior
A new full interior, consisting of the door panels, headliner and
seats, all have been installed during the restoration. Black vinyl
with a factory correct tuck and roll pattern are on the door panels
which are like new. Inside a black vinyl bench with door matching
tuck and roll horizontal inserts sits in a now black factory seat
frame. The rear bench presents the same and has easy access with
the flip of split front bench. The all-original steel dash, fronted
by a turquoise steering wheel and column with an aftermarket
tachometer attached, which has undergone restoration sits in front
of the benches in its dual fan bumped, turquoise and repeating
stamped bowtie pattern stainless banding presentation. An
aftermarket AM/FM radio, (a radio was not standard on any of the
Tri-Fives), center mounted glove box, and lots of shining knobs and
levers add to the dash, along with a nice speedo in the driver's
side fan and a speaker in the other, emblazoned with the 50s style
type font actually named Bel Air, but I like to call it your
grandmother's handwriting! Some aftermarket gauges hang below the
dash and just below and a chrome handled B&M shifter grows from
the black carpeting. Headliner is near perfect and also shows in
white.
Drivetrain
A nicely restored and painted engine bay receives a newer Chevrolet
engine in 307ci form and is topped by a 4bbl Edelbrock carburetor,
and now on back is brand spanking new 3-speed TH350 automatic
transmission. The rear axle weighs in at a 3.36 gear ratio and our
consignor states it was rebuilt 300 miles ago.
Undercarriage
A restored undercarriage with new floor pan, black framing and
suspension components shows with only minor rust on the usual
suspects. One area of concern is the rear frame cross member which
has been repaired with pop riveted angle iron. Power disc brakes
are now upfront and power drums for the rear. A nice dual exhaust
system with glasspack style mufflers has been installed for the
exhale.
Drive-Ability
This beauty fired right up and ran like a top. Fab acceleration,
bias free panic stopping with those power brakes, and good handling
with no creaks or groans. All functions were working just great
inside and out save for the heater blower and the reverse lights.
While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were
working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these
functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
A restoration and minor modernization, later model 307ci V8 and a
new 3-speed automatic transmission, you can confidently pull up to
any establishment, and you will immediately be engaged in a
nostalgic conversation about your classic first edition Tri-Five!
The two 5 version (55 kids!).
C55B055309
C-2400 Series Bel Air
55-1955
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
055309-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 55 1037D-1955 BelAir 2 Door Hardtop
BODY NO M22432-Baltimore Body #
TRIM NO 513-Ivory & Turquoise Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT NO 612-India Ivory & Regal Turquoise
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.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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