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283/4-Speed: 20k Mile 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air

This 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air is one of the tidiest that you are likely to see, but its subtle and conservative exterior appears to conceal a drivetrain that could offer its buyer excellent performance potential. Its overall condition would suit any person who is seeking to buy a turn-key classic. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for referring the Bel Air to us. It is located in Exeter, California, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. While bidding has jumped to $25,600, the reserve is yet to be met.

There are a few inconsistencies in this listing, and they are worth considering. The seller claims that the Bel Air is finished in its original shade of Satin Beige. I’m not sure that I agree with him on that point because the color looks a lot closer to Gothic Gold, and there is a world of difference between the two. Regardless of the truth, the car does present nicely. The paint shines beautifully, with only a few minor chips and marks worth noting. The panels are straight, and there are no apparent signs of rust problems. The Bel Air is garage-kept, and when you combine this with a life in sunny California, that augers well for this classic’s rust-free status. One disappointing aspect of the car’s presentation is the underside of the hood. I have included a photo of this in the gallery at the bottom of this article. The finish is pretty ordinary and even quite amateurish compared to the rest of the vehicle. Most of the chrome is in excellent order, although there are a couple of minor imperfections if you examine the photos closely. No one has committed the sin of fitting aftermarket wheels, with the Chevy rolling on its original steels with hubcaps. The glass shows no problems, and at face value, this is a car that shows a lot of promise.

The Bel Air is not a numbers-matching car, but it does feature a 283ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, and a Posi rear end. This is where things start to get a bit murky because the motor and transmission began their lives in a ’58 Corvette. The owner says that the 283 wears its original Corvette valve covers and air cleaner and produces 290hp. Examining the engine codes confirms that this is a “CS” engine block and that in its original home, it would have produced that sort of power. However, a “CS” block was used for the Option 579D engine in the ‘Vette. That V8 was the fuel-injected unit, and this engine obviously isn’t equipped with that anymore. That means that the horsepower figure probably isn’t correct, although if the engine has received no internal upgrades, then a figure of around 270hp would be conceivable. With that sort of power, the Bel Air should still be capable of a sub-17-second ¼ mile ET. Looking beyond that question, the news seems to be good. The seller says that the Bel Air runs and drives perfectly and cruises on the open road happily at 70mph. He supplies this YouTube video with a walk-around. We get to hear the 283 start and run, and it sounds perfect.

The Bel Air’s interior is stunning, but once again, it does have a few flaws worth noting. There are a couple of minor marks on the vinyl on the driver’s seat, but you have to look pretty hard to see them. The paint on the steering column is damaged in one spot, and this requires a touch-up. Looking beyond that, the tri-tone upholstery has a classy appearance, and it is free from rips and other issues. The dash is spotless, as are the headliner and carpet. The remaining upholstered surfaces look fantastic, and the new owner shouldn’t feel ashamed to show this car in public. A vintage-look tach has been attached to the steering column, while the owner has fitted period-correct air conditioning.

As a turn-key proposition, this 1959 Bel Air would seem to have many positive attributes. It is also a car that raises a few questions regarding issues like the paint color and the specifications of its engine. I always encourage in-person inspections for anyone considering purchasing a classic car. I also say to people that if they feel that they are out of their depth, they shouldn’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion. I’m not suggesting for one moment that the seller is misrepresenting this Bel Air, but it would be reassuring to clarify those few things. If it checks out okay, someone could find themselves with a stunning classic parked in their driveway in a few days. That has to be a tempting thought.

Comments

  1. Stanley

    Great looking car, but it always kills me when someone puts all that work in and then tosses a set of horrible generic seat belts on the front seat that will never be fastened. There are some really nice period correct looking belts available these days that would look so much better and may actually get used.

    Like 5
  2. james west

    Awesome ! But is it too good to be true ?

    Like 7
  3. Will Fox

    Nice `59 for sure. However, the way Chevy fans over-restore their cars, surprised this isn’t a tri-power 348, with skirts, bumper guards, and every accessory in the book. If I look at another `59 with those fish-eyes behind the rear wheel openings, I’m gonna puke!

    Like 3
    • Morley Brown Member

      Skirts were never a factory option

      Like 1
    • Steven RM

      Will,
      What do you mean by fish eyes. I’m not familiar with that term in this case.
      Thanks

      Like 0
      • LarryS

        I think he means those fake oval-ish exhaust dumps on the rear quarter panels on some late ’50’s Chevy’s.

        Like 1
  4. Steve R

    The seller uses lots of ambiguous language in his ad, which is never a good thing. The last two pictures in his description clearly show sections of the floor pan have been replaced, and not done very well. As suggested, potential buyers would be wise to perform a thorough in person inspection.

    Steve R

    Like 10
    • HARRY HOLMBERG

      could not find floor pan pics – where? THX

      Like 1
      • Steve R

        There are 92 pictures embedded in the description portion of the eBay listing.

        Steve R

        Like 1
      • DayDreamBeliever DayDreamBeliever

        Harry, go to the eBay auction, scroll down halfway, hit the link marked “Full size” photos” and check them out. There is a good view of what Steve mentions in the very last picture.

        Like 0
      • PatrickM

        Yeah. I didn’t see any, either.

        Like 0
  5. sir_mike

    Who cares about numbers matching??? Or mtr.numbers?? Just a lovely daily driver 59.Next owner please let it this way.

    Like 12
  6. doone

    Doesn’t look like a Harrison GM compressor for the a/c and there were no alternators in 59 either. The trunk lid trim above the left tail light is out of line. It’s a nice looking unit, but too many little details that don’t add up.

    Like 6
  7. GARY L

    Looks to me like there is body work below drivers door…….

    Like 7
    • Jim

      Agree. And I’d say above the back driver’s side rear wheel, too.

      Also, the trunk, hood and doors don’t line up well and the small grilles on the edge of the front of the hood (next to the turn signals) look really beat up!

      Like 7
    • PatrickM

      My gosh! She’s over 60 years old. Give the lady some love.

      Like 1
  8. local_sheriff

    Those who know X-frames will notice that’s not Bel Air upholstery – those covers are for Impala. Bel Air seat covers are less detailed:
    https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1959-CHEVROLET-BEL-AIR-4-DOOR-SEDAN-162384

    With that said I fully understand why an owner would opt for those covers as they really are stunning particularly in that copper color together with the matching exterior. Probably far easier (and cheaper) to find a quality upholstery kit for an Impala than a Bel Air or Biscayne, plus the end result looks way better, unless one simply MUST have it 100% OE

    Like 11
  9. Charles Sawka

    Whoa, talkin about picky. This is not a 100 point restoration car. It’s a hot rod for cruising on weekends. As such it’s pretty cool !

    Like 20
    • John

      Charles I agree.

      The over the top negative comments are crazy. This is not a $70,000 100 point car. Its a great driver. I love the set up with 58 vette motor and trans plus A/C.

      Great car

      Like 7
    • Vinnie G

      I agree. This is a driver. A car to have fun with. Not numbers matching. Maybe price to high but, a weekend cruiser. If I had the room, maybe.

      Like 4
  10. Miguel

    I was told long ago the way to tell a good paint job on a 1959 from a bad one is to look under the fins. If they cut corners, that would be the place to do it.

    Like 0
  11. Miguel - Mexican Spec

    I was told many moons ago the way to tell a good paint job from a bad one on a ’59 is to look under the fins.

    If corners were cut, that is where they would cut them.

    Like 4
  12. Don Page

    30K and the reserve still isn’t met. I wouldn’t waste my money on this one. The hack job done to the floor pans shows what a POS it is. After looking at the pictures, I read the description. What a load of bull.

    Like 5
  13. John

    It’s a nice car. A great “driver”.
    Not a perfect car. If perfect it would be twice the current bid price. I’m sure the owner will not see all the money he/she has into it.

    No sense to be so negative.

    Like 8
  14. Thomas Crum

    One of my college professors drove a 1959 Chev. 4 door hard top Impala. It only had the word “Chevrolet” (no “V”) so it was a 6 cylinder. When we would be drinking I would hold up my glass of “Nectar of the Gods” and salute this 6 cylinder Impala. Dynamic professor, was also a local attorney and a member of the State House of Representatives and we would also see this Impala in front of a local bar many nights.

    Like 0
  15. Karlos

    Along with the “290HP” claim, the “coupe” description gives me the big ARGH.
    To me, “coupes” did not have the pillar between the side windows.
    I know….picky, picky, picky but if top dollar is sought, the dammmmm description should be accurate.

    Like 3
    • Karlos

      BTW…duh. I forgot to mention that if the Dragway 42 win sticker is genuine, the car spent some time in the rustbelt along its life. D42 is in West Salem Ohio. I had so many of those stickers on my ’69 Nova, 396/375 I finally quit putting them on.

      Like 2
      • Steve R

        You are right, that is an original water slide decal. I hate when owners install vinyl copies of originals, the cars would be better if without them. However, it doesn’t prove the car was ever at that track. There are a lot of original water slide decals floating around, check eBay. I have a large stack of them myself, including several from tracks ranging from Fremont drag strip, Pomona, Daytona and Indy, they can often be found at swapmeets and garage/estate sales for next to nothing.

        Based on the lack of fading, I’d say it was a recent addition to thus car.

        Steve R

        Like 0
    • Ron

      So explain to me what a ‘32 5-window coupe looks like, pillar or no pillar…

      Like 1
      • Karlos

        Ron, I’ve never considered a “two door sedan” to be a “two coupe”, but you certainly have a point.

        Like 0
    • Tort Member

      Not to be picky but my 38 Ford coupe and my 37 Chevy coupe had a pillar between the door window and a smaller window. On one of my 55 Chevy’s and 66 Chevy Nova did not have a pillar and they were hardtops.

      Like 1
    • onree

      I grew up coveting these. My dad worked for H&H Chevrolet in Omaha.
      Back in the day Chevy had its own code nomenclature for this. A two-door sedan was a coupe. A pillarless two-door was called a SPORT coupe. Four door sedans (Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala) had a six-window greenhouse. The pillarless four door ‘flat-top’ was a SPORT sedan, with a four-window greenhouse. There was a Bel Air version of that in ’59 or ’60. I forget which one, but IIRC only one of those years. It all shows up in a Chevy brochure for the years around then.

      Like 0
  16. MikeB

    What was the point of this car? In 59 the big block engine had totally eclipsed the 283 in all but Corvette in the Chev. lineup. This was a whimp setup that would have been laughable in 59. Also, is that shifter correct for factory four speed ? I seem to recall a really curved shifter that was closer to the seat edge. I was 19 in 1959 so my memory may be a bit off on this stuff after all this time.

    Like 0
  17. Steve Clinton

    “subtle and conservative” Now THAT’S a tidy description.

    Like 3
  18. Johnny C.

    What a puff! I can’t see justification of that steep price, but hey if it means that much to someone they should pony up. The elaborate verbiage of the seller’s ad sure left plenty for the “nit-pickers” to do, that’s for sure. This would be a really nice cruiser. Who cares if it’s not an over powered “hey look at me” beast? Nothing wrong with climbing in and rowing gears in a clean ol’ Chevy!

    Like 3
  19. A.J.

    That misaligned trim would trigger my ocd every time I saw it. Wonder what else they cut the corners on?

    Like 2
    • Miguel - Mexican Spec

      A.J. In 2013 I looked at a new Lincoln MKS, I think. It was the expensive one with a dual turbo something under the hood.

      The trunk was not lined up with the quarter and I thought the same.

      Every time I came out to the car I would see that and my OCD would also be triggered.

      This was the same reason I passed on a 1962 Cadillac CDV that had a 1961 front end on it.

      Like 1
  20. old beach guy

    Nice car but the devil is in the details. It’s an easy fix to repair the steering column shifter hole, plus those patch panels in the floor boards were done by a novice. Also, you can see the patches on the wheel wells in the trunk. They all rust right over the rear body mounts. 20K miles, I doubt it. For that kind of money, I’d expect better attention to detail. On the other hand, the crossflow radiator is a must have.

    Like 3
  21. Joe Sewell

    Oh goodness – just imagine actually owning one of these with the original FI 283 – last year for Chevrolet’s full size cars. Read where the 283 FI was available in the El Camino also…

    Like 1
  22. Thomas Crum

    The word “coupe” to me met both a 2 door sedan and a 2 door hard top. I lived in Detroit and in 1959 was a college freshman. Drove a 1957 Plymouth 2 door Plaza, 6 cylinder with a 3 speed. Had the optional two tone paint so it looked like a Belvader at first glance. Still have tons of memories about that car.

    Like 0
  23. Tom's Toy Box

    The 290 horse had solid lifters and fuel injection. The 270 horse had solid lifters and duel quads. The 245 horse and hydraulic lifters and duel quads. The 230 horse had a single four barrel. That’s what it looks like to me.

    Like 2
  24. Rustytech Rustytech Member

    My first car was 59 Belair like this, blue & white. It too was a 283 but with a 3 on the tree. I made several modifications to it, including moving the shifter to the floor, adding a 4 bbl. carb and mild cam. I had a lot of fun with it till I wrecked it. Many fond memories and would love to have another one, but not at these prices.

    Like 1
    • Jon.in.Chico

      My first car was a blue ’59 Chevy, 283, three-on-the-tree … paid $75 for it and another $20 for new cluth, plate, and bearing (cheap I know) … the car had belonged to a local pharmacist’s wife who rode the clutch … no AC of course, no radio, no power anything … put some cherry bombs on it, baby moon hubcaps, spring inserts, and changed the rear end to posi … back seta had never been sat in but the front I threw a ribbed, green bed spread … my girlfriend painted flowers on the dash (this was the 60’s) … weldind shop next to where I worked had somehow managed to to have flux spread around the parking lot so all cars were treated to a rubbing compound treatment – smooth as a baby’s butt and looked brand new … had legs – could get 85-90 in second gear … drove it from New Orleans to a job in Chicago, where it got stolen … filed a police report but I could tell they really weren’t interested … found it in a vacant lot a couple days later, up on shippng crates, stripped, windows broken, cherry bombs gone, manifold removed … I had no money so not much I could do … it was gone a few days later, probably picked up by the city … walked to work for a few months untilI bought a beater ’65 Cutlass from a (soon to be) relative for $150, but it did have a 425 so I had moved up …

      Like 0
  25. Chuck Dickinson

    My first car, a 59 BA 2dr sedan, 283, but a PG. While the car now resides in sunny CA and carries vintage CA collector plates, the car does not have the one-piece CA bumpers, indicating it was probably assembled elsewhere and may have spent a life in a less ‘metal friendly’ environment.

    Like 0
    • CaCarDude

      A good Eye Chuck on the CA one piece bumpers, and I thought I was the only one here who caught that. I owned a 4dr Bel Air and two 59 El Caminos for over twenty years. These 2 pc front and 3 pc rear bumpers tell me the car did not start life in sunny CA. Those are typical mid west to East Coast steel.
      I would have a lot of questions for the seller if I were going to invest in this non original 2 dr sedan.

      Like 0
  26. ADM

    Just don’t meet a late model Malibu, in a header.

    Like 3
  27. Lee

    I wish people would not be so picky & critical! I mean this is a great looking 62 year old Chevy! No it’s not all original, what car that old is? Enough of my soap box! Lee T/A man.

    Like 0
    • LarryS

      I agree it is great looking, but I’m glad people pick cars apart here. I subscribe to Barn Finds because I love cars and also love to learn about cars (including their value). I evaluate cars that interest me while I’m reading through the write up here. But I also read the comments, which not only give me loads of great information but also often point out things I may have missed. I noticed right away the misaligned trim and issues with the driver’s side rocker panel but didn’t notice the problems visible inside the trunk. If this were a car I was interested in buying, I would certainly find the comments here very informative for making a rational purchasing decision.

      Like 4
      • Mountainwoodie

        Its a plain jane. A built plain jane. A Frankenstein of sorts if you will …but a very tidy looking Frankenstein. Its just not OEM…….so if that’s what a buyer wants…..this aint it. But all of the obvious inconsistencies aside, its an interesting looker.

        Like 0
  28. Stu

    With so few miles reportedly it makes me wonder why the original engine isn’t fitted? Other than a great looking survivor!

    Like 1
  29. Steve RM

    One of the points about the negative comments is the fact that this car is being misrepresented. It looks really nice and I’m sure it would be a nice cruiser but the description is a huge fed flag. The seller is trying to get you to believe this is an original, rust free, 20,000 mile car when I don’t think that’s even close to the reality here.
    I like 59 Chevys a lot but I’d have to go for an El Camino.

    Like 5
    • LarryS

      I would have to agree that the description in the ad is more than a bit overenthusiastic.

      Like 7
  30. Gary J Lehman

    My late brother in law had a 59 Impala 4 door HT with a 283 and 3 on the tree. He always bragged that it did 120 mph in 2nd and 118 mph in 3rd. He was 14 years older than me and I loved riding around with him and my sister in that car.

    Like 0
  31. chuck

    There’s a YouTube video of a 59 4 dr Chevy vs 2010 Malibu, head on crash test.
    Amazing how bad the Impala fared.

    Like 3
  32. jrc

    why the “56” tags

    Like 0
  33. Thomas Crum

    I remember my local Chev. dealer inMount Clemens having three 1959 Impala convs. in stock, Colors were green, white and red all were 6 cylinder stick shifts with nice low window stickers. They remained unsold for quite a while. I do not remember any 1959 Chev. in the Detroit area with this color, brown

    Like 0
  34. PatrickM

    Nice looking car. but, the price is over $32,000.00. Way too much for this guy. I know there has been a lot of work done to this car. It may not be perfect but, many aren’t. I’d love to have something like this. Yet, it is out of my reach. GLWTSAP. Next.

    Like 1
  35. Thomas Crum

    I have retired from the automobile industry and now reside in central California. I travel around California and I spot old cars and want to earn a little finder’s fee on the sale of a rust free central California car. The opposite end for General Motors would be the Cadillac El Dorado Seville. I have found one that is rust free. Sits with some 40 years of dust and dirt from being in a barn. Color is a metallic mist green with a white vinyl top. Has factory AC and has the gold sabre KH wheels. Has the original tires that are now all flat. Is 99% complete. Only small chrome pieces missing. I offered $10,000. declined my offer. Requires carpet & seats redone. Paint might be saved. Also totally ding and dent free and chrome is good except rear bumper ends. I am willing to help someone acquire this car. I can send pictures

    Like 0
  36. Thomas Crum

    I find many cars that have been in California that are rust free and what a pleasure to look at them. Even if they have been sitting out for many years. Interiors will have to be redone due to sun damage. The bodies will be rust free and often the paint is still good. I just found a 1948 Chevrolet one ton stake truck, creme with red fenders. Upon opening the door I found the interior to be perfect except for being dirty from the dust on a Ca. farm. Not even a nick anywhere and the black Ca. license plate is also dent free

    Like 1
  37. Thomas Crum

    I think the aftermarket tach should have been located in a better place. Or a smaller one that fits into the contour of the instrument panel better. Did Chevrolet offer a factory tach on the 1959 Chevrolet?

    Like 0

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