Bel Air

Bits and Pieces: 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad

Chevrolet and Pontiac rolled out their versions of a new “Sport Wagon” in 1955. In the Chevy camp, it was called the Nomad, while at Pontiac it was the Safari. They shared the basic body shell, but the front… more»

One-Year Wonder: 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air

When Chevrolet designers were hard at work developing their all-new cars for 1958, they didn’t know the impact Chrysler’s “Forward Look” models of 1957 would have on styling. The Dodges, Plymouths, and Chryslers looked futuristic and sleek, while the… more»

Carport Find: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Project

One of the more popular cars we see here on Barn Finds is a “Tri-Five” Chevrolet. That may be because the original population was so large (nearly five million built). And, within that group, the 1957 Bel Air Sport… more»

409/4-Speed: 1963 Chevrolet Bel Air

The Bel Air got a new front-end treatment for the 1963 model and continued to be the mid-range offering in the Chevrolet line-up, with a host of engine options including three varieties of the 409.  This 1963 Bel Air… more»

427/4-Speed: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe

The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air remains one of the most iconic American classics from that decade and has been a strong market performer for many years. They have always been a target for enthusiasts, with some choosing faithful restoration… more»

Weekend Driver? 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

To many, the 1957 edition of the so-called “Tri-Five” Chevrolets of 1955-57 are the best looking. And perhaps the most collected, even though the production numbers by year didn’t vary much. This ’57 Sport Coupe in Bel Air trim… more»

Solid Driver: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

I was once asked to compile a dream car list, but I could only choose one car from each decade. I struggled with some, but the 1950s was a no-brainer. It couldn’t be anything but a Matador Red 1957… more»

Needs Interior: 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air

In its heyday in the 1950s, the Bel Air was Chevrolet’s top-of-the-line automobile. Then came the Impala and then the Caprice, so the Bel Air was repositioned toward the bottom of the rung by 1966. The rather stark Biscayne… more»

Gold Plated 50 Millionth Tribute: 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

In the Fall of 1954, General Motors was preparing to celebrate its 50 millionth vehicle to roll off the assembly line. The honor went to a new 1955 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe that was gold-plated from head to… more»

Real Barn Find: 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Project

Although the Chevrolet Bel Air was introduced back in 1950, it’s the ’55 through ’57 models that enthusiasts typically have recurring dreams about, the years lovingly known as the tri-fives.  Sadly, the fifties decade was a long time ago,… more»

Mild Sleeper 283 V8: 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air

Chevrolet set a record for sales in 1965, so without many changes going into 1966, it was no surprise that sales with drop off (about 20% for the full-size cars, depending on model). Still, Chevrolet managed to build more… more»

One Family Owned: 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan

Choosing to part with a classic that has been part of your family for sixty-eight years must be difficult, but it is the decision made by the owners of this 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan. It presents beautifully, carrying… more»

283 Dual-Quad: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

The term “icon” is probably one of the more overused in the classic world, with some cars unworthy of that accolade. However, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air deserves its place on the list. It has remained a staple of… more»

Déjà Vu: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad

Though not popular when new, the Chevy Nomad of 1955-57 has become extremely collectible today. Only 23,000 were built in three years and the 1957 edition is the rarest at just over 6,000 copies. If this 1957 Nomad looks… more»

Classic Sport Wagon Project: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad

I’ve never understood why the “Sport Wagon” never took off. By that I mean the 1955-57 Chevy Nomad and its corporate cousin the Pontiac Safari. Perhaps they were too fancy to be used to haul around stuff. Or they… more»

Fully Equipped Project: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

To many, the styling of the 1957 Chevrolets was the best of the “Tri-Fives” era (1955-57). The cars would sprout tailfins for a single model year, only to return after skipping 1958. The Sport Sedan, available in Bel Air… more»

Barn Finds