Whether it’s a barn or a garage, if it has been in long term covered storage we are probably going to be interested in it. Especially when it is a desirable, rare, and interesting car like this Bel Air Convertible! Drop top versions of most cars are usually desirable, as they didn’t typically built as many. A quick search of the internet and you will find an incredible number of Bel Air coupes and 4 doors for sale, but I can guarantee you will have a hard time finding a convertible. This one has been in parked in a garage for much of its life and while it has some rust issues, overall it is very complete and solid. The seller claims that it is highly original inside and out, with the exception of one fender. Given the chalky paint and worn interior, I’m inclined to believe them. You can find this convertible here on eBay in Sacramento, California with the reserve still unmet.
looks like it has no oil pan,, ????????????
You’re right, Craig, that does seem to be missing. There also seems to be a lot of oil and sludge on the underside. I’d be curious to know what happened. Maybe they split the oil pan when they hit whatever it was that put that nice dent under the passenger door and took out the front fender.
I don’t know that I’ve ever noticed that extra “upper part” of the front bumper before on a ’56. I did a quick search and didn’t find it on many others. Is that a special trim package or just something that people pulled off? It loos kind of out of place and just caught my eye.
I had a ’56, my father bought it new, I learned to drive in it, and 14 years later sold it when the engine was toast, and the tin worm had eaten the floors and rockers, and the bottom of the doors, and I never saw those bumper add ons, but a good idea, since the front bumper tended to tilt up if it was bumped, (that is what bumper were for), and maybe this upper piece helped brace it to keep it in line.
My wife has her father’s 56, all original, still runs. 17,754 miles. Red and white, with black and white interior. Hasn’t been taged sense 65. Stored on Jack stands for over 40 years. Shes thinking of selling it.
I wonder if the front bumper add on is a J.C. Whitney special feature accessory?
Just amazing that someone could put such a sweet vert away and leave it. I wonder if the car was donated to the museum or the owner died and the ‘museum” bought it? In any event it sort of irks me when these” finds” get repped by a dealer or in this case a 501 c 3 with a dealers license. I’m sure there is a perfectly rasonable reason but I wish folks would sell their own cars.
That said an original anything much less a ’56 chevy is preferable to me than a restored version
I’m confused as to why you object to to cars being sold by a museum such as ours. The California Automobile Museum has no public funding and relies on things like events, selling cars on consignment and volunteers to support our museum. Owners of cars such as this 1956 Chevy often don’t have the means or resources to sell their cars so they just sit.
For example, I’ve found a garage with 3 beautiful 50’s Cadillacs and a 1955 Studabaker Speedster. The owner would love to sell them, but there they sit, year after year. Perhaps we’ll be able to help.
You can see our website at http://www.camcarsales.com
You deserve an answer. As I stated above there might be a perfectly reasonable answer why your museum is “repping” this vehicle. The museum is a fine establishment. My comment as inarticulate as it was, was basically aimed at the all too often fact that middlemen get ahold of old cars and then sell them for an “enhanced” price. This is often a topic of conversation on auto blogs like barnfinds. Part regret that the commenter didnt find it and part rumination over the change in a hobby that finds values such that middlement or professional “flippers”proliferate. To paraphrase Samuel Clemens writing as Mark Twain, I retract my statement as it applies to you and any inference you may have drawn that I think you are a flipper .
What the owner should have done was put more trash and debris in the car to really make us all believe the car sat for that many year’s. SORRY ……..I’m kidding. It absolutely floor’s me that a majority of us American’s have NO pride anymore. Your selling a car on the internet and your schedule won’t allow you to clean the junk out of your car before taking photograph’s! People,at one time in the past this country was filled with pride. What the hell happened? I wish the seller the best. Hope you get what you feel is right price wise.
Exactly…
Years ago I had a detail shop…
…this car with all the crap removed, cleaned, scrubbed, polished & detailed would not only be more presentable but more valuable.
Modestly 5K, although I’d lean to a little closer to 10K… (running or not)
Only one chance at a first impression…
Just my opinion,
Nova
Seller must have removed pictures other then the one, of the driver’s side. Hmm. ((?)) Looks like a beast. Give me a 55 then I’d have more to say. The 56 and 7’s were not to my liking at all. The 53’s 54′ s (my birth year), and 58’s are my favorites; owning a 58 Nomad would be the bomb.