Paperwork, such as old-school, black ballpoint pen handwritten on a piece of white paper might be passé to some folks, but it’s priceless when considering buying a 66-year-old car. And this 1955 Chevy 210 two-door sedan has a slew of saved Oklahoma Vehicle Inspection Certificates from the 70s and 80s verifying the low 59,688 miles on the odometer are authentic. Thank you, Bessie and Joe, two of the Chevy’s previous Oklahoma owners, for squirreling these inspection certificates away. Located in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, this exceptional, low-mileage ’55 Chevy 210 is for sale here on eBay. As of this writing, 29 bids had raised the price up to $30,000.
“New Look! New Life (V8 or 6)! New Everything!” This is how Chevrolet advertised their all-new 1955 lineup and truth in advertising has probably never been truer. And while the top-of-the-line Bel Air and Nomad wagons get the attention, the mid-level 210 line was the sales leader in 1955 with about 832,000 units sold (47% of the more than 1.7 million ’55 Chevy’s sold). The 78-year-old owner of this 6-cylinder, 3-speed column shift Neptune Green with Shoreline Beige top 210 has “loved and cherished” it since purchasing it in 1989. Now, unfortunately, he has to part with it due to health reasons.
The seller shares that he purchased the car in Edmond, Oklahoma in August 1989 with 55,000 original miles. It’s been used mainly for shows and driven less than 5,000 miles the past 32 years. He also describes it as “an Oklahoma car with an older restoration in mint-condition, has been meticulously maintained, always garaged, has had no rust ever, and rides like new.” The photos appear to support that description. The paint, chrome, body, glass, and trim all look very good. The seller does share and provides a photo of a scratch on the passenger side door the car unfortunately received from being transported to its present location.
We wish the seller had provided more photos of the interior, but one could probably assume it’s been pampered like the rest of the car. According to the promotional brochure, the “Two-Ten” came with “a color-keyed interior of fashionable two-tone upholstery.” The seller does provide a few photos of the two-tone green dash and a closeup of the odometer.
Under that Neptune Green hood is the OHV Inline 235 Blue Flame Six that generated 123 horsepower when new. This rugged, reliable, proven workhouse was the most popular engine choice of Chevy buyers in 1955 (the new 265 cubic-inch V8 was unproven in its first year in some buyers’ minds). The engine bay overall looks clean and presentable. The seller shares that oil changes were performed every 1,000 miles and that he has documentation of all maintenance performed since 1989, including a new carburetor and brake cylinder replacement.
Given its documented history, low mileage, and pampered overall condition, it’s easy to understand why this ’55 Chevy 210 is generating so much interest. Who wouldn’t like to experience the next best thing to time traveling and actually driving a new 1955 Chevy?
That one is just too nice other than to care for and enjoy a driving experience from 1955.
I was looking at this car last night on ebay, and I thought anyone who do anything other than just care for this car is crazy. 20 yrs ago I would have said hot rod it but its hard to find a stock driver these days. Enjoy it and drive it and please don’t change it.
I’d pull the six and dump in a 502 Crate with a 62 cast iron powerglide.
I’d put the original drivetrain in a wooden crate for the next buyer of the car after I deigned to sell it post big block phase.
A six-banger in a 55 Chev 210 is far too underpowered for this car.
Bob
That’s my style too, but for the money you could buy the car we want and save all that work?
Very funny.
So the seller purchased it “with 55,000 miles” as a 35 year old car? Based on the appearance, I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true…but the inspection certificates from the 80’s don’t prove anything. I would want to see documentation from the original owner.
The mileage and dates are on the back of the inspection stickers.
A friend has a 55 210 four door sedan that his father boight new. Same colors, also. He told me somrhing I never knew – on the 210 with the standard hubcap, Chevrolet painted a parimeter stripe on the rim of rhe wheel. Neat little detail – you can see it on this one.
Momma, that’s one gorgeous car! Anyone doing anything other than wash, wax and drive it should have their thumbs nailed to a handrail.
I can see a resale red & white respray, crate 350/TH 350 in it’s future. Hopefully I’m wrong. Too good to modify.
Sold for 30K Buyer and seller both came out fine at that price.
I would love to have this car just like it is. When I was fourteen, in 1955, a friend and I were hitch hiking to school one morning and got a ride in a car just like this. The owner had bought it just a few days before that and mentioned that he didn’t get a V8 because it was too new and unproven. It was a thrill for two kids who were already car guys, and other than girls, thought about and talked about cars more than anything else. I’m eighty now and still remember that ride.
Can only be original once which reflects price. Hopefully it stays in its original state and I would guess the the new owner will keep it as is.
Dang, what a beauty!
I think if you check the production numbers, the new V8 engine far outsold the 6 Cyl in 55.
Marty, you are correct that the V8 did outsell the six, but there a few engine failures with the V8’s, possibly due to not having an oil filter. The owner of the service station where I worked bought a new Bell Aire four door with V8,powerglide. He later put a four barrel carb and loud duel exhausts on it, and even with the two extra doors I thought it was nice. I put a lot of miles on it running errands for him even though I didn’t have a license. Different time, different attitudes. Good memories, but I won’t take up any more time.
How about an original invoice? The AC in my wagon looks like a factory unit, I guess it was dealer installed though.
I am the previous owner of this beauty. I am now 80. After a devastating stroke in 2018, affecting my left side, the one that pushes the clutch pedal, I decided to sell it on eBay. I bought it in Edmond, OK and the buyer was located not far from there in Tulsa, OK. I only drove it to Wednesday antique auto shows about two-miles away. It was my baby. Check out my license plate, “MOTOWN”. I often regret selling this car, as I am getting better each day. My son discovered this site and recognized the car. It does have original mileage. Good luck to who wins it. I always documented all my dealings of this car and kept the receipts, never thinking that I would ever part with it. I have owned dozens of 1955-57 Chevies. This one was a ‘keeper’ for sure. I gave my son a ’57 Vette, which he still has in his garage, never having driven it and he also has what was a mint 1957 150 model and has never driven it either, another beauty. I can’t take them with me. Mike