- Seller: Kerry H
- Location: Tryon, North Carolina
- Mileage: 53,423 Shown
- Chassis #: VC55T039507
- Title Status: Clean
UPDATE – The seller has added underside photos to the gallery below.
Few cars are as iconic as Chevrolet’s Tri-Five. They featured great styling and, when paired with the 265 V8, were popular with regular people and car nuts alike. The example seen here is a 1955 Bel Air project that retains its original 265 V8. The seller isn’t going to get around to restoring it, so they’ve decided to offer it here as a Barn Finds Auction! If you’d love to get this Bel Air back on the road, be sure to bid below.
The seller doesn’t know much about this ’55s history. The previous owner apparently prepped the engine for storage before parking it. Hopefully, that means getting it running again should be a reasonably simple task. The seller also states that the body has some signs of old bodywork and is rust-free and solid.
As you can see, the interior has been stripped, and the floors have been primed. They don’t appear to have ever been replaced. The seller provided photos of all the parts that came with the car, and it looks like all the major interior components are present. The rear seat doesn’t match the front, and there’s no word on which is original to the car. Thankfully, every piece needed to restore this car to its former glory is readily available.
The engine looks complete and original. Based on the intake, it appears to be the 162-horsepower 2-barrel version of the 265 V8. The 4-barrel version might be a bit more desirable, but it’s nice to see that this one hasn’t been modified. And if you need more power, there are plenty of bolt-on upgrades to give this engine more grunt.
The seller has provided photos of all the spare parts. Be sure to take a closer look at them in the photo gallery below. Hopefully, all the original trim parts are present. While those are being reproduced, they are pricey and don’t quite look like the original trim.
Getting this icon back on the road will be a big project, but it will be a worthwhile one. As each year passes, fewer examples are left, especially ones that haven’t been modified. Hopefully, its next owner will restore it to its former glory, but even if they decide to customize it, the important thing is that another one is on the road! If you have any questions for the seller, please leave them in the comments section.
Bid On This Auction
- chrisATK bid $12,500.00 2024-04-01 18:38:28
- Jake bid $12,250.00 2024-03-31 20:05:06
- chrisATK bid $11,500.00 2024-03-31 12:29:06
- ACcars1 bid $11,000.00 2024-03-30 07:22:26
- Jake bid $10,500.00 2024-03-27 19:48:59
- larryb102 bid $9,000.00 2024-03-27 19:33:40
- T bid $8,500.00 2024-03-27 14:25:43
- Pmsn bid $8,000.00 2024-03-27 08:52:23
- T bid $7,000.00 2024-03-27 06:27:34
- ACcars1 bid $6,300.00 2024-03-26 19:39:14
- Toby bid $5,600.00 2024-03-26 13:18:12
Dream of buying a 55 like this. In my late 60s, my good friend restores classics to any level customer asks. I would restore this to a daily driver in “GOOD” condition. These cars where made to be driven in the USA roads.
Had this dream for years and will until I realize it.
I’d have to get my soon to be 6 year old master puzzle wiz grandson to put all the chrome & other 999 pcs back on correctly. It would only cost me a few trips to DQ. Good grief!!! 😂 😂 😂
Wonder what it looks like under all that Bondo and coats of paint!
All the bubbly areas you see is rust. This car shows large areas of rust that’s been covered up, and is now coming through where the repair material isn’t as thick. There is a chance the repairs were done in lead, and I say that because it isn’t falling out like bondo usually does as it ages, (unless the air is blocked off on the back side).
It looks like someone tried a less than amateur repair on the rear package tray between the glass and front edge of the deck lid. Fiberglass to metal doesn’t last, plus that area being rusted is a tell all. If you look close you’ll see lots a areas rusted through, and it’s had lots of rust repairs in the past that are expiring.
Yes, I’m a old body man.
My second car in about 1960 was this car, in green and white with 3 speed on the column. I loved that car and keep wanting another, not sure if this could be the one. It has a nice steering wheel and needs everything else.
Had these shoved down my throat as a car loving kid, then I grew up, and realized they had nothing over a “Tri-five” Ford. There ya go Chevy heads, lay it on me lol. But this chiv does look like maybe a good one to start with. As old chivs go. But I’m not a total hater, my first car was a 46 chiv sedan, $75 bucks when I was 13 years old, had a blast with it on are farm. Great memories
“The seller doesn’t know much about this ’55s history.” And what he does know he is trying to forget.
Well, it’s got power (f disc?) brakes, but no power steering. Pretty sure somebody ordered this as opposed to dealer inventory. Not a bad car, really. Couple of things don’t belong in this picture: the steering wheel as stated, the am/fm radio (although it’s a GM radio), the “upholstery” I don’t know, but man, for 3,300 beans back in the day…
I’ve seen much less to start with. Sure, there’s going to be rust is a nearly 70 year old vehicle, but this one looks pretty solid other than the rocker area, which is a normal rust out spot. Dirt gets trapped in there, the drains get clogged and wet mud and water stand there, eventually rotting away the structure. Every panel you need is reproduced for this car making it a much easier restoration. After removing all the trim and glass, you sandblast to get down to the good metal. Then it’s just a matter of cut, weld, smooth until all the rot is gone. No, you’re not going to get it done in a weekend and if you have to pay someone it will cost more than the car, but if you are capable of metal work, right now this car is still a bargain. Most of the ones left are rotted up to the door handles. This would make a great resto mod with a later 350, 700R4, AC, PS, and PB, all bolt in stuff that could go back original if someone wanted to go that route, but I don’t see why anybody would.
I would!! A survivor deserves to be kept original!!
Hey Bo I’m a Chevy guy & Love all the cars That GM & Chevy put out back in the day ;I’m no body man but this car if to far gone w rust would make a great parts car for another better condition car ?! & if this car is savable it would take few years &$$ but maybe worth it if the person don t mind taking few years to make it Road worthy?! Good luck to who buys this so called gem & like 1 person said there’s not many solid 1 s left out there ??!
Remember seeing an elderly gentleman driving one like it in a small town in SC when I used to drive a truck to a factory close by that town. It was turquoise and white and looked like new, seen him in a few times but haven’t been through there in about 15 years…
Video on You Tube of a woman that still drives her 57 Chevy daily since she purchased in new in 1957. General upkeep and maintenance all these years. Many same stories with these tri 5’s. Built to last with just maintenance.
I am in my late 60s now and watched many vehicles come into the market place….I even sold new vehicles for a dealership. For most of us….only way to get our money worth is keep up with maintenance and drive a well built car / truck for many years. I raised my two children as a single parent this way and proved to them and others, keep up with maintenance and well built vehicles will last many many years. This 55 Chevy is worth bring back to the roads of America.
Can anyone tell me what that thing is that is where the rear bumper would normally be?
I believe that is the stock rear bumper missing the end pieces. I think that’s how it was done back then.🤔
Thanks Robert, I figured that out right after I posted and there are no take backs.
Nobody else will say it so I will. Due to the lack of V8 emblems under the tail lights this car is obviously a born with 6 cylinder engine. So, a daily driver is the best thing left for this car as it can never be shown in the circuits.
There’s two holes under each t/l for the emblems
The VIN starts with a V, which denotes that it’s a factory V8 car.
Looks like the holes For the v8 emblems are there under the tail lights.just no emblems
You don’t know what you’re talking about!! Why would an 8 cyl 265 be transplanted in the car when soooo many better options were available!! Even a 283!!
The passenger door looks it has a mutant bulldog decal on it.
It’s obvious this car needs work but in my humble opinion it’s no where near as bad as people are saying. I have also been a body man for more years than I care to admit and if I were to work on this Monday through Friday, 8 hours a day. I could have this maybe not show quality but very respectable driver quality within a year or less. It obviously has had a couple “FOUR” paint jobs in it’s life but I really don’t think it’s that bad. Then again, it would be nice to see underneath. It makes me wonder if people are trying to hide something when they don’t show all of the car they’re selling. If this person truly has other projects getting in the way of getting this one being finished then they should know that. Could be nice and not as many 2 door hardtops as there used to be. Hopefully the seller lets it go at a reasonable price and the new owner takes the time to make it a good car again.
Doing the math, you would be willing to put 16,640 hours on that car? Plus parts and materials? Seems to me for that kind of investment you could pick up a turn key show ready 55 hardtop.
Sorry for the bad math. It would actually be 2080 hours labor.
Touch it up,put some mags and pipes on the old girl .then get out there and make some great memories.enjoy the ride.
Gasser candidate.
🏁
Would feel better seeing pictures of undercarriage
Need to get your number this is chrisatk 912 602 4435
Rear bumper is a three piece bumper that’s the center section and the left and right wrap around pieces bolt onto that The 2 seams where they join are covered with 2 bumperettes all the parts are in the parts pictures
The big question here is what shape is the frame in ? Sheet metal is replaceable the frame is not!
Why is the frame not replaceable!!?? Or any frames for that matter!!
Replacing a frame isn’t much work, but it’s kinda expensive. A upgraded rolling chassis from Eklers is about 20k, and a lesser one starts around 5k I think.
Ya know if you buy a western states car it’s not difficult to get a solid car that’s not a rust bucket, and the prices are usually pretty good.
I know that Bo I was calling out Dom as it seems he’s more of a troll than he knows what he’s talking about!!
Fellas…fellas….this is Barn Finds. Lets let folks say what they wish and let other folks suss out the value of the comment. There are ways of pointing out inaccurate comments without the personal attacks. We dont want to go down the road of the rest of the internet :)
We are car guys and gals….not trolls.
I had a ’56 4 door hardtop in canary yellow. I paid $ 250 bucks for it in …..1972. I love looking at the 55-56 dashboards. The twin V’s of the speedometer and the passenger side set my pulse to racing :)
I hope whoever gets this car ends up putting it back together and returns to show us the finished car.
I stand to be corrected on my comment What I meant to say is sheet metal is repairable a frame is not You don’t want to weld in patch pieces and compromise the structural integrity of the frame. A replacement is the only option which is costly .Not worth it with this car .I have owned 3 of these in the past 20 years and Rocco keep your sarcastic name calling to yourself
Are you that sensitive!! Then you shouldn’t be on here!! It’s not a matter for you to decide what’s it’s worth it or not unless you are buying the car!!No you don’t stand corrected or substantiated until pics of the frame is revealed!! The seller went through great pains on detailed pictures!!
Frames have been replaced and reconstructed on cars now for years..Not like back in the day ..if you had a broken frame..you sold the car for parts .But now they replace front clips, z them, fish plate or just put another frame underneath .No rust in the floors..big Plus ..This is a terrific candidate for a builder..And lots of the necessary parts to do so .The passion is there for the sole bidder..No doubts..I’d buy silver f I could .
The black and white rear seat is from a ’56 Chevy. It’s not the correct pattern for a ’55.
When I was young and didn’t know anything, I might have seen a car like this and thought, “I can do the bodywork, it will just take some time!” At some point I bought a ‘55 Ford that was actually in better shape than this Chevy and quickly discovered I was in over my head as far as bodywork goes. I sold it to a buddy who ended giving up on it too. As the guy in the movie says, a man has to know his limitations!
Some how that philosophy doesn’t work anymore when !!
get yourself a couple gallons of POR15,1 gallon of rustoleum red primer,2 cans clear undercoating, body shotz gun, 2 or 3 immigrants, 1 mechanic, add 1 new battery, 10 gallons of gas, 1 can carb cleaner, 1can of break cleaner,install the seat, by April 15th you could be cruisin, please send pics, thank you & lots of luck,tommyboy……. chev4evr
🤣🤣🥰🥰🥰✌️👍