Vehicle Description
Style never goes out of fashion, which might explain why the
1955-56-57 Chevrolets remain as popular today as they were when
they were new, perhaps more so. Next to the convertibles, the car
to own is a Bel Air 2-door, and this lovely 1956 Bel Air 2-door
sedan is the ideal combination of ready-to-rock mechanicals and a
gorgeous and sinister gloss black with blue metallic paint job.
Starting with a straight car makes it easy to create a stunner like
this. Finished in 2002, the paint is still quite nice as a
testament to its workmanship quality and shows off the factory Bel
Air trim to great effect. The lights in our studio don't really do
it justice, because the depth of the black paint is impressive, and
if you catch it in the right light, you'll see hints of dark blue
that give the car a killer custom look. Sure, it's not perfect
after year of use, but this car wears dark paint better than most.
And thanks to the striking Bel Air trim which streaks along the
sides, it has a very crisp, precise look. Most of those shiny
pieces have been restored to give this stunner some sparkling
jewelry, and it proves once again that the best designs just don't
need improvement. Just about the only non-factory bits of shiny
stuff are the billet grille and very cool taillights that use Chevy
bowties instead of blue dots.
The contrasting tan interior is completely custom, but the look is
certainly right in the 1956 bodywork. To be honest, the front seat
looks almost completely unused, which tells you a lot about the
quality of the work and the care it has received since it was
finished. The door panels are made of the same tweed fabric with
dramatic sculpting that still manages to capture the 1950s yet puts
a modern spin on it. The dashboard is still fairly stock, with
crisp gauges, clear lenses, and bright trim that spans the width of
the entire dash. There's also a custom center console with
auxiliary gauges and a tach has been strapped to the steering
column in the usual fashion. R134a A/C, an AM/FM/cassette stereo,
and a Lokar shifter for the 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive
transmission are all upgrades that make it a fabulous cruiser. The
simple trunk features a standard rubber mat, reminding us that the
Chevys were simple cars at heart.
Under the hood you'll find a stout 350 cubic inch crate motor with
lots of chrome and plenty of horsepower. Everything inside is
obviously new, and a set of center bolt heads, a polished intake
manifold, and an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor help build reliable
horsepower. Billet accessories and a custom drive manages all the
spinning stuff at the front of the engine, and there's a big
aluminum radiator keeping everything cool. The aforementioned 700R4
transmission feeds a 10-bolt rear end, meaning that it can just
loaf along at highway speeds. A new dual exhaust system offers long
tube headers and Flowmaster mufflers that give the small block a
performance sound that fits its personality. The entire car is
extremely tight with no squeaks or rattles, and it rolls on a set
of old school Torque Thrust wheels with 225/70/15 blackwall
radials.
With a very cool look, a gorgeous interior and that enhanced V8
under the hood, this Bel Air hardtop is a wonderful machine to show
and drive. Please come in and have a look at this one in person,
because the photos just don't do it justice. Just be prepared: as
soon as you see it, you'll fall in love. Call today!