Here’s a face we’ve come to know and love. The design was a new look and the grill was said to be influenced by a Ferrari design. It has too many doors for many, a six and an automatic transmission but this Chevy is a real survivor. It’s listed here on eBay in Sonoma, California. It’s said to be all original except for a repaint long ago. The Chevy emblem is faded and there are nicks and flaws in the paint, but it looks like a really nice old car. The seller has provided lots of detailed pictures that show it to be almost rust free. There’s no history of the car provided, but it runs and drives well. Bidding has not reached $7,000 or the reserve yet with about a week remaining on the auction.
The interior is said to be original, but have you ever seen a pattern anything like this? The carpet has likely been replaced as well. Perhaps the interior was redone when the car was repainted. The upholstery looks to be in good condition except for the tear in the seat. The dash is steel, of course, so no worries about cracks there.
Here’s the trusty 235 CID six, good for about 135 horsepower. From what we can see in the picture, it looks complete and original. With some serious cleaning and detailing it could look really nice under the hood. The new owner might want to replace the “patina” on the air cleaner and horns with the original shiny black. These engines are easy to troubleshoot and work on with basic tools. Does anyone own a timing light or a feeler gauge any more? You can even rebuild the engine without hauling it out of the car.
There’s nothing scary under here, just the usual surface rust and a new muffler. Life is good for old cars on the “Left Coast”.
Except for the faded hood emblem, this Chevy looks like it just drove out of a time machine. The repaint is showing its age, but it’s still a nice “25 footer.” The chrome and stainless look great as well. The end of the bumper is turned up a bit, so you might wonder if there’s more damage to go along with the mishap. Many of us look at this old Chevy and see the value in keeping it original. Others might see it as a good start for an expensive project. I hope someone leaves it original and just enjoys it as it is.
Not a bad car, but as mentioned, it has two too many doors and a 6 cylinder. It’s not the kind of car that inspires enthusiasm and won’t go cheap enough, last time through it was bid to $11,700+ and didn’t meet reserve, to be a viable platform to upgrade.
Steve R
Not bad for a daily driver. I’d have a lot more enthusiasm getting into this at the end of the work day or at the grocery store than all the minivans, crossovers, and wannabe suvs. Even with the extra couple of doors, it’s got more style than 99% of anything you’d see stopped at an intersection during rush hour.
pillarless would be nicer but this is a fine automobile.
Pillarless would be nice but not available until 1956. I have a couple that were converted out of the 56 body though
Meant to say I have seen them custom made out of the ’56.
Since when wasn’t a 55 Bel Air 2 dr hardtop not available? Am I missing something here. Or are you talking about a 4 dr? Just asking.
To the best of my knowledge, only one “pillarless” 55 Chevy exists. It was built by Michael Domaracki back in the 1980’s and was on the cover of Classic Chevy Magazine. A four door hardtop 55 Chevy, and it looked factory. Mike is as good as it gets at the shoe box Chevy restorations.
Even in my favourite colour combination.
Now you know where Liberace’s left over fabric from his suits went, it was used on this car’s seats.
I had the exact same car as a sophomore in high school 1963. It was two tone blue and had the same pattern on the seats and doors but I don’t remember seeing any others like it. 4 doors ain’t that bad, very easy to get in the back seat and at 6’2″ a door open helped.
Some of my learning was done on a new Belair just like this, except that it was a standard and two tone blue. I will always have a special spot for these cars. I would rather have a 2 dr hdtp, but just as it is, this would be fun as a reliable daily driver.
I have seen where guys with some skill, have turned them into a 2 door, with superb results. However, this is too nice a car to rip apart to do this conversion.
Bob
2 doors 4 doors oh well.
I’d cruise the hell out of it!🤘😎
So would I. I dig the license plate!
Is there a meaning to that license number that I’m not getting ?
Original. No. Its been repainted. But still its a beaut. Ive never seen the interior like that , I wonder if its real, 4 doors on Tri Fives are okay by me and Im a 2 door guy. 10 grand for a 4 door….phew…the times have changed.
Give me a 4 door over a two any day. Who wants people scrambling to get in or out while the front seat passenger, usually the wife or girlfriend has to get out into the rain or jamb herself up against the driver, in order for a bunch of screaming youngsters to gain access? I have had lots of 2 door coupes and hated all of them except for my 1959 Borgward Izabella TS.
Hmm, not me. I liked the’56 so much better. Still, very nice car. A classic car from California, that looks like this, and not 5 figures? Wait,,, there it is.Still, 10g’s for an entry level classic like this isn’t too bad, I suppose. It’s never again going to be the $800 bucks WE paid for these years ago.
I bought and sold several Tri-fives 2dr HTP’s for $700-$900.
I even bought a ’65 Corvette coupe for $700., those days are long gone!
Love these cars. Here in Tallahassee, Florida we have two them around me and one looks like this one. I always adore theses cars.
My favorite color for the 1955 Chevrolet, regardless of the number of doors; only year it was abailable.
I had a ‘55 210 4 door. Built like a tank. Got in a roll over crash, and all 4 people crawled out unhurt. 6 cylinder, 3 speed manual. Fine Car, but totaled.
Somebody jump on this car. Who cares if it’s a 4 door. Do what it needs and it will reward you.