1956 would be the second year of the “Tri Five” Chevies and they sold like hotcakes. More than 1.6 million would be built that year, including this Bel Air convertible, one of 41,883. Sadly, this drop-top was damaged in a carport fire in 1979, and – while partially disassembled – it has never recovered from that catastrophe. Sitting where it may have been when the fire started, it needs a significant restoration and – other than the coveted Nomad sport wagon – may be the most desirable of the body styles. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the car is available here on eBay where the bidding has touched $10,700.
The owner of this once proud rag top bought the car in 1964 and used it as his daily driver until 1979. That’s when he went off on vacation and came home to find that the carport had burned off his house while he was away, and the Bel Air was sitting right under it. Amazingly the tires all still held air and the engine would run, but the top, interior, and glass were all beyond being salvageable. He debated about five years as to what to do with the sad machine and then let a “car guy” friend of his start taking it apart but that didn’t get far.
It’s hard to let things like this go and it’s taken 37 years for the seller to decide that time has come. Sitting for all these years has taken its toll on the overall car, not just the part that the fire originally got to. Somewhere in the disassembly process, it looks as though part of the passenger side rear quarter was cut out, so new sheet metal will at least include that section. The interior of the car is full of parts and pieces as is the rest of the carport, so we assume the automobile is still complete, just scattered about.
Since there’s a V8 under the hood, we assume it’s the 265 cubic inch engine that was new in 1955. It’s paired with an automatic transmission, likely the Powerglide. No mention is made if any of this is original to the car, and we doubt anything here is near to operating at this stage. Interest in the car has gotten 38 bids so far, which leads me to think at least some believe this is a restorable car. NADA suggests that it could be a $90,000 automobile if brought back to its former glory.
Same car, different story. From a craigslist ad :
My grandfather bought this car in May of 1964 and drove it as his daily commuter car until his carport had an electrical malfunction and caught fire in the summer of 1978 and unfortunately the car was burned as well The car has been moved a total of 2 times since then. Alot of the parts are completely shot, but there still is alot of car and could be a great restoration job for a reseller or someone looking to redo one. We are having to put him in hospice care and really hate to get rid of it, but really have no other choice. This car was a true love of his, and we want it to go to someone who will show it love and care. We are gonna post it in a couple of different places in hopes of having a quick/seamless sale. All of us want it to go to someone who will return it to its former glory. Me and my sister will be in the area Monday morning until around 2 on Tuesday. Serious buyers only please. We don’t like our time being wasted. If you inquire about it, please have the common courtesy to call at a decent time.
I hope someone returns this to original and not another resto mod. My favorite of the tri-fives easily. Godd luck
’56 is also my favorite year of the Tri-Five Chevys.I hope somebody restore this classic to its former glory. It’s worth saving.
Big project. Worth a lot when done.
A lot of work but well worth the resto to original form.