Chevrolet hit gold with the redesign of their 1955 automobiles. Over the next three years, they would sell nearly five million copies of what would become known as the “Tri-Fives” (1955-57). The Bel Air continued as the upscale model compared to the 210s and 150s. The seller’s car has the feel of a survivor, but the paint and interior look nicer than that. Located in Prosser, Washington, this 4-door beauty is available here on craigslist for $14,500. Thumbs up to “Curvette” for another Bow-Tie tip.
The big news for ’55 was the resurrection of a V8 engine, the first one in a Chevy since 1918. It displaced 265 cubic inches and would eventually grow to 400 as a small block. The seller’s car didn’t get treated to one, instead being built with the 235 CI “Blue Flame” inline-6 (which was also the starting engine in the Corvette). Out of 1.78 million Chevrolets produced in 1955, 366,000 were Bel Air 4-door sedans like this one.
This Bel Air has been with the seller since 2020, taking it out for jaunts to local car shows. The odometer says 40,000 miles, but the counter has turned over, so it might be one of the best looking 140,000 classics out there. Besides the economical six-banger, this Chevy also has the standard “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. We’re told this is a solid running ride, ready for the next show.
The two-tone white over blue paint looks great, and we assume all the body panels have no issues. The interior is equally sweet, though the seat covers have probably been redone. Sporting aftermarket wheels, this could be a great car for a first-time vintage car owner. Does that include you?
I’ll spare the readers the “stick schtick” and focus on the car. Look at the very next post, the red ’55 convertible,,,about 2 of the most opposite ends of the spectrum if I ever saw it. Take this car, basic as plain toast, but in ’55, this was a major deal for the family. Manufacturing was full steam ahead by 1955, and the folks that got out of their war torn countries after the war, by ’55 finally saved enough for a new Shevelay. At $1.65/hr., the average wage then, it took a while. They checked a few boxes, trim mostly, but not much else. This car cost pa just over $2grand, a lot of money in 1955. Got a chuckle out of the seller, who clearly knows nothing about the car,,,”3 speed on the wheel”? ON THE WHEEL? IT’S COLUMN, 3 SPEED ON THE COLUMN”….I hope you got as much enjoyment as I did. I don’t think the price is too out of line, but little chance of any sale with the stick. And that’s the way it is.
“3 on the tree”, as we used to like to call it. But I agree, Howard, not the wheel. Never heard it referred to that way before. Really like the car, too. Very nice just the way it is.
While the 2 door hardtop ’55 BelAir is my favorite in the looks dept. I’m very drawn to the 4 doors. And one like this, even with the 6 and the stick is right up my alley. I’d be very happy to own this one. Love the chrome smoothies too maybe just add a set of more period correct white wall tires.
Holy guacamole! We have two ’55 Chevies with 6 cylinders! Back to back. This sure beats a bunch of overpriced rusted out Mopars that’s for sure! This one also needs the Offenhauser split manifold treatment, and with a 3-speed one could make that engine snarl! I notice, this being only a 4-door post, is going for a lot less than the convertible. I also like the wheels on this.
I love everything about this Tri-Five Chevrolet — 4 doors, an indestructible Blue Flame inline-6, and a 3-on-the-tree. Sounds like perfection to me. I had a very early 1967 Camaro with the 250 cu. in. inline-6 and 3-on-the-tree transmission. Get an Offenhauser split manifold like Terry suggested and run dual pipes together (not split) to the back. I wish I had the means to buy this car since I would in an instant.
These are built like tanks. Had a 210, model. Was hit from behind on freeway. Car rolled over and landed on roof. Four of us survived with only some scratches. Poor car was totaled.
My first car – drove to high school. 4 dr 210 – black. I believe the Blue Flame moniker was reserved for the Corvette version with a bit higher compression and the 3 side draft carbs. These tanks had a similar “Stovebolt” 6 – 235 cubes.
Gotta love an old Chevy – plain, simple, easy to drive and service. Makes me wonder what the world has come to – what with all the electronics, sensors, computers, etc. on everything that comes across the dealer lot these days. Just about the only thing electronic on this car was the AM radio and the clock on the passenger-side dash. Inline 6’s seem to be virtually indestructible, and that 3 on the tree harkens back to a time when simplicity was actually almost elegant. Nice old Chevy.
I’m sure the clock was mechanical, not electronic
The clocks were mechanical in that they were like the old school wind up clocks, but electric in the fact that they were wound by and electric motor. That way you didn’t have to manually wind the clock, and it wasn’t a constant draw on the battery.
As my father used to say “its a 6 banger with a hand shaker” love these, had a 56 when I got out of the Army in ’86, drove that baby from Ft Hood TX to Orlando FL, stop for gas, that was it. GLWTS
Had an old maid aunt with one just like this one, except hers had factory air. Same color combo. I’d love to have it!
Factory A/C wasn’t available on ’55 Chevies with the Stovebolt 6 – only on Bel Air’s and 210’s with the 265 V8.
I think you’re right Michael. My Folks had a 57 6 w/factory air. 4 door hardtop, same color combo, but a 210. We drove it to Cuba! Aunt Tommye’s musta had a 265. By the way, I think the price is very fair, it won’t last long.
I grew up in a 67 Chevelle 230 six, 3 on the tree 300 series. Only option on that car was am radio. Folks took it out west with two younger brothers and sister to Yellowstone and I don’t know where else. Hard to imagine…no air either! 4 out of 7 of us kids drove that car after Dad got done with it…shifter wore out and got moved to the floor…pretty sure it was close to 300k miles when it finally gave up. Lots of value for a $2300 car! Those days are gone forever. This 55 reminds me of the old Chevelle. It’d be fun to tool around with! I like the red convertible too but I’d rather have the blue one, especially for the price diff!
To desoto dave and Bellingham Fred. These clocks were like a Westclox $2.98 drugstore pocket watch inside — bare bones basic — non precision — virtually indestructable. Their winding was done with a solenoid: the points would touch when it ran down, the solenoid would kick, and you’d get about six minutes of running-time, before the same thing would happen again. So, about every six or seven minutes, you’d hear a little “clunk” re-winding the clock. Very low-tech. Very effective. And these clocks, by about 1954, had self-regulation. So, if your clock lost a couple of minutes, then you simply set it forward to the correct time. Then the next day it might lose only 1 minute and 45 seconds. Each time you corrected the clock, it got closer and closer to keeping the correct time: not like quartz — a little crude and primitive — but it got the job done: you didn’t expect a “ticking” car-clock to keep absolute time. They also were affected by ambiant air temperature, to boot. But if you were within five minutes or less, that usually was good enough, for all practical purposes. It gave your friendly car-clock a warm touch of humanity — unlike that quartz clock which has no personality at all, and might lose or gain about ten seconds a week — consistently — week after week — and nothing you can do about it — stubborn and inanimate as a fence-post.
As for THIS particular ’55 Bel Air four door: I could enjoy it IF IT HAD ITS ORIGINAL WHEELS AND HUB CAPS AND PERIOD TYRES (either black wall or white wall). I instinctively distrust a car that has had “rock’n’-roll” touches added, such as custom wheels and hub-caps white-lettered tyres, and fuzzy dice. When a former owner has had that mindset, I want nothing to do with the car. KEEP IT AS GRANDPA DROVE IT!!!