1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

Description

Have you been going to the ballpark without a glove this year? Watching all those folks having fun in their cool cruisers at the local car shows, while you're a spectator? Or perhaps it's time for something new, and you don't feel like investing the two or three years it would take to build a car like this '55 Chevy Bel Air. Well, here's your answer to all of the above.

The two-tone blue and white paint scheme uses modern paint and a traditional pattern to bring the '55 into the 21st century. The '55 Chevy is revered for its simple good looks, so it doesn't take much to create a show-stopper like this. All it takes is hours of sanding to make sure everything is straight, maybe a week of fitting the body panels so they all line up better than new, and then a few thousand dollars' worth of paint that's rubbed and buffed until it shines like a mirror. Take all that lovely Bel Air trim and restore it to new condition too, including fresh chrome on the bumpers, a beautifully finished grille, and enough polished stainless to outfit a hotel kitchen. Nice, huh?

They stuck to the basics inside, keeping bench seats for all-day comfort and enough room for six in a pinch. The blue cloth upholstery is a great choice, and a definitely upgrade over the original vinyl, and the patterns are very retro, so it looks right at home in the '55's passenger compartment. The original dash has been fully restored and all the original instruments remain, but they've been augmented by a column-mounted tach and a trio of auxiliary gauges down low, all from Auto Gauge. Sculpted door panels bring the exterior paint scheme inside with a flash of white vinyl in a whimsical '50s sweep, and new matching blue carpets give the Bel Air a luxurious feel. Other modern upgrades include Vintage Air A/C, and an AM/FM/cassette stereo system with Pioneer speakers. The trunk has also been upholstered to match, and even carries a matching fifth wheel and tire, just in case.

Reliability is the name of the game if you're going to drive your rod, so a 350 cubic inch Chevy was slipped into the Bel Air's engine bay. Fully rebuilt and featuring an Edelbrock carb and intake combination, as well as a set of Hooker long-tube headers, it makes all the right sounds and generates enough power to make this '55 potent on the street. Nicely dressed in Chevy Orange with satin silver tinwork, it's not over-done, and the handful of polished and chromed pieces is accents, not the dominant theme. A TH350 3-speed automatic handles gear swaps, and while you're under there, take a moment to note how clean and well-f9inished the floors are. Power front disc brakes live behind traditional Rally wheels wearing 225/70/15 BFGoodrich radials.

Next time, be prepared. Take home this '55 Bel Air today and start enjoying the shows from behind the wheel. Call today!