1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

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!