Chevrolet was on top of the world with the “Tri-Five” Chevies of 1955-57. The economy was good, and people were looking to “See the USA in Your Chevrolet.” Even though they sold 1.6 million cars in 1956, only 2.5% were convertibles, like the seller’s auto, which appears to have been restored over the years, though not perfect today. Located in Inkster, Michigan, this red over white (or white over red) ragtop is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $34,300. Thanks for the tip, Mitchell G.!

There were three series of the 1955-57 Chevies: the 150, 210, and Bel Air. If you wanted top-of-the-line, you ordered yourself a Bel Air. And that was the only way to get a drop-top, which saw production at nearly 42,000 copies in ’56. The 265 cubic inch V8 was still the only eight-cylinder choice, so the seller isn’t entirely correct by saying the 283 in this car is original (the 283 wouldn’t be available until 1957). And it’s paired with a later 3-speed automatic transmission, the TH-350. So, this vehicle is not numbers-matching.

We assume this Chevy sports India Ivory and Matador Red two-tone paint. The interior has been redone in similar colors, and the photos show both a white and red convertible top. The latter is in place today, but I prefer the original lighter color. The seller has owned this machine for eight years, and the frame and undercarriage were painted red either before or after he/she acquired the car. The body is solid except for one tiny hole near the trunk seam. While the paint looks good in the photos, the seller only gives it a 6.5 on a scale of 10.

The seller may get a surprise at the end of the auction. In the text of the ad, he/she has indicated a Buy It Now price of $82,500. The current bidding is $48,000 shy of that, with no reserve or a BIN put in the bidding section. So, the seller may not be able to enforce anything past the final bid. This looks like a really nice Chevy, but if it needs new paint and doesn’t have the original drivetrain, will someone come up with that kind of cash? BTW, nice Continental kit!