The Bel Air debuted in 1950 as a high-end version of the Styleline and Fleetline Chevrolet models. Like the Impala of 1958, it was available only as a 2-door hardtop and (later) convertible. The Bel Air would sit atop the Chevrolet podium until 1959 when it became a series of its own with a broader range of body styles added along the way. This 1951 edition is a solid-looking roller that’s missing a lot of key stuff, like the engine, transmission, and most of the interior. But it should have good bones to build upon. Located in Bruneau, Idaho, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the magic first bid will be for $3,500.
From 1959 until 1975, the Bel Air would serve as the middle-level full-size Chevrolet. But in 1951, it was the top dog and was intended to attract buyers who had a few extra dollars to spend on a new car in the post-war era. At first, it was available with a 216 cubic inch “Thrift master” inline-6 that would produce 92 hp with a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. That pairing is what we assume was in the seller’s car back in the day.
We don’t know how or when this Bel Air was stripped of many of its parts, but they left enough to work with. No extra parts come with the deal, so as the seller says “What you see is what you get”. One interesting point was that someone previously converted the split windshield into a single piece. But it and many other glass panes either have bubbles or are cracked/shattered. Brake work has been done on the car and a differential from a ’57 Chevy has been installed. The tires are seven years old and have been riding on Nova rims from 1970.
The body isn’t perfect as the driver’s door has had patches welded into place. And there are some dents, dings, and surface rust in places. The only known hole is in the passenger floorboard. This car offers a potentially great opportunity to rebuild it as period-correct or to make a restomod out of it with more modern running gear. What would be your choice? And, BTW, the seller provides a video if the photos aren’t enough.
Here’s a ’51 Bel Air beauty that doesn’t need a total resto -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HQd7km81Hw
Nice 51Chevy I do believe any way you go this will not be a cheap build. Now if I was going to restore this. First I would repair all rust and do a nice paint job. Second all the glass would need to be replaced. Next interior I would carpet it and put a nice bench seat in. Now I would put a 6 cyl and 4spd trans from the 1970s. Put an intake on it with 2-2bbl carbs and a header maybe a chrome valve cover. Then I could drive it and enjoy it often. GLWTA
Sounds like an idea, but I’d be tempted to use a fuel-injected six from a modern truck with a 5-speed. Or just put the 5-speed behind a 70s 6 cylinder with the dual carbs and header you mentioned.
Man that’s nice and neat otherwise you are going into race mode but I to would love to enjoy it with family
I remember when I was a little kid, one of our neighbors had one of these. It was black with a silver roof, and the interior had grey cloth seats. I remember the big chrome piece on the dash looked like a radio speaker was behind it. I think it had the Chevrolet Power glide 2 speed automatic. The one major thing that sticks in my mind was how clean and shiny the paint was. I could stand up on the back seat floor and could just see the dash over the front seat back. I love cars, and have spent a lot of time restoring a few Mustangs and a 75 Mercury Marquis Colony Park Station wagon. I would always go to great lengths to make sure I kept them as stock as possible, that makes them more authentic than putting other parts on that weren’t original. That said, in my opinion I think this one has been messed with to much to achieve that all stock example. Clearly this one was used as a parts Doner. Without knowing the availability of the needed parts, it might be to time consuming to find the required parts. There were times while working on the Mercury, I found myself searching the country for months trying to find the OEM parts. Based on all of that, I think I would pass on this one and would continue use it for parting out. But that’s just me.
Perhaps a 50 Olds windshield –
I love this body style! There certainly is a lot to do. I’d drop a 5.0 Coyote in it to piss off Chevy owners!
BODY shop, interior, 265 with Corvette intake headers late model auto tranny and down de road we go.
We laughed at these when I was a kid.
We WANTED one of these when I was a kid!!!!!
Didn’t Derek Bieri of Roadworthy Rescues just do one of these, complete with an Indian blanket reupholstery job and rattle can headliner, and his special boiled linseed oil shine juice.
As a pre-teen and teen, my friend’s momma had one of these in, as I recall, dark pink and black 2-tone. They were pretty cool back in the day…and still are. Little strong for a roller/parts car, methinks.
I had a ’52 and it was a fun car. It wasn’t a Belair though. It had a Nova subframe and rear, 350 Chevy engine and turbo 350. It wasn’t an expensive build.
I never saw this one Brian. Nice.
This ’52 would look SO MUCH better with a set of nice Wide White Walls (about 2 1/2″ ones) & Full Moon hub caps!!!!!
A good project but NOT for that kind of money. Way over priced for a car that needs nearly Everything! The good part is….that’s it’s a 2 Dr. Hdtp. B.A.!!! It will take Thousands to get it totally restored!!!
The trunk and doors look like it sat in a mud puddle. I’d put a 235 Stove bolt in it with the 3 on the tree or a 4sd. I’d crawl under and check inner rockers and body mounts first…
If I could score this car for around 1000-1500, I’d jump on it and fix all the rust and paint it with dark gray primer and install a good sized small block V8/4-speed, good tires, and cruise it until just before the wheels fell off.
A few thousand will put this one back in showroom condition? LOL&LOL
In the 1960’s we bought these cars in better condition than this for $50 to $100.
Bought a good running 1950 Ford V8 for
50 bucks. New Olds 442 in 1968 $4,000.00
The 60ZZZ ROCKED.
In the summer of 1960, I bought a mint one owner ’52 Chev 4 door Styleliner 3 on a tree with 50K miles on it for $225.- . It had a new set of cheap wide whitewalls on it which only lasted 12K miles before I had to replace them. I doubt if it had ever been on a highway before becoming my college ride. I still have the original owner’s manual with my notation that a steady 50 mph would yield 25 mpg and an indicated 70 mph on the PA Tpke would drop the mileage down to 15 mpg. From the sound of the engine, I suspect that the indicated 70 mph was within a mile or two of the max top end. I sold the car with 70K on it for $225.-. Other than tires, routine LOF and a timing gear, it was cheap to operate.
This ’51 Chevy B.A. 2 dr hdtp is SOOOOO overpriced to Start, I think it’s Pathetic! JMHO!
I think that I may be looking at some of the cars on BF differently than most others. Being hot rod oriented I see this car as a very good start. I’m from Vermont and I’ve started with cars and trucks that are very rusted, cars that people thinking about restoring wouldn’t look at twice. I’d definitely try to talk this person down a bit but I think this body is worth all the money. If you’re looking for a car to restore, this isn’t the one.