1955 Chevrolet 210 Sedan

Description

There's an argument to be made that the Tri-5 Chevrolet is the ultimate hobby car, with the 1955 in particular a huge fan favorite. It can be anything you want it to be, from bone stock show piece to this handsome, functional, and beautifully built light resto-mod. Fitted with loads of modern conveniences, it is an awesome blend of that great '50s look and modern functionality, and with a bright red wrapper and oversized shiny shoes, this recently restored 210 looks like a million bucks.

Bright red certainly grabs your attention and it's fortunate that the bodywork underneath was nicely done, because there are going to be a lot of eyeballs on this 210. Built only 6,184 miles ago, it's holding up quite well as a driver-quality rig that's been driven and enjoyed for several years, and if you wanted to take it up a notch or two a professional cut-and-buff would make that hot red paint 'pop' even more. Other than some deleted hood trim and badging, nothing major has been modified, shaved, or chopped, because, after all, what could you possibly do to make this car look better? Instead, they seemed to realize that the factory got it right and focused on making it look more streamlined and sparkle just a bit more than it did in 1955. That means all the trim that remains on the car was pulled for the paint job, either re-chromed or outright replaced, then carefully shined-up and reinstalled so it all lines up just right. Again, even the shiny stuff isn't perfect, but it matches the strong driver quality look of the finish and the overall vibe is just right. The simplicity of the '55 works especially well, offering a great contrast between the car's modern performance and old-fashioned look, and things like the 'open-wide' eggcrate grille, the bumper guards, and the tinted angular taillights are details we'll never see again on a production car.

The interior focuses on comfort rather than all-out style, and when you're cruising you'll appreciate it even more. The gray cloth upholstery was done when the car was built and it still looks great, with no splits, tears, or other issues, even in high-traffic areas like the driver's side of the front split bench seat. The rear bench was outfitted to match, as were the flanking door panels, and although the look might be a tad dated, their condition certainly doesn't feel old. Plush carpets work well to insulate the interior from the elements, a set of durable black floormats protect them, and that's a sporty looking B&M shifter atop the transmission tunnel, with a white cue ball topper that looks like a Hurst manual. The color-matched red dashboard, window sills, and steering column bring a bit of color inside and the new billet and chrome inserts on the dash sparkle beautifully against the backdrop. The original gauges are gone, replaced by a cool custom setup from Classic Instruments that includes all the major functions, and the thick, wood-rimmed steering wheel at the helm is a perfect fit. You'll also be pleased to discover that they've thoughtfully added a JVC AM/FM/CD stereo in the dash, a set of seatbelts up front, and a custom, flame-embossed '55 Bowtie insignia in the rear seat back. Out back, the trunk is neatly detailed with a reproduction rubber mat and plenty of bright red paint, and it carries a full-size spare.

The engine is a 350 cubic inch V8 motor that makes plenty of power to make the lightweight car a lot of fun to drive. Reported to be an original LT1 that was at some point converted to an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor set-up atop a matching intake manifold, it has great 'right-now' throttle response that makes it feel agile very around town. Plenty of chrome and polished aluminum make the engine bay look right when you open the hood at a show and with a big aluminum radiator up front it never threatens to get hot, even on the warmest days. A modern dual master cylinder manages the power front disc brakes and power steering has been added to make it easy for anyone to handle. Ram's horn style manifolds feed a burbling dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers and the underside, while not detailed for show, is just perfect for a car that's going to see the road every chance it gets. Staggered American Racing Torque Thrusts accentuate the stance and carry 225/55/17 front and 235/50/18 rear performance radials that fill the fenders perfectly.

A perennial favorite, the '55 Chevy continues to make friends, and this clean, well-built, and affordable 2-door Post makes a great choice for summer fun. Call today!