1955 Chevroler Bel-Air Convertible

1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air Convertible

Nearly 65 years after its debut, Chevy's Hot One is still one of the wonders of the classic automotive universe. This original '55 Chevy Bel-Air's previous owner bought it in 1985 and has been stored in a collection since 1998. It has always been well taken care of and garaged. It is one of hand full Chevy Bel-Air Convertibles made in 1955.

Built at General Motor's Oakland, California (VIN code O) assembly plant, this Bel-Air was at one time purchased at Lee Chase Chevrolet in Auburn, California. It still retains its California black license plates. This car was last registered in California in 1997. It was stored on jack stands for most, if not all of the next 20 years. The following parts have been replaced or rebuilt:

The India Ivory over Gypsy Red paint is in overall very good order but there are minor blemishes visible upon close inspection, for example on both side of the top rear fenders at the convertible top and rear window. The car has its original, white, power-folding top, which is in good, original order.

The car's bodywork is solid and straight and very original. The engine bay is extremely tidy and the battery appears new. The car's chrome bumpers and bumper guards are in very good order and the trunk area is in good, original order.

This Bel-Air rolls on Goodyear Power Cushion 78 wide whitewall tires with Vytacord, size G78-15, and steel wheels with factory wheel covers. The tires and wheels are all in good, original condition.

Under the hood is a 265 CID V-8 engine with a rebuilt Rochester two-barrel carburetor and breathing via dual exhausts. Backing this motor is a Power-glide two-speed automatic transmission and a 3.70:1 rear end.

Inside, the car's red interior with white trim is in good, original order. The front, split-folding and rear bench seats, the red carpeting, the three-spoke steering wheel, red and white the inner door panels, the red metal instrument panel, the column-mounted shift lever and a factory AM radio. Temp gauge and blower motor is inop.

This car has been well-loved. It was repainted and its interior redone like original prior to the purchase in 1985. The underside of this car was never undercoated (reportedly typical of Oakland CA assembly plant examples). The underside shows that the car has never needed or had any floor pan, rocker box, trunk floor, braces or tail pan replacement.

All of the body fits and lines are very nice, the doors click shut, the trunk and hood fits are very nice. The original trunk mat is still in place (it is a 1955 early production style mat). The car runs and drives as good as it looks.

Nineteen fifty-five was a year of change in America's automotive climate as V-8 power and speed plus interesting styling touches began to replace staid inline sixes and straight eights and sedate designs. This Chevrolet Bel-Air Convertible was the penultimate Chevy model in 1955. Bel-Airs were the top-of-the-food-chain model, above the workaday 150s and median 210s.

For 1955, Chevrolet'sfull-sizemodel received all new styling and power. It was called the "Hot One" in GM's advertising campaign. Chevrolet's styling was crisp, clean and incorporated a Ferrari-inspired grille. Bel-Airs came with features found on cars in the lower models ranges plus interior carpet, chrome headliner bands on hardtops, chrome spears on frontfenders,stainless steelwindow moldingsand fullwheel covers. Models were further distinguished by the Bel-Air name script in gold lettering later in the year.

Chevrolets gained aV-8 engineoption and the option of the two-speedPowerglideautomatic or a standard three-speed Synchro-Meshmanual transmissionwith optionaloverdrive. The new265CID V-8engine featured a modern,overhead valve, high-compression ratio, shortstrokedesign that was so good that it remained in production in variousdisplacements for decades and has descendants made into the early part of this century.

Documentation includes original owner's manual, original guide on how to use the folding top, a color photo of the car, a hand-written diagram of the instrument cluster wiring and various insurance and licensing documents.

Convertible competition to this Bel-Air in 1955 included Ford's Sunliner, Plymouth's Belvedere and Pontiac's Star Chief.

If you want a virgin 1955 Chevrolet Convertible that was not pieced together but has the feel it did when new, then this is your car. Stop by MotoeXotica Classic Cars and check out this very original Tri-Five Chevy for yourself.

VIN: VC55O030470

This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 79,164 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!

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