The Chevrolet Bel Air began as a special 2-door hardtop in 1950 and expanded to become Chevy’s top series in 1954. Carrying a higher level of interior and exterior trim, 248,750 copies of the Bel Air 4-door sedan were produced in ’54, and this example is one of them. Needing little besides a new place to call home, this “Bow-Tie” can be found in Aldergrove, British Columbia, and is available here on craigslist for $16,500 (CDN or USD?). Chalk up another neat tip from “Curvette.”
Chevrolet’s lineup got a styling re-do in 1953, and the names of the various series were changed. With a full redesign coming in 1955, the ‘54s were little changed, with the biggest giveaway maybe in the shape of the front turn signals. I once owned a ’53 210 2-door sedan with two-tone paint, like with the seller’s car, and the similarities are quite common. The 235 cubic-inch “Stovebolt” inline-6 was still the only engine choice as Chevy’s first V8 since 1918 wasn’t due until the “Tri-Fives” were launched in ’55.
We’re told the 63,000 miles showing on this Bel Air are original, much like most of the automobile. The car has escaped the rust bug in its 71 years, and the dark green portion of the paint job presents quite well. The white finish on the roof has some imperfections you could overlook or have redone. The interior is from 1954 and is nice, but dirty and needing some scrubbing.
New parts include the front brakes and muffler, and the “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission seemingly shifts as it should. The current owner may have had the vehicle since 1974, when an inspection sticker was applied that still remains. We’re told that maintenance has been consistent over the years, so we assume you could hop in and drive as far as you want. If this Chevy doesn’t have too many doors for you, it could be a great starter vehicle in the collector’s world.
Wild that this car is right down the road from me and I’ve never seen it out and about. Listing is deleted so maybe someone scooped it up.
Fun cruiser and cheap way into the car hobby.
In 1965 my sister helped another college student finish his Master’s thesis, and in payment he gave her a 1954 4 door Bel Air like this, except in the light blue and white color combination. They agreed it was worth about $100. She drove it for a few weeks then gave it to me. I drove it for about 6 months….nice car but it smoked a lot and I didn’t have money for a rebuild. We never changed the registration and just left it in a grocery store parking lot one day. Never saw it again.
I keep seeing this comment:”too many doors”. Everyone knows four door cars are more useful, no heavier and thus no meaningful performance penalty,vand besides, I happen to like the balanced symmetrical look of a four door car. More of us grew up with multi-door and “post” sedans in our families and neighborhoods than the sports coupes and convertibles that most of the classic car buffs seem to prefer. Besides the four door and “post” cars tended to end up at the crusher’s than the more collectible sports coupes and convertibles that tended to be more likely to be preserved this the rarity factor. My two cents rant, anyway
I keep seeing this comment:”too many doors”. Everyone knows four door cars are more useful, no heavier and thus no meaningful performance penalty,vand besides, I happen to like the balanced symmetrical look of a four door car. More of us grew up with multi-door and “post” sedans in our families and neighborhoods than the sports coupes and convertibles that most of the classic car buffs seem to prefer. Besides the four door and “post” cars tended to end up at the crusher’s than the more collectible sports coupes and convertibles that tended to be more likely to be preserved this the rarity factor. My two cents rant, anyway.
My Father bought a Royal Blue with White Roof new. It was the first new car he’d ever owned. If he was still alive (he would be 100 now), I’d buy this just to take him out for rides in it. He LOVED that Chevy.
Amen Dave….
I had a ‘53 BelAir convertible. Thought it looked better with ‘54 taillights, and ‘56 Olds “ spinner” hubcaps. Wish I had it back.
For the umpteenth time, if a car is listed in Canada, it is being sold in CANADIAN dollars and not US dollars unless it actually specifies the US dollar price in the ad… I don’t know why this is so hard to comprehend…
We old, and don’t think clearly!
That’s ok, I’m obviously old and cranky!