After a restyle in 1953 that increased sales by nearly a third, the relatively unchanged 1954 Chevrolets still saw another 7% bump in production. The Bel Air was still “top dog” followed by the 210 and 150 series. Even the Corvette saw a lift from 300 to 3,640 copies. The seller’s ’54 Bel Air 2-door sedan looks great but has been in dry storage for years and needs some mechanical tinkering. Located in Algona, Iowa, this 70-year-old Bow-Tie is available here on eBay. The opening bid is $11,895 (no action yet), but you can fast forward to $15,464 and take it home today.
We’re told this Chevy is wearing an older restoration which has held up well. It’s not perfect with a few scratches and chips, but nothing that suggests immediate action is needed. The interior is quite tidy and ready for 5 or 6 people to take a Sunday ride. The condition of the overall vehicle suggests it’s at least a daily driver (worst case) though you could probably draw onlookers at a show.
This Chevy has a 235 cubic inch inline-6 under the hood, a year before the company would roll out its first V8 engine since 1918. The car does run and drive, but it’s not quite roadworthy. The brakes need attention, a new battery is in order, and the seller says the fuel tank should be replaced due to old/bad gasoline. On top of that, the radiator has a couple of leaks, and the tires are past their prime.
We’re told this Chevy, which has the 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, had two previous owners. So, at one time, it was someone’s pride and joy. And with a little effort, its third owner might want to claim that, too. The odometer reading of 43,000 miles suggests lots of life is left. I had a ’53 210 and it was a comfortable car to drive.
A white over light blue two ten was my initial college car. It had a blue and white Bel Air interior that looked more leather than vinyl. Nice car all around and it was much improved after I went to a junk yard and got a heater for it. It was ordered with a radio but no heater. Go figure.
Florida car? When I was a kid reading classified car adds, R&H meant equipped with then optional radio and heater.
Back then, my uncle drove Buick Roadmasters. Equipped with radio and no heater. Go figure.
Checked my 1950 Buick shop manual and yes, heater and defroster were listed under “Accessories.”
Went to college with a guy from Florida. His ’65 Falcon was bought new down there and it didn’t have a heater.
Cool car, rather get the v8 but still nice, but battery looks very old, an alcoholic battery? What is that?
Look again… Workaholic.
Ahem…they didn’t come with V8..straight six only Available..as was the first Corvette ..the battery says “Workaholic”…
Even 55’s with the six had 6 volt battery on the firewall.V8 – 265ci were rare got popular in 56
That is A 6 Volt Battery. 1954 was the last year for a 6 volt electrical system for Chevrolet and many other auto manufacturers. In 1955 Chevrolet switched to a 12 volt system.
My first car..a 53 Bel Air bought in 1970 for $50! Decent shape, 70K miles ran good but tranny was losing reverse so when I drove it, I planned not to do any parallel parking. It had the 2 speed suicide powerglide trans with the shift lever pattern P-N-D-L-R! You had to be very careful if you shifted into L that you didn’t pull further into grinding Reverse! The shift patterns was eventually changed in later cars to have N between R and D. Had lots of fun driving it even with no power steering! It was giant wheel but don’t get your fingers in the way when the wheel returned from a turn! It would snap your finger!! What a tank!!!
Buick had that shift pattern for years. When I drove my ’62 Invicta then got in my ’64 Malibu I had to be relearn again.
Even the old Hydramatic had the PNDSLR quadrant until its last use in 1964. NHTSA were naysayers about it.
You’ve made me laugh 😂 because it reminds me of my Dad’s 49 Chevy. The trany reverse didn’t work once in a while and he use to say every one out and push ! Needless to say my mon was not Amused
An elderly family friend had the identical car back in the 1970’s. After he died and his estate sold, today the car sits on a rock in their cow field as a lawn ornament.
I love these when they look like this, but have an LS motor and turn 7’s.
Do the rear windows roll down?
If so, how far?
Anyone?
They have a little glass showing when all the way rolled. hike a hump and about 2-21/2 inches at highest point as I recall
Yes- all the way down.
Had one, my first car. As I remember the rear windows went almost all the way down, but not quite…..
True.
I drove my mom’s car
(53 Chevy power glide.
The first production run of the now infamous 235 cubic inch insert motor.
When I left for Vietnam , when I returned I was suppose to get the twin to this car. It belonged to an older lady, a school teacher and my parents neighbor ,she had a 54 2-door Bel Air. I took care of it for her and it was understood it would be mine when she quit driving it. The rest is a sad story, she didn’t remember her promise and the car was gone, when I got home.
In 1999 I bought a 66 Skylark convertible off a 91 year old lady that bought it brand new. I was at a cruise night and her lifelong mechanic saw it and went berserk!! She promised it to him but at 91, people do forget. I bought that car for $2500.00 and sold it a few years later for $17,500. Now I think about that car ofter, I wish I kept it.
The story is not as sad since you made it home. Welcome home 🇺🇲
Wasn’t the engine blue or gray back then? (CRS)
Rear windows went down about 3/4! About a quarter showing!
I liked the appearance of my 53 (virtually the same as this) without the fender skirts. For me it was a bit more sporty… plus as a kid, I had chrome reversed wheels on it!
No skirts, lowered, with Dodge Lancer caps on my ’54.
My grandma had a 1953 same color. When my grandma side swiped another vehicle, my dad took the keys away from her. I took the 53 to the local community college. They fixed the damage. Then when my grandma passed, my dad sold it to someone when I wasn’t home so he could put his car in the garage. He knew I objected to selling it. The car was in mint condition.
Nice Bathtub styling.
My brother had a 54 highboy.
He swapped the 235 for a 348 w engine from a wrecked impalla. Then later that big block through a rod right out the oil pan. Next up a 71 283 and rock crusher 4 speed.
Nice car painted gloss black with chrome moonies.
If i missed the bus my mom drove me to school in it.
Dad got a 54 4 door from his boss when the boss bought a new 57 Chevy 2 door. It was probably a 210: had a radio & heater, one color pale blue. Years later in ~1968 I got my first car, a used 52 that had been traded in at the Rambler dealer, Bednar Motors. We had to talk to the transmission shop: those early PowerGlides did not shift, the driver had to move it from Low to Drive, we didn’t know. I also didn’t know much about wrenching or maintenance: the ’52 burned valves and my farm-owning boss helped me pull the head and get it to the shop. Yes, it was a “tank,” except for the fiber gear driving the cam and the “torque tube” drive shaft that welded tight when a u-joint broke.
The 52 was the last of the “no-shift unless you select Low” Powerglides. The 53 Powerglide was majorly improved, including starting off in low and then shifting itself, along with having a kick-down feature.
Do you suppose that this car might have been rear ended? Left tail light has a body/fender seam below it and the right does not.
@Joe Haska. Glad you got back from there! I was fortunate to have a very high number in the draft lottery. Thanks for your service. The car story is not as important!!
Thanks for the replies about the rear windows.
Now I know too!
My two oldest brothers started junking cars in the early to mid 70’s for extra beer money and I remember them getting into a horde of 53-54 chevys that I guy sold them. 10 bucks for a complete car and 5 if the motor and radiator was gone. They had one the same color as this one that looked great, they did let is sit for awhile in case someone came by that wanted a clean car but I am sure it got sent to the shredder. IMHO they had one of the nicest gauge clusters ever at least to my teenage eyes
Had a ‘54 with Powerglide and recall jumping it into passing gear in the rain and the vacuum windshield wipers would stop operating…
O yeah, Tom!!! I forgot about the vacuum wipers!!! They always stopped or slowed down upon acceleration!!
It sold for $12,095.