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25-Years Parked: 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air

If you could go back to the 1960s and bring back a Chevy, this likely wouldn’t be your first choice, but it couldn’t be much nicer than this one. You might be disappointed to discover it has too many doors and too few tail lights but it’s at least a step up from the Biscayne. It’s been gathering dust in this garage for 25 years along with castoff toys and other forgotten bits of family life. It’s a one family Chevy and said to have only about 20,000 miles on it. Hopefully, the family has documentation to prove this. The pictures in the ad here on eBay certainly make the claim seem credible. Bidding hasn’t hit $5,000 yet with 3 days to go. There’s no rust damage visible in the pictures but it’s in Utica, Michigan so rust is indeed possible. There’s no word of any attempts that have been made to revive it.

The buyer didn’t waste any ink checking boxes when ordering this Chevy. It’s about as “plain Jane” as it can be. It has a V8, automatic and power brakes, but that’s about it. There’s not even an antenna or any sign of a radio. The interior appears to be in great condition, though. For me, it brings back great memories of my Driver’s Education class in a brand new ’64 Chevy that was a lot like this one.

Here’s the “Turbo Fire” 283 CID V8, rated at 195 HP. There’s no AC or power steering, but at least it has power brakes. There’s no word if it runs or even turns over.

You could add a pair of tail lights and pretend it’s an Impala I guess, but this Chevy is pretty basic. Some readers see cars like this and dream of LS swaps with upgraded suspension and brakes, some see this old four-door on dubs with hydraulics and slammed but some of us see this as a nice driver just the way it is. If it’s as nice as it looks, I’d do the necessary mechanical restoration, add AC and tunes then drive it like just like it is. No one listens to the radio anymore, so there’s no need to even add an antenna.

Comments

  1. Avatar Dirtymax

    I’d get it road worthy and just cruise it. No need for a.c. and a radio when you have 4 windows to roll down and a Bluetooth speaker linked to a phone

    Like 18
  2. Avatar jw454

    My father had the 1963 version of this very same car. It was a no frills in line 6 cylinder but otherwise pretty much the same. A very nice car for basic transportation back in the day. This one looks like it’s a pretty honest car. Shouldn’t be too many surprises.

    Like 9
  3. Avatar Fred W

    In 1963, a mid priced car with V-8, automatic and power brakes was nearly “loaded”. Not many A/C cars were sold and few would order power windows on a Chevy. Not having a radio would be unusual though.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Metoo

      I read a article the other day about millennials being unable to figure how to open a window with a crank. I believe it.

      Like 24
      • Avatar David P. Reeves

        I’m 18 and have a 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente. I saw a girl from my English class walking home and offered her a ride one day last fall. When we got to her house, she pushed forward the window crank thinking it was the door handle!!

        Like 4
    • Avatar Mountainwoodi

      Couldn’t agree with you more. My pecunious father had 1961 version of this car..in black. Since I’m an original freak this works for me. Only original once . Jump in stare at the dash and all of a sudden the last 54 years and the Kardashians haven’t happened yet!

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Dean

    I had a 60 Biscayne 2 door, 3 on the tree with the 235.Sweet engine, but the fellow it was purchased from, for $100 mind you, installed one of those steering wheels that measures about 10″ in diameter. No PS, so it built up my arms driving it. This looks like a sweet retro ride

    Like 9
  5. Avatar Metoo

    When I was a kid you could always tell the “unmarked” cop cars. Plain Jane, no frills Biscayne’s.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar DJS

    My dad had the Impala in a 4 door sport no post learned to drive on that . I remember going to the dealer to pick it up on the day they came out in Sept 63 dad ordered it in Aug . Dad always wanted his new car the day it came out . Those we the days of getting the options u wanted or only needed. I guess we were lucky dad ordered his loaded even with A/C on top of the other goodies .

    Like 6
    • Avatar dweezilaz

      A four door no post would be a four door hardtop, DJS.

      I miss the days of “customizing” your new car to your own taste as well.

      Which is why I love this Bel Air.

      Non power steering might be a bit of a bear with the V8 but with the six likely more tolerable.

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Kenneth Carney

    Just add radio, A/C, and then take a long
    road trip!! See the USA in your Chevrolet!
    I can see Dinah Shore singing that song
    as I viewed the pics of this car. If I had
    5K, it would be coming back to Florida with me, and parked proudly under my
    carport for my neighbors to see. Can’t
    help it though, this car just speaks to me.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Miguel

      A radio is definitely not necessary.

      Like 6
      • Avatar jw454

        It is if you want one.

        Like 11
  8. Avatar Coventrycat

    Some dingle balls around the windshield, a chain steering wheel, and “love machine” on the side window. Pedro De Pacos approved.

    Like 10
  9. Avatar Chris

    Another basic 4 door runner. Do the brakes and fuel and putt around town. Gotta buy it cheap though.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Miguel

      Why do you have to buy it cheap?

      Like 0
      • Avatar Don Diego

        Now, that’s an original question.

        Like 2
      • Avatar Chris

        Well Miguel, I don’t know about your approach to money managment. But it’s never really a good idea to pay more for anything than it’s actually worth. It’s at $5,200 right now and Id say that’s all the money on this particular car. For me, it’s a $4,000 piece.

        Like 5
      • Avatar Miguel

        I didn’t say to pay more than it is worth.

        I got the impression you would want to get it as cheap as possible to flip it or modify it or whatever.

        I also assumed you meant it had little value because it is a four door.

        Is that what you meant?

        Like 0
      • Avatar Chris

        Never assume my friend. You are partly right, it’s a 4 door and not a high value car. Buying it cheap would be a wise idea only for that reason alone. It looks pretty clean and certainly would bring some enjoyment as a driver after some basic maintenance. There’s no reason to modify a car like this as it would only put you upside down.

        Like 1
  10. Avatar ccrvtt

    Too bad it’s not a year newer. And an Impala.

    There’s rust waiting to break through along the rockers and the front fender dogleg. Trunk shows a little, but a lot of the tinworm may have been stanched by what appears to be a Ziebart rustproofing job from the black caps on the door jambs. Ziebart franchises in Michigan were a license to print money back in the day.

    The Biscaynes were cheap. The Bel Airs were just less cheap. Impalas were the only desirable Chevies to this 14-year-old. Those were the glory days of Detroit iron and the multiple trim levels and long list of options allowed the buyer to personalize his or her car to the nth degree.

    We didn’t know it at the time, but that was the greatest era ever for motorheads. I’m not just an old fart waxing nostalgic – it’s a fact.

    You can look it up.

    Like 5
  11. Avatar Winfield S Wilson

    My first car was a 1963 Bel Air 4-door, 283 V8, A/C (didn’t work) and Powerglide. It was 1974, I was 18, had a full time job. Man, I thought I was rich!

    Like 5
  12. Avatar Nick

    Look closely, it does have power steering. Neat car, I hope it finds a good home and is preserved as original and not all jig rigged to look ridiculous.

    Like 3
  13. Avatar Kenneth Carney

    The more I look at this car, the more I want it. It’s in very nice shape overall
    and would suit me just fine. Sorry
    Miguel, gotta have a radio! We have
    several oldies stations here in Central
    Florida that still transmit on the AM
    band and that would just add to my
    enjoyment level every time I took this
    car for a spin. And at 5K, I could buy
    8 of these for the price of the ’57 Bel
    Air they just posted to the site a short time ago. Time for bed! Gotta go to
    work in a few hours.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Miguel

      Ken, I drove a 1963 Cadillac Hearse for a few years. It never had a radio and I loved listening to the engine and how the transmission shifted.

      Also when you have no radio you can think about things which has always been helpful but is now generally not done.

      Like 2
  14. Avatar Steve A

    2 many doors

    Like 1
    • Avatar Nick

      As the price of coupes are increasingly out of reach, 4 doors will be what the rest of us are left with. It’s not the end of the world to have a nice 4 door.

      Like 1
  15. Avatar Wayne

    Steve A, get over it. Try to think of something original, or maybe that’s beyond you.

    Like 4
  16. Avatar Bob C.

    Strange it has power brakes over power steering. The Belairs and Biscaynes were all post sedans, even in 2 door form. Only the Impala s at this time were hardtops. Still wouldn’t mind having this.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Nick

      It does have power steering.

      Like 1
  17. Avatar 64 Bonneville

    GM called the no post 4 doors a “Sport Sedan”. I believe it started about 1956 when the Bel Aire sport sedan (4 door hardtop) came out and lasted until about 1972 or there abouts. 1956 was the first year for the 4 door no pillar sedan.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar W9BAG

    A solid “diss” on radio. You might be quite surprised to learn of the population of people that still listen to radio. Even AM.

    Like 2
  19. Avatar sluggo

    Its a cool car, who cares at this point if 4 doors or 2? It still has the right look,,, back in the 70s or 80s it might have mattered but now Hipsters would go nuts for this this car is older than most hipsters.
    A car like this is virtually unobtainium in certain parts of the US, so all you low ballers are out of touch. I sold 2 cars like this and had a bunch of offers, didnt have to haggle much at all. One was a 4 door rambler, I see it from time to time and the guy is in LOVE with it,

    Like 4
  20. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Ended: Jul 15, 2018 , 11:00AM
    Winning bid:US $6,600.00
    [ 12 bids ]

    Like 1
  21. Avatar Mj

    Hey Sluggo that post was…. Far Out Maaan!

    Like 2
  22. Avatar Ron D.

    My parents bought a impala that very same color silver blue, beautiful cars, yes I would drive it just like that no need to add anything,

    Like 0
  23. Avatar charles quaglia

    Interested in 1957 chevy bel air in Taunton,Mass. you had advertised.Is it still available?

    Like 0

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