The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air has been a staple of the classic scene for decades, and spotless examples command impressive prices. That left enthusiasts in a quandary. Many wished to buy into the Bel Air lifestyle but didn’t have the available cash required to turn a ’57 model from a dream to a reality. They started turning their attention to the rest of the Tri-Five range, and those cars have developed a similar following. This ’56 Bel Air is a case in point. It is a spotless and largely unmolested survivor with 66,000 miles on the clock. It has attracted enormous interest since the seller listed it here on eBay in Miami Beach, Florida. Bidding sits at $28,100 in a No Reserve auction.
This Bel Air is a striking car wearing the Code 717 paint combination of Laurel Green and Crocus Yellow. The paint shines beautifully, and while the seller doesn’t mention it, I believe the car received a past restoration. The lack of exterior flaws is one potential indication, while the powdercoated frame and undercoated floors are another. The result of this TLC is that not only does the vehicle present superbly, but it is rust-free. The panels are laser straight, and the gaps are tight and consistent. I can’t spot any issues with the glass, but it is the trim that might stand as a highlight. It sparkles beautifully under the sun and offers a classy contrast to the color combination. The steel wheels wear their original hubcaps and are wrapped in whitewall tires that add the perfect finishing touch to the exterior.
If this Bel Air’s exterior makes a positive impression, its interior is no less impressive. It is trimmed in a combination of Charcoal cloth and Ivory vinyl. The seller mentions leather in the listing, but I remain unconvinced since Chevrolet didn’t offer that material in 1956. The lack of wear or other marks further supports my belief of previous restoration, although a pampered classic of this age with 66,000 miles on the clock could feature a well-preserved interior as we see here. The painted surfaces are spotless and shine beautifully. There is no wear on the wheel and no aftermarket additions beyond floormats. The bright trim pieces help lift the overall presentation, and I don’t doubt it receives favorable comments wherever this classic goes.
Chevrolet offered potential buyers in 1956 the 265ci V8 in a wide variety of specifications. I believe this may be the entry-level version producing 170hp. The original owner selected a two-speed Powerglide transmission to take care of shifting duties, while this Chevy also features power steering. With the Bel Air tipping the scales at 3,480lbs, performance from this combination could be described as modest. It would take 19.3 seconds to cover the ¼ mile, although it should happily cruise all day at freeway speeds. Apart from a later steering pump, this classic’s engine bay looks pretty original. The seller claims it has covered 66,000 genuine miles, but they don’t mention supporting evidence. It is worth noting that the speedometer and odometer show metric measurements, meaning that although the odometer reads 7,589, that figure represents 107,589 kilometers, which equates to the quoted miles. The seller states this Bel Air has formed part of a private collection and has been carefully maintained for the past thirty-five years. It starts and runs perfectly, with the V8 growling through the dual exhaust. They say it is ready to go on whatever journey the next owner chooses.
If you ever doubted the desirability of the 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air, you need to look no further than our feature car. The auction opened at a buck but took a mere two days to attract the fifty-eight bids that pushed it to the current figure. The listing has just reached the halfway point, leaving plenty of time for someone to stake their claim. The car’s overall condition and originality should see the action race past $35,000, and I wouldn’t rule out $40,000 before the hammer falls. Are you tempted to throw your hat into the ring for this classic, or has the 1956 Bel Air joined the ’57 by becoming beyond your reach?
A stunning, well detailed vehicle of superior
quality. Looks to have an upgrade or 2. This
is a wonderful example I’d be proud to own!
Is that color combo also named ”Custard and Mustard”?
Beautiful car, monder why it has the speedo in metric, metric system arrived in Canada in 1978 not before.
I’ve heard it referred to as “puke and pee” too. Just sayin’
Odometer says 76K not 66K. I didn’t notice the speedo in KM’s. Not correct as in 56 Canada was still MPH as said earlier. I can remember my Dad putting little stickers they sold over the speedo on his 1972 Datsun truck to change to KM when they switched over.
Odometer looks to be 7589.2 to me. So if the odometer is original then it’s over 100K. If the odometer was set to 0 on a rebuild then who knows what was on it before. Overall the car looks good but be careful.
Shift selector shows 3 speeds not the 2 I would expect to see with the 2 speed slip and slide.
If you look at the blown up pictures on ebay it looks like a lot of filler on drivers side sill below the door,bad door fitment on same door and mismatched paint on hood……..probably want to check this one out in person before buying
Not to pick nits, but as previously pointed out, tri-fives didn’t come with 3 speed automatics. No shoulder belts either and I’m not sure there is adequate metal under the headliner to anchor one safely. Also, no heater controls (has a delete panel) which is uncommon and certainly makes no sense if the car was used in Canada as some have speculated. The US speedometers only reached 120 so something is funny about the 180 unless there actually were metric units that I’m unaware of. A VIN tag and trim tag would really be helpful in this case.
Actually, the speedometer only went to 110 MPH on 55 and 56 models.
This one sure caught my eye. My parents bought a ’56 Bel Air 4 door sedan used in 1960 with the same color combination. My brother said it was yellow and goat vomit green. Not sure where he came up with that line but we still laugh about it. The yellow was appropriate because it was a bit of a lemon. I was only one when they bought it and five when they traded it for a new ’65 Impala 2 dr. hardtop so I don’t remember what issues it had but it sure looked good. I’d love to have this one but no room for it and a little out of my price range. Good luck to the next owner.
The Speedo is definitely in Kmh because if it were MPH it would only go as high as 120. Also, If it is a Turboglide, there the transmission would read PNDLR.
Turboglide did not arrive until the 57 model year.
You MEANT Turbo-Hydramatic, NOT Turboglide. Two entirely different transmissions.
I love the 1950’s two tone paint combinations on all makes and models for the most part, but this color combo…not so much!
Whatever it is, it is not “original”, but it is very good looking. As a classmate revealed at our 50th high school reunion, so young and gorgious looking compared to the rest of the women in the class, that I wondered whose trophy wife she was, “I’ve had a lot of work done.”
I agree that if it is a Powerglide it would read PNDLR. I’m thinking a 3 speed turbo has been installed and the indicator reflects correctly for that.
To be honest, that’s a nice touch, [if deviating from stock that is]
Beautiful Car but too rich for my pocketbook. I would like to find a 55 Chevy Convertible that needs some restoration at a price I could afford. I miss the one I sold when old uncle sam called.
I’ve always liked the ’56s more than the other Tri-Fives.
Me too.
Lots of question marks here. eBay ad says the frame has been powder coated. I can’t see how that could happen unless you completely stripped the frame, which of course means body off.
A quick google search found that there are a couple (at least) aftermarket kmh speedos for ’56 Chevies. It could have been converted for a Canadian owner, but the original mileage was probably lost in the process.
There are things in the door jambs, rubber bumpers, dome light switches etc. that are painted but shouldn’t be.
Why is the driver’s seat wrapped in plastic but not the rest of the seats?
The gas tank looks pretty hammered.
A dual master cylinder, a good thing. What looks like copper brake lines, a bad thing.
There was no dual master cylinder in 1956. It was a single master cylinder. If you purchase an after market dual cylinder, it would require that you change the front drum brakes to a disc brake setup.
Laser straight it’s not.
Blow up the pictures and it’s obvious.
Original, not so much either…
Why are my comments not posting? I am a member.
@John Maxson – First-time comments are always held for moderation. You should be good to go now though. Thanks!