Vehicle Description
The backbone of the old car hobby is nostalgia, and who among us
doesn't long for the pastel days of the 1950s? This 1955 Chevrolet
Bel Air convertible had a spectacular and expensive restoration
about seven years ago, and the result is a very attractive and very
road-worthy ragtop that hits all the right buttons.
The car's original color code 604 is Neptune Green and Seamist
Green, so that's how it was restored. The car was fully restored in
2009 using as many OEM and NOS parts as possible and since then
it's been used only sparingly. Finish quality is extremely good,
probably better than new, and thanks to hours and hours spent
blocking, sanding, and aligning the sheetmetal, it looks ready to
show. This was definitely not some home restoration project, but
rather an expensive undertaking using professional shops, and it
shows in the brilliant final finish. The surface is glossy and
smooth, and despite being driven enough to work out all the bugs,
the car looks amazingly fresh. Most of the chrome and stainless
trim was replaced when the car was reassembled, but things like the
door handles and fender spears were borrowed from that donor car to
keep it looking authentic. It also wears an accessory continental
kit and fender skirts, both of which make it look far more upscale
than a mere Chevrolet. This is a seriously nice car.
The two tone green interior was also restored to match and like the
exterior, the workmanship is impressive. Correct seat covers,
reproduction door panels, new carpets, and just about everything
else remains in first-class condition. The beautifully restored
steering wheel highlights a very correct interior, and details like
the bright metal instrument panel and restored gauge cluster make
it a delight to sit in the driver's seat. An accessory tissue
dispenser lives under the dash and the original AM radio still
plays loud and clear. There's a white power convertible top
overhead and it stows beneath a matching green boot to give the car
a clean look, top up or top down. The trunk was also nicely
detailed with a correct rubber mat and correct jack assembly,
although you'll note there's no spare because it's in the
continental kit, as intended.
The engine is a nicely detailed 283 cubic inch V8 that looks like
it was born there. We're not sure whether this is the original
engine, but it starts and runs like it's new. From the oil bath air
cleaner to the accessory oil filter (yes, they were optional in
1955) it looks the way it would have on the showroom floor. A
generator still makes the electricity and it was all detailed to a
very high standard before being reassembled. Chevy Orange paint, a
single master cylinder, and even stock exhaust manifolds make it
look very authentic. The transmission is a 2-speed PowerGlide
automatic and it, too, was completely rebuilt before going into the
ragtop's ultra-clean chassis. It does show a few signs of use
underneath, but you can't blame a guy for driving his dream, and
all of the mechanical parts remain in top-notch condition, so it
rides and drives like new. Proper color-matched wheels and hubcaps
are protected by a set of bright bias-ply wide whites, which ride
great and look right.
This is a very high-quality 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible
that's in exactly the right condition to drive and enjoy, and
perhaps even relive your youth a little bit. Call today!