1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

Description

You already know how much we love Tri-Five Chevys here at Streetside Classics, so imagine our delight when this lovely 1955 Bel Air showed up with classic two-tone paint, a simple small block V8, and the road manners of a much newer car.

The two-tone red and white color combination is definitely from the 1950s color chart and looks exactly right on this '55. No heavy metallics and just the right shine to generate fond memories of a simpler time, which is what cars like this are all about. Plenty of time and effort went into the build and it shows; this isn't one of those garden-variety Chevys you see at the cruise night, this is the one that makes people stop and take a few extra minutes checking it out. All the body panels fit well, the doors close without a heavy slam, and the car was obviously completely disassembled for paint, because there are no masking marks on the trim. And speaking of the trim, it's very well finished with lots of shiny bits that remind you that the 1950s were all about chrome. The bumpers, grille, and even the wonderful side trim, all of it looks fantastic without being over-done. The stance, wheels, and maybe the blue dot taillights reveal that this isn't a stock restoration, but it's really not far off, either.

The tri-tone interior is bright, clean, and nicely finished to give it a vintage look with a twist. Factory seats have been fully reupholstered and the door panels are ornate to make the Chevy look more expensive than it really was. The original instrument panel is so pretty that it would have been a shame to try to improve it, although there are a few extra gauges very neatly installed. The steering wheel is authentic, so it frames the arched speedometer properly, and there's a vintage-looking A/C system under the dash. The radio is a Sony AM/FM/CD head unit that powers 6x9 speakers on the rear deck, so cruising is a pleasure. It shows a few signs of use and age, but overall, it's exactly the right look for a bright cruiser like this. The only possible demerit might be that the trunk needs a mat, but that's inexpensive and will pay big dividends at shows.

For power, you stick to what works if you plan on driving your car, so this Bel Air sports a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8, a 4-barrel carb, and all the modern conveniences. There's also a bunch of chrome dress-up for show and clever engineering for great road manners. The cooling system centers around a big radiator with electric cooling fans, and the electrical system features an alternator and updated wiring. Front disc brakes give it modern road manners, assisted by new springs and shocks that give it the perfect street rod stance. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission spins the original rear end, so it cruises nicely on the highway, and the burbling dual exhaust system sounds hot-rod enough to get some attention. Shiny polished Ridler wheels look especially good with a splash of red from the front brake calipers and are wrapped in staggered 245/40/17 front and 275/40/17 rear performance radials.

Modern road manners, vintage look, this 1955 Bel Air is one of those cars that you can spend a lifetime enjoying and never get tired of the ride. Call today!