Vehicle Description
1959 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Door Sedan
Here's a random factoid about the '59 Bel Air, as it appeared down
under. "General Motors Holden in Australia imported various US
designed vehicles, such as Chevrolets and assembled them locally.
The 1959 Bel Air was imported from Michigan and assembled at the GM
Holden factory in Dandenong, Victoria. It was the first model in
Australia to offer optional automatic transmission. However, it was
not a huge seller on the Australian market." Thanks
tohttps://collections.history.sa.gov.au.
For consignment, a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door sedan with a title
verified 39,999 actual miles. Under 40k! Not for long. Here's a
model the Aussie's would have favored, a three on the tree manual
transmission and a tail end that is among the most iconic in the
classic car world!
Exterior
Though just two years from the Tri-Five era, this car might as well
be ions apart as the all new styling for 1959 is bold, brash, and
positively groundbreaking. While some of the underpinning remained
the same, the long, lean panels and lowered profile of the car
clearly set it up for the coming 60's, and jet inspired curvature
took vertical features of yesteryear and sets them horizontally. On
the Medium Blue Metallic painted Bel Air, contrasting trim includes
a bold elliptical spear that goes end to end, filled with white and
pointed on each end. There's also a fantastic windshield frame that
from the side reveals the very unique shape of the glass. In back
of course, the wings are lined with polish trim which wraps around
to the back and drops to a point, accentuating the design and
terminating with a bowtie crest, all over cat eye tail lights that
are as much art as they are functional items and seemingly repeated
on the face of the car, serving more as eyebrows over the twin
headlights that flank a bullet grille. 15-inch Chevrolet Rally
wheels are wrapped in tires with a mid 2024 date code.
Imperfections include some issues with the bumpers, a scratch, some
bubbling, chips, some dents not the roll pan, cracking paint in the
wheel opening, rough texture on a lower panel, and some hints of
rust at window trim.
Interior
Two shades of blue adorn the door panels which show some aging
patina but are otherwise intact and the blues continue on the split
bench seat with plaid, cloth inserts where again we can qualify
this as good condition, original and not restored. The rear bench
is indeed a time capsule, simple and clean and representative of
the era. The original dashboard is headed by a blue plastic
steering wheel that begins a monochromatic presentation that
includes a stunning design of five gauges with their own hoods on a
curvaceous blue dashboard where knobs and an AM radio reside, all
clean and slightly patina'd. The blue loop carpet below is in good
condition, the headliner is high, white, and tight, and the trunk
is massive, bare, and clean.
Drivetrain
All patina under the hood where a 235ci inline six is in place,
pushing out 135 horsepower and fueled by a rebuilt 2-barrel
carburetor and rowed to motion via the 3-speed transmission that
sends power to the back and 3.55 gears. The drum brake and brake
lines, according to our consignor, are new.
Undercarriage
Lots of surface rust underneath with areas of flaking rust. We note
some dry bushings and some oil on the pan and flywheel cover and
the X-frame looks solid. The tank was cleaned on the inside and a
new sending unit was installed. Because of an offset change to the
wheels, the single exhaust exists on the driver's side after
traveling through a stock style muffler. Suspension consists of
coil springs up front and 3-link with coil springs and a panhard
bar out back, all colored by surface rust.
Drive-Ability
We can imagine heading to the Sock Hop Ball in this streamlined
street cruiser with a bunch of friends in the back! We crank up the
little 235 which comes to life like an eager beaver and finds
itself on the test loop where it ran just fine, occasionally
showing its age with some creaks underneath, but handling road
imperfections like a champ and providing great visibility through
an amazing greenhouse of glass. We note the radio doesn't work nor
the odometer. Beyond that, all functions operate as intended. 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.
Okay, so it's not a concours level Bel Air. But look at those
lines! Look at that tail! Are you going to tell us it's not worth
considering? Imagine how many '57 owners traded in their big car to
get their hands on this newfangled design from Chevy, lean and low
and ready to take on the 60's with aircraft-like optimism. Good
bones, an epic design, and a clean interior. Not to mention room in
the engine bay for just about anything you want to throw in there.
That is, if veering from original is even in your thought process.
Either way, this special Bel Air is a ripe blueberry ready for
harvest.
C59T279894
C-1500 Series Bel Air I6
59-1959
T-Tarrytown, NY Assy Plant
279894-Sequential Unit Number
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
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
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