1968 Chevrolet Bel Air

Description

This 1968 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan is one of those cars that just shouldn't exist today. First of all, when was the last time you saw a 1968 Bel Air of any kind? Secondly, it's a 4-door sedan, which typically got used up and tossed. But it sure looks like someone loved this car and today it represents an offbeat, affordable way to get a heavy Chevy that's going to make everyone wonder where it's been hiding all these years.

With just a single repaint, the big Bel Air looks like pure 1960s cool in basic white. They added a little pearl to the fresh finish, so it glows in the sun but doesn't get too obvious about it. Chevy cranked out these cars by the hundreds of thousands, but honestly, when was the last time you saw a Bel Air 4-door? Thanks to both sentiment and careful storage, this one remains extremely well-preserved. The paint was done several years ago and even with the pearl, it has a lovely soft shine that could almost convince you that it's original paint. All four doors fit neatly, and those massive rear quarter panels were not bruised and abused, but were professionally blocked and are now quite straight. All the chrome and stainless is original, and it's exceptional from the grille to the Bel Air script and logo on the front fenders. No frills, just a clean, straight old Chevy that will bring back great memories for anyone who was there at the time.

The black interior is almost entirely new, which couldn't have been an inexpensive undertaking. Wide bench seats were the norm in 4-door sedans, and there are thousands of enthusiasts, if not millions, who recall family vacations in cars just like this. And really, the car is incredibly nice. The textured inserts look appropriate, so unless you're an expert, you'd never know they were replaced, and the vinyl portions show virtually zero wear or evidence of the passage of time. Factory gauges are still in good order, although they only monitor the basics, and even the original AM radio remains in the dash although there's a modern AM/FM/CD stereo installed underneath, complete with new speakers and a subwoofer in the trunk. Factory A/C blows cold, making this an awesome road trip car, especially with the massive trunk that's been fully carpeted for a very tidy look.

For power, this Bel Air got Chevy's erstwhile 307 cubic inch V8, which was cosmetically freshened but never opened. It starts easily and runs with that special smoothness reserved for original machines, and there's nothing that has been "upgraded" or modified from original spec. Under the chrome air cleaner, there's a factory 2-barrel carburetor, and aside from an MSD coil and long-tube headers, it's quite stock. There's a lot of polished dress-up and the inner fenders and firewall were repainted with the rest of the car, so they provide an awesome background for the shiny engine. The chassis is shockingly clean but you can also plainly see that it was never undercoated, never driven through snow and slush, and retains all its original gear, including the PowerGlide automatic transmission and 10-bolt rear end. A dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers gives it a traditional performance sound and the 15-inch Rally wheels add a sporty flair.

Unusual and very well sorted, this is a great car for the guy who likes something a little unusual that's still a lot of fun to drive. Better still, bring the whole family along and have a great time together. Call today!