With July 4 rapidly approaching, we will soon be inundated with references to all things America. Hot dogs, apple pie, baseball, fireworks, and all that. For car buffs, there are a few vehicles that we can attach an unabashedly American pedigree. Standing on this pedestal along with the Ford Model T, 1959 Cadillac, and the 1965 Mustang is the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. From the eye catching styling to the new for 1955 V-8 engine, these cars were some of the best things to come out of 1950s America. If you have a desire to put a restorable piece of Americana in your garage, then take a look at this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air found on ebay in historic Boston, Massachusetts. While the bidding is at $7,900, the seller promises a low reserve.
1955 was probably the most influential year in Chevrolet’s history. Long known as a reliable economy car, Chevrolets were not regarded as the choice for performance minded drivers. Ford sewed that reputation up with the introduction of the Flathead V-8 in 1932. All that changed in 1955 when Chevrolet started punching out V-8s of their own. Ed Cole, then president of the Chevrolet Division of General Motors, hired Smokey Yunick to build a 1955 Chevrolet stock car to run in the Southern 500 at Darlington, South Carolina. When Smokey asked Cole why he wanted to go through the trouble and expense, Cole told him that he wanted Chevrolets to be the car of choice for younger customers. Smokey’s win at Darligton with Herb Thomas at the wheel helped to move Chevrolet’s “Stovebolt” image to one of performance. Performance sells, especially to the young.
From those humble beginnings in 1955, millions of cars have found versions of the original Chevrolet small block V-8 under their hood. As for the car, sales took off, and Chevrolets from 1955 through 1957 never really faded away as most older models do. Collectors have always loved these cars, and customizers and hot rodders have unleashed thousands of highly personalized versions on the public. The Chevy we see here is one of the most desirable from that year. It is a two door hardtop, with Bel Air trim. Unfortunately, it will take a lot of work to get this nifty Chevy back to show condition.
As you can see from the pictures, it has been a while since this car has been cruising America’s highways. However, despite some rusty areas, the car is basically solid. The seller lists six places on the car where rust repairs will have to be made. This list is backed up with numerous pictures to document the extent of the damage. None of the areas exhibit catastrophic amounts of rust, and aftermarket vendors sell both patch and full panels for these cars at reasonable prices. The overwhelming popularity of these cars makes finding parts easy. Just bring your VISA card.
Unfortunately, the original engine and transmission are long gone. Chevrolet’s reliable but boring inline six cylinder was what the car was originally equipped with, backed up by a two speed Powerglide automatic. This powertrain combination is easily found if you wanted to restore the car to original condition. Otherwise, there are about 100 million small block V-8s out there that would look good under the hood. You just have to figure out where you want to go with your build.
If it were mine, I’d restore it to mostly factory original. It would be a sin to not to refinish the car in its original white and turquoise color combination, and a set of Corvette rally wheels would complete that old school look. Under the hood, a nicely built small block backed up by a modern automatic transmission would help it scoot down the road just fine. Inside, a factory interior cooled by a Vintage Air setup would be just fine. This car, despite some rust issues, is a great canvas to create your own piece of Americana.
How would you finish it out?
Automatic? Aye, right…
If I had a blank canvas then that’d be the bottom of my list.
The first car I ever bought myself was a 55 Belair 2dr hardtop. Mine had a 327 and Saginaw 4speed when I got it. I beat that car to death! If I’d known then what I see now I might have been easier on it, but that’s wisdom that only comes with age. If I was young enough to do the restoration myself, I’d consider taking a closer look.
I think a lot of us could say that, Rustytech. We’re had cars/trucks/bikes that were once just old vehicles in our youth that are now valuable.
I fear that this Bel Air has a lot of tinworm, but is restorable. It’s certainly a blank canvas for whatever the new owner wants to take it.
Derek, it’s not that difficult to turn this into a manually-shifted machine. A lot were done during my misspent youth in SoCal, back in the 1960s.
My first car in 1978 was a 1955 Belair two door hardtop,,,, 327 corvette eninge tied to a four speed…. Jet black and corvette seats… Mr Gasket inline shifter…
I also dragged and beat the crap out of it… I once rebuilt the engine for winding it up to much between shifts to win a drag race..
Those were the dazed and confused days of fun..
I would drop a 396 BB with a four speed and a 12 bolt rear end… disc brake conversion… power steering upgrade and modern AC…
Drats the radio and speaker is gone……Hard to find and looks nice in the holes in the dash
Trying to be positive, love 55/57. Guess it could be something compared to a lot. OK.. I will say it… I remember when this was throw away, get a 60’s muscle car… Now 60’s muscle cars look like this too. I am going electric…. Scooter.
The 55 is the only year that I like from the Tri-5’s. I’m getting too old to go puttin’ them back together. Let’s see if my comment appears since I disabled Ad Blocker :)
This is the car to put a 454 in
No too heavy you can get just as much horse power from the right small block?
Forget the 454 id go 327 and rockcrusher
I say restore it and add a 350 and 700r to it. Modern brakes and rear axle. Basically the drive line out of a 90’s impla. Would work I’d even use the throttle body injection. This car is old enough now that it should NOT get a big over powered engine put in it. If that happens it will just get driven into the ground and be destroyed. This should be made into a nice weekend cruiser with kind treatment in its old age. Who knows if you do that and introduce it to a grand son or daughter you just might have a new generation gear head.
So many people don’t know what the word restored means. It doesn’t mean 350 and 700r4 in a 55 chevy .
I would make a copy of the two Lane Blacktop car. Tunnel rammed big block backed by a rockcrusher and a 12 bolt. Straight axle with a tilt front fiberglass front end. And race that beast to death!!!
Convert to a stick? Sure my 1957 Chevy convertible had a 3 speed with a broken Foxcraft floor shifter and the powerglide quadrant on the column. Very typical.
My friend had a 1954 Ford he would switch from auto to stick just because he could. He changed the sterring column to fit the current transmission.
My uncle had a 55′ Bel Air that I tried many times to talk him out of. It was 1975 in Sacramento CA and I was in my senior year in high school when it was stolen. I was heart sick and wanted to file a police report but my uncle didn’t want to bother the police.
Its just an old car was his reasoning.
Hey, looks like mine, well, one of the three 55s I have, can you guess my fav car?. There are a lot of options for modernization, frames that take C4 Vette suspensions, bolt on tubular A arms, etc, just depends on your bank balance. Check Trifive.com for almost anything you need to know.
My oldest brother (now deceased) had one of these way back when they were new cars. His was light green/white two tone. It had a 265 V8 three on the tree. For the time it was pretty fast. I could see someone dropping 20 or 30 grand into this machine for nastalgia purposes only. Make a nice cruise night show piece. Please don’t make a gasser out of it, there’s plenty of those out there and they can never be brought back to a street driver.
Could be a nice starting point, if the price doesn’t get too out of hand.
LS with a GMC blower would add some nice bling.
I like others commenting that a 55 BelAir 2dr. HT was my first car. 15 years old when I bought it for $125. It was a 265 powerglide. Now I’m 70 and just completed a 55 150 2dr sedan. Pulling out the 327 and putting in a 302 I just finished, Muncie 4 speed and 411 12 bolt. Trying to relive my youth with a high revving screamer I had back in the 60’s. 12.80’s at 105 mph. is not screaming these days but it sure was fun back then.
A Bore and stroked 6 Liter Jaguar V12 to 8 Liter or larger and a 6 speed automatic transmission would be nice and very odd….
Had a bunch of these 55-6-7s in the neighborhood in the 60s. Cheap, cammed 283s, 327s, 292, 301s bored stroked versions…4spds…3:70 and 4:11 gears.. mostly non posi…All junk yard upgrades. Except Doug’s green and white 55 hdtp in 1971. Body and interior stock, with a Z28 69 302, headers, and 3:56 posi if I remember right. Most of the 60s 55s had an ok dash and front seat…primered all over body is perfectly OK if you don’t have the money. Hard part done …getting the worn out engine out….Add new wire harnesses, but OH GOD…not another 350…jesus….Try a 327 with Corvette 2x4s…4x2s, 6x2s…or some kind of odd multiple carbs. Old school all the way…no chrome engine parts….no aftermarket new valve covers…Steel wheels 14″ from a 64 Chev/deeper. Do the interior before the body using stock looking aftermarket interior pieces. TH350 trans w/shift kit, with steering column after market linkage kit that looks stock.
I’m 55..wish I had a 55 wouldn’t have to go 145mph..just a 300hp 350 with a cam ,4spd,456 gear and a great exhaust note.so I could come out a the hole quick and cruise..wow..stuff dreams r made of
IS this still for sale?
Call me a 2483086778 or email me at mshewbri54@mail.com.