Somebody cared about this car at one time. It’s a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door hardtop, originally Shoreline Beige and Gypsy Red, and it’s on eBay in Hooper, Nebraska with a bit more than a day left and bids around the $3,000 mark. Those bidders are being generous.
The Bel Air looks like it saw more than a few winters in Hooper, Nebraska. While out there, kids or yahoos shot out the back window, and nearly ever panel on the car rusted irredeemably. There are huge holes everywhere. That’s why the owner suggests that this once-lovely car is “perfect for a new ’55 hardtop steel body, like that from New Deal.” These are indeed available, though if you want doors, dash, quarter panels and decklid, it will cost you $21,500. You will still need front fenders, hood, and a complete interior.
The new steel body idea is dependent on the chassis being intact, and that’s by no means guaranteed here. “We don’t know anything about” the engine, the vendor says.
The owner suggests that the OEM front and rear seat are reusable, as is the stainless trim. Maybe that hood can be reused, and the bumpers straightened and rechromed. The grille and the front turn signals aren’t too bad. The title is clear, and there’s a V-8 VIN and cowl tag. Under the hood is a 265-cubic-inch V-8, and some kind of three-speed manual transmission with a nice-looking floor shifter. This is where the car looks like someone cared—there’s also a set of aftermarket instruments still hanging in there.
The critical question is whether the effort is justified. The 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop is not a rare bird—it was a banner year for sales. There are a bunch of other ‘55s just on eBay, including a really nice restored two-door post car that’s now bid to around $15,000. The reserve’s not met, but still.
An average result for recent sales of fully restored Tri-Five Bel Airs is $68,397, says Classic.com. They’re definitely very popular. But the old adage of “buy the best car you can find” would seem to apply here. This one is very rusty!
Maybe for parts for the Citroen?
Maybe if you have the talent and a lot of money
Why would you want to? Not enough left to justify the expense to rebuild it and besides, tri-fives are a dime a dozen.
“Hey Paw lets drag that chebby dats out inn da desert and put it on dis ebay thing. Ah saw wun on Mecum dat sode for 50 thousand” Sure you can fix it, or possibly a parts car, but basically you are buying the VIN. These arent that hard to get. Let me bore you some more. Sold the rottenest 55 chev conv on flea bay, that you ever saw. Gentleman that bought it for 5700 was glad to get one at a reasonable price! I said reasonable?? this is the most rotten POS I ever saw, I told him. He was glad to get it. Off to texas it goes. Started on it in february, won first place on fathers day that year. Only thing he used was the vin, top assy and firewall. Talk about fast tracking a project. I know I’m comparing apples to oranges, but given the coin and talent, you can fix anything. Disclaimer- many scam bidders here. No more caffeine for me today. Sorry for being long winded.
Cheers
GPC
Amen Gas, and like wise Cheers.
That grill shor looks purty.
Having owned several tri 5s I noticed this has very deep dish wheels a 60s out back wonder what rear end is in it , maybe be some narrowing .
If I had a ton of money setting around and weekend’s with nothing but time on my hands and tons of fiberglass with some spray paint maybe & then find some Chevy boy with alot of money with no since, just kidding. Maybe something special here.
Why would you buy it if you have to replace the body?? They aren’t cheap! Just continue on with a complete Art Morrison or Roadster Shop frame! What the hell, get the monster crate motor! Spend your children’s inheritance!
The required time,labor, and cash for just another “Tri-five”? … Naw, nope, no-way!
A good parts car for 300 Bucks!
Sorry to say, but this one is a real rust bucket. I had 4 55 Chevy’s. two were convertibles, and two were 4dr. sedans. Put a new clutch in one sold the other for parts and took the interior of one Convertible and installed it in the other Put 283 power pack heads and intake manifold and ignition of a 327in to it .
had a real sleeper until Uncle Sam came calling. Miss that ragtop, and would love to find another I could afford.
That looks beyond saving…..maybe junking for the scrap would be best.
Maybe you could sell the seats, if they’re original, to someone restoring
another one.
The rest is like a shell of rust.
If someone likes this car, and it needs a re body, I wouldn’t waste all that money to build off a 68 year old frame from the snow belt, and to acquire a 265 that your not gonna use, unless you want the vin tag
Is it just me in thinking how could anyone allow a car to get in this condition? And I’m not a gear head, but I do enjoy a good looking car… like the 55??
Because at one time it was just another old beater car ,another 55 Chevy, one of thousands in every town all over the country. Thousand of these were worn out and scrapped, and there’s still thousands of these around . When I was a kid in the early1970s our local track was full of tri 5s racing every week, and this was in CT. , where there weren’t any of these on the road anymore . and even on the track they became dated, it wasn’t long before guys started showing up with lighter 64 and 65 Chevelles
Because at one time it was just another old beater car ,another 55 Chevy, one of thousands in every town all over the country. Thousand of these were worn out and scrapped, and there’s still thousands of these around . When I was a kid in the early1970s our local track was full of tri 5s racing every week, and this was in CT. , where there weren’t any of these on the road anymore . and even on the track they became dated, it wasn’t long before guys started showing up with lighter 64 and 65 Chevelles
This car would be the final exam in an auto body class. This would take everything you know and then some to polish this cherry.