1956 Chevrolet 210

Description

You know we love shoebox Chevys, but most of them are so... pretty. Well, this 1956 Chevrolet 210 2-door sedan kicks sand in the face of all those pretty pastel cars and has the horsepower to back it up, complements of a stout 383-inch stroker motor. Add the brutal look of blackwall tires and a handsome interior and you get an awesome cruiser that gets a lot of double-takes and nobody wants to risk lining up next to it at red lights.

Who would have thought Hugger Orange would work so well on a Tri-Five Chevy? Well, here it is, and it looks awesome! It's especially effective on the no-frills 210 hardtop, with its (relatively) minimal trim and clean lines that make the '56s the cleanest of the mid-50s Chevys. Of course, you'll note that a few details were deleted, such as the nose and tail emblems, but it's impossible to erase this car's identity. Finish quality is excellent throughout, although the car was restored to be driven, so they didn't dump $20,000 worth of paint on it. Instead, it's clean, shiny, and very well-assembled, showing only minor signs of use. A body-colored grille is a neat touch and all the stainless and chrome trim has been refinished to really sparkle against the bright orange paint. And there are simply no factory-installed taillights as cool as those on a '56 Chevrolet.

The subdued gray interior looks stock at first glance, but when you climb in, you'll see that it was thoroughly updated in January 2014. First there's the custom front seat, which looks like a split bench, but the shifter has been cleverly integrated into a kind of mini console in the middle. The upholstery work is quite well done with appropriate-looking pleated patterns and matching door panels that pay more than a passing resemblance to the originals. The original dash is still in place, and includes a Custom Autosound AM/FM/iPod stereo plus a Sun tach on the steering column. Up on top there's a row of vintage-looking Stewart-Warner auxiliary gauges that suit the car perfectly. In back, a roll bar adds some attitude without hindering rear seat access or space, and there's still a big old trunk in back, complete with a space-saver spare for emergencies.

The small block V8 is a neat fit in any Tri-Five Chevy's engine bay, but the 383 cubic inch V8 that lives there now delivers big block power without the weight. The engine was installed in November 2013, so it's still quite fresh and the low-key look hides a heck of a lot of horsepower. Chevy Orange paint, chrome tin work, an Edelbrock intake, and a 600 CFM Holley carburetor help make this car fast yet happy on pump gas. The engine bay around it is in good order, with a new alternator, tidy plumbing and wiring, and upgraded dual master cylinder for the 4-wheel disc brakes. The transmission is a built TH350 with a high-stall torque converter and a 1980 Camaro donated its rear end, complete with 3.55 gears on a limited slip. The front suspension is tubular A-arms with new tie rods and ball joints, as well as a full set of KYB shocks. A fresh exhaust system sounds wicked and it sits right on those painted steelies and 215/75/15 front and 235/75/15 rear blackwall radials.

You might describe this car as a sleeper, but it attracts a lot of attention. Instead, let's just call it a car that more than makes good on the promises its appearance makes. Call today!