Vehicle Description
Shoebox Chevys aren't rare, but just try to find one that isn't
rusty, hasn't been customized beyond recognition, or simply priced
out of range for most of us mortals. This 1955 Bel Air hardtop is
the answer. It's not a show car, but if you want a great-running
early V8 Chevy with plenty of style that you can upgrade to suit
your tastes, this is a fantastic foundation.
It's not this car's original combination, but the India Ivory over
Gypsy Red looks classic and right on the Bel Air's smartly styled
bodywork. The '50s were a great time for color and the best cars
capture the era with bright hues like this. The finish is close to
show quality and looks fantastic from any angle. Better still, the
sheetmetal is straight and this car has never been a rust bucket
that needed substantial renovations. Instead, it's a great driver's
car and you won't worry about the elements or putting it on the
road, although most folks will mistake it for a trailer queen if
they don't see it running. Yes, it's that nice. The chrome is very
good and the entire car has an all-of-a-piece look and feel that's
appealing. Nothing's been shaved or deleted, although it does have
one-piece California-style bumpers, and that classic Chevy look
remains. This is how you do it right.
The beautiful custom tan interior is a sophisticated complement to
the bodywork, and while they're not 100% authentic, those buckets
are a lot more comfortable and functional than the factory bench.
Borrowed from a late-model, it's remarkable how neatly the buckets
fit and the rest of the interior was upholstered to match. Custom
door panels with intricate stitching look clean and artistic, tan
sisal carpets are in excellent condition thanks to a set of
heavy-duty floor mats, and the dash was painted to match the
bodywork. Modern gauges from Classic Instruments tuck into the
original instrument housing and both the shifter (B&M) and
steering wheel (Grant) have been updated. There's also A/C tucked
under the dash and an AM/FM/CD stereo radio built into the dash
with speakers throughout the interior. The trunk could use a new
mat, but as you can see there's nothing to hide and it includes a
full-sized spare tire assembly.
Obviously, a majority of the cash was spent on the mechanicals,
which are centered around a 350 cubic inch V8 that runs even better
than it looks. An Edelbrock intake and carb plus a modest camshaft
all feed the sweet-running small block, and a lot of shiny dress-up
pieces make this an engine bay you'll be proud to show off. Up
front there's a giant aluminum radiator and custom shroud, so it
runs ice cold all the time, and mellow-sounding mufflers give it a
hot rod soundtrack. With a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission
it's a blast to drive, but it cruises easily on the highway thanks
to reasonable gears out back. It's not shiny underneath, but there
are no signs of trouble, either, so why fix what isn't broken? The
stance is right and it looks great sitting on black chrome Coys
wheels and 235/60/15 Goodyear Eagle radials.
A clean old Chevy with a great look, lots of performance, and a
go-anywhere interior. If you've been looking for an awesome Shoebox
Chevy, you've just found your next car. Call today!