We’ve featured quite a few tri-fives here on Barn Finds over the years, everything from complete project cars to trailer-queen restorations, but one condition that seems to be at least somewhat elusive is the well-preserved near survivor-status cars on the outside still wearing their original paint, such as this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air here on eBay. It’s a convertible too, so if you’ve always dreamed of owning a ’55 and enjoy droptops this one’s probably deserving of a close look, just be forewarned that others are taking notice as well, with 32 bids already placed and raising the price up to $55,100 at the moment, still short of the reserve. There’s enough time remaining as of now to head up to Templeton, Massachusetts if you want to go check out the Chevy in person before deciding to make a commitment.
In addition to numerous high-quality photos, we also get to view 3 separate videos, which all together seem like a good combination to depict exactly what you’re getting here. One of my tri-five concerns has always been finding rust issues, but fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be a problem here as not only are all of the body panels said to be original but so are the floors and body mounts, with an excellent video here showing the car from down below, and even though it’s been painted underneath there doesn’t seem to be anything concerning hiding on the undercarriage beneath all that black. The seller is straight forward in saying that there are some paint chips outside and a few flaws in the exterior finish, but points out to be 68 years old and original it’s still in far better overall shape than most.
Another video showcases under the hood and shows a cold start of the 265 engine firing right up, which was just recently rebuilt as was the Powerglide transmission, with the pair only having 700 miles so far. There’s also a new battery, generator, power steering pump, and a new aluminum radiator filled with high-tech Evans anti-freeze to keep things running cool. This ’55 also came with a factory dual exhaust system.
Climbing inside reveals a beautiful interior with very nice looking upholstery and trim throughout, with a couple of aftermarket items such as the Stereo and trio of gauges, but the sale also includes the original radio in case the next owner wants to put it back in. The speedometer and odometer are both still functioning, and the white power top is said to go up and down with ease. A peek inside the trunk reveals what the seller says is the factory white paint in there plus the jack and spare tire are both stated as the original components. The car is said to be ready for driving anywhere, and I’m curious to see how much higher the price will have to go before this one can exchange hands. How much would you be willing to shell out for this fine ’55?
Looks like the 55 out of Nice Dreams.
RIP Paul “Pee Wee Herman” Reubens.
He was so funny in Nice Dreams.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2wbu5k
Here is the car from the movie.
lol
Best color combo. A really lovely example, I would enjoy owning if I could.
So a Chevy small block and powerglide transmission needed rebuilding before the paint wore off?
That is one of the craziest statement I have ever heard.
Something with the master cylinder seems weird. Weren’t they the small round single well?
And the mentioned… We’ve seen lots of tri 5s … Certainly means these are far from rare. In my hood during the summer I see at least a few different tri 5s a week. So I really don’t understand the crazy price on these.
One word might sum up why the Tri-Five Chevys are expensive and far from rare, “popularity”. Yes there are far more cars IMO that look just as good or better than the Tri-Fives( even though I’m partial to the ’56) but is rarer and cheaper.
The car has had a dual master cyl. installed. The engine appears to have had a spray can overhaul judging from the overspray on the fuel pump and there is significant rust on the lower portion of the RF door on both sides of the weatherstripping. One would think that the painted areas inside the door jambs, around the hinges would be as smooth and nice as the fenders and the outside body panels since nothing could get into these areas to weather the paint. Plus, in my 70+ years, I’ve never seen a padded dash as claimed by the seller on a 55 Chevy
That’s because a 55 chevrolet didn’t come with a padded dash, which I’m sure you would know, but any good upholstery people can easily make one, and definitely makes most any dash look better. GM was a little late to the party with a padded dash
It will be interesting to see where this car price lands. A very nice car, great colors with all the right accessories. Obviously well cared for. Unrestored is a plus and a minus as it means there are a lot of old parts on it. I don’t think it adds to the value and its price is nearing where you can buy a restored one. Unfortunately the days of cheaply maintaining an old car are gone, and unless you are doing the work yourself, the price of even pedestrian work like a tuneup or brakes, can run into 4 figures! Fortunately, it would seem that the owner has done a lot of that routine work. Too bad its not a 3 speed, the powerglide is a dog.
1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible, love it!
If the P G is a dog, then way do they still
Use them in some race cars.
Tony, The powerglides that drag racers use are not stock PG’s at all. It’s an aftermarket transmission that is made to take the abuse of a big motor. Also, I would love to have the convertible that is the subject of this post. It does have a few mods, like the wheels, radiator, master cylinder, air cleaner, radio, and blue dots in the tail lights, but I like them and wouldn’t change any of it. I hope it goes to a good home.
The PG’s in ’55-’57’s had a cast iron case and were bad to leak fluid. In late ’57 GM came out with a Turboglide it gave a lot of problems in the 3- or 4-years GM used them they lost so much money on warranty work that when they reintroduced the Powerglide it had an aluminum case and was about 3 times stronger than it needed to be. These are the PG’s that are used in Drag racing.
Chevrolet 1st padded dash option was in 1956. Option RPO427
Ever seen one? Betcha haven’t. Ford was the first
Look at just the vin plate….this car has been to many a party and pulled an all nighter as well. Doesn’t matter how many pictures or vedio’s you take it’s still a resto-mod and not a virgin that’s implied.
It’s up to $58,600 with the Craigslist rattle can over haul, lotsa cash for a popular 55. Way too many questions based upon the eBay photos to bid this kind of cash an not there to poke around a bit on the car.
Love the car, but VIN indicates an original 6-cylinder car.
The white paint may be original. The checking looks about like what you would expect from near 70 year old lacquer. But if the white is that cracked up, the coral would be cracked too if it was original. And I see enough things with coral paint or overspray on them that should not be painted (rubber bumpers on cowl, door lock cylinder retainer in door jamb, screws in door jamb, etc.) that there’s just no way I can believe that the coral part is original paint.
Also look at the lower part of the dash. There is paint on some of the screws underneath, and there are huge cracks that have been painted over to the left of the steering column (look more like bondo cracks than lacquer paint cracks ??)
Car looks more to me like a really good car that got a frame up partial restoration, an engine upgrade, and a new interior, probably back in the early 80’s. And now enough time has passed that is has “Round 2” patina.
I’d love to have it, but looks like about a $40K car to me.
ICONIC IS ICONIC
It is nice to see this color; I have never seen a Tri-five restoration in this color.
It certainly presents well.
stock cars came with a 3.70 rear; overdrive 3 speed cars came with 4.11 rear.
a conversion to a modern 4 speed overdrive transmission would cure the higher rpm on the highway.
AND
there is even an aftermarket indicator for the shift quadrent
Not with a 4.11 rear axle it wouldn’t unless by modern , you meant with an overdrive.
Another question for any tri-5 experts — At the back edge of both doors just inside the jamb, both doors have the extra pre-punched hole in the inner shell for the second (upper) strip of chrome on a 56 Belair. VIN suggests this is a pretty early 55 model year car. Did original 55 door shells already have those extra holes that early in the year? Or are these actually originally 56 doors?
Anyone know what it sold for?