With a facelift in 1953, Chevrolet renamed its cadre of automobiles, and the mid-range series, formerly the Styleline DeLuxe, became the 210 or Two-Ten. It would be Chevy’s best-selling car in 1953-54 until the Bel Air branched out its body style offerings. We’re told this 210 2-door sedan has only 46,000 miles and runs and drives great. It’s lower to the ground than stock due to some surgery performed on the suspension. Needing some cosmetic attention (or not), this 210 can be found in Sterling, Virginia, and is available here on eBay where the bidding hovers at $3,201 but the reserve has yet to be met.
The 210 got its name when the creative types at GM took its production series of 2100 and shortened it by one digit to capitalize on the then-current trend of numerical auto names. That logic carried forward through 1957 after which actual names would be used. In this case, the 210 became the Biscayne. The 210 was a step up in style and trim over the entry-level 150 but without the glamour or glitz of the Bel Air.
We’re told the original exterior color of this Chevy is blue. Other than some rust on the driver’s side portion of the floorboard and the bumpers, the seller says the body is rust-free after 68 years. Photos provided of the car are limited, so we don’t get a true feel of its overall condition, especially that of the interior. But one of the videos provided does help a little and if that patina look is what you’re going for, this Chevy has it in spades.
Beyond cutting the coils up front and adding air shocks in the back to lower the car, this seller says the old machine is original down to the fan belt. But the current or prior owner wanted a low-rider look to this automobile, something you saw done a lot with early 1950s Mercury’s. However, the brakes and fuel tank are new, and the generator has been rebuilt. The 235 cubic inch inline-six runs great (check out the other video), backed up by Chevy’s 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.
If you wanted to upgrade the appearance of this 210 to that of a Bel Air, the seller has a full set of the stainless-steel trim that you would need to get this done. The car has received some minor fame, appearing in a magazine article featuring The Race of Gentlemen that takes place in Wildwood, New Jersey. This could be a cool car to tool around in, although I think I would source the parts needed to take the suspension back to stock.
It’s got the right stance now, though cutting coils is not how I’d do it. I’d weld in a replacement patch for the floor and drive it as I prepped each panel one by one for a repaint, probably as close to factory color as possible. It would eventually get a V8, and a 4 speed auto. I have never done a custom interior, but am willing to learn…
That’s a new one on me Air shocks to lower vehicle, maybe air bags would be the proper term.
Curious to see where this one ends up. We have a 53 coupe in very similar cosmetic condition, but it’s a 3 speed and had solid floors.
It’s a fantastic driver but, like the subject car, it’s too rough to really call it “patina”.
If seller spent a day or two scubbing with CLR and addressing the rusty wheels, it would make a world of difference.
Oh wow, man, I don’t know. You could run into too much recession.
Rick is your BF name correct,it’s really Tommy correct?
Dave’s not here!
He went underground, man!
I agree get new springs and put it back where it belongs. One of my brothers bought one like this but with three on the tree when he got out of the army in 1959. Sadly he fell asleep one night coming home from work and went off the road and hit an oak tree, the tree didn’t budge but the car was totaled. He kept it and it was parked in the back of the farm where old cars and trucks went to die. The engine was later pulled and put in dad’s 54 Chevy pickup. As for this one that automatic turns me off to me.
God Bless America
I would almost call this a blank canvas. For reliability I’d fit a V8 maybe a 283 to 350 stock and as it’s already a ‘glide keep it 2 speed.
Rick is your BF name correct,it’s really Tommy correct?
Stu it’s 54 Chevy ,a canvas is what you cover your 54 Chevy with,it also is not a blank slate that’s what good pool tables are made of.
Anybody know about a closed line drive shaft
Nah. Leave it lowered. And nothing wrong with those inline sixes, except it should have a stick shift behind it. Anything, 3 on the tree or 4 or 5 speed on the floor.
We don’t need no stinkin’ automatics!