During the “Tri-Five” era of the Chevrolets (1955-57), one of the less-often mentioned models today was the Delray Club Coupe. It was a part of the mid-range 210 series and was only available as a 2-door sedan. It came with an upgraded interior that was closer in trim to the Bel Air. The seller’s 1956 edition looks like an okay car that runs great but will need some cosmetic TLC if you want to show it. Located near Denver, Colorado, this two-tone Chevy is available here on craigslist for $22,000 OBO. Barn Finder T.J. is at it again – thanks for the cool tip!
The Delray didn’t get its name from a community in California like the Bel Air did. On the contrary, Delray was a neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. As a series, the car debuted in 1954 as part of the 210 lineup and then became a separate model in 1958 before the name disappeared from the sales literature. In 1956, Delray offered an upgraded vinyl upholstery package that was matched to the exterior of the automobile. In this case, it appears the Delray is wearing a combination of Crocus Yellow and Laurel Green paint.
Sales of the Delray were not minimal. Nearly 57,000 of the pillared coupes were built in 1956 alone, so buyers must have liked the cross in value between a 210 and a Bel Air. The seller’s car has the optional 265 cubic inch “Turbo-Fire” V8 that produced between 170 and 225 horsepower depending on the carburetion (no photos). Both the engine and 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission have been rebuilt, and the car sports a new gas tank, exhaust, brakes, and tires. So, it should be ready to go wherever you want to.
The photographs don’t help much in showing off the Chevy. The paint is tired in places, and we don’t know if it’s original or an older respray. There is rust along the rocker panel on the driver’s side, so could there be more elsewhere? One of the taillight lenses is broken or missing and will have to be replaced.
Interior photos are limited so we don’t know if the upholstery has been redone or needs it again. While the odometer reads 30,000 miles, we suspect that 130,000 is more accurate. The car was purchased new in Golden, Colorado and we’re told it’s lived there ever since, so could the seller be the second owner? Overall, this Chevy looks to have a lot of promise.
My ’54 was the same line as this car. White over light blue and that great looking upgraded blue and white interior. Mine was a stick shift. Don’t see where the left taillight is broken, it’s just open to show the fuel filler. Fix the rust and you have one of Chevy’s finest.
My parents also owned a ’54 Delray yellow with green top,it had the Powerglide which my dad absolutely hated, saying when passing another car it was more than likely to get you killed lol
I’ve never heard of a two door sedan before. I always understood a coupe to have two doors and a sedan tho have four doors.
Could be the part of country, or world, you grew up in. Around these parts, A sedan is any car with a “B” post, (with all the windows down, still a post in the middle of the car). A hard top has no “B” post so with all the windows down you can stick your arm in at the wing vent and walk all the way to the back glass without hitting a post. No matter if it had 2 or 4 doors.
SEWI you’d be describing a hardtop, sort a a faux convertible. Hardtop used w/ 2 or 4 doors.
Yeah, the first picture shows the taillight closed but if there is in fact a rebuilt drivetrain, Why not show it. I’m guessing they want $20,000 for it but without being able to see much of the car, tops I would offer is 15K. Could be a nice car with what looks like not to much effort comparing to many others out there. Just make a little effort to show it.
The person writing this isnt old enough to know that in 1956, the gas cap was hidden behind the left taillight. The pic is showing where it is for the uninformed.
Now a geograaphy lesson, there is a city of Delray Beach on the east coast if Florida, in Palm Beach County and the Town of Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County Florida. Both names have been used for less than top line full size Chevys in the 50s and 60s. Since Bel-Air is a west coast town in California, I always thought that Delray and Biscayne were sister models, named for east coast Florida towns to show diversity and fairness. Makes more sense than a suburb of Detroit, or is there a Biscayne, Michigan?
Just sayin, from a family thst owned a 58 Delray, a 61 Impala, a 62 Bel-Air and 2 67 Biscaynes.
Russ looks pretty old in that pic,he should know better.
Delay isn’t a suburb of Detroit, it’s an area of the city, very industrial and grimy on the southwest side.
So, I’m sticking with Delray Beach and Key Biscayne, both in Florida as inspiration for the names of the sub- topline Chevy models, rather than a grimy area of Detroit.
“Aji -no-moto”? Hawaiians, will know what this means.
Where does MSG fit into this conversation?
No motor photos!
My brother sold me his 55 2door sedan in 1972 when I was 15 years old. 1965 283, 3 speed overdrive and 4.11 gears. I knew about Delray’s and spent a lot of time in junkyards digging for Delray interiors, specifically the blue and beige (one of 3 color combos for 55). I found a few to get parts and eventually bought a running/driving 55 Delray to get it’s complete interior. I put the interior including the vinyl headliner in my 55. The only indication other than the interior was the body code on the cowl tag – Delray’s were 1011A versus 1011 for a standard 2 door sedan. I put BelAir side trim on it and usually ran with Cragars. It was stolen and rolled in 1979 but I bought it back from the insurance co. I stripped most everything, drivetrain, springs, steering, steering column and put it all in a 55 Nomad that I still drive. A nephew wants the wrecked body – I gave it to him and I hope he puts it back together. He bought a replacement roof and has lots of eng/trans combos so I hope he resurrects it.
We called the color combination on this 56 ” Mustard and Custard” – not my favorite colors but now 50 years later I could live with them, especially in a Delray!
Looks like a really nice survivor ’56. Wish the seller would have included more pictures. I’d say the seats have had a cheap recover at some point. I agree the price is a bit optimistic but a good car well worth saving at any rate.