350ci V8/TH350 3-Speed Auto/Nice Restored Interior/Great Driver

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan

With GM hitting its stride in the mid 50's with the advent of the Tri- Five era, and eventually hitting a home run, they had several tried and true theories that they stood by to make the car so popular. A few items of note are they embellished the car with brite work so as to make it outshine the Cadillac, the 55 Bel Air weighed over 3400 pounds, and was over 15 feet long, and some wild options were available including an electric shaver to get business done while in traffic, and an ashtray that sucked the ashes into the tray...now that's class!

Forget about these fancy overdone "resto-mods" with their perfect lines, and little attention to the original. Let's keep it simple with this 55, and keep it original, even if not perfect, and all the while make it a reliable driver, to actually turn heads when you are rolling down main street. I give you this frame off restored first year Tri-Five.

Exterior
The recipient of a frame off restoration in 2005 which now bathes it in Robin's Egg Blue, and it does not get any more Mid Century Modern color-wise than this. Paint presents well, as does attached correct brite-work, badging, and chrome. This car oozes simplicity as the first version with its simple chrome grille, bumpers, and a streaking jet hood ornament that has flown its way to the end of the hood to announce the cars arrival into the jet age and yours at the drive in. Nicely done taillights, a lack of any fins, and wonderful stainless window trimmings and dueling side spears, add to the aura with the wonderful paint. We bottom out with some new black walls, wrapping American Racing Torque Thrust shiny wheels on all 4 corners.

Interior
Appearing to be like the originals with the condition of the door panels, headliner and seats, all have been restored while the frame was off. Two tone robin egg blue and dark blue are on the door panels which are like new. Inside a broadcloth horizontal pattern insert with a sideways "parenthesis" design on the backs and robin egg blue bolsters and upper backs. The rear bench presents the same and has easy access with those second set of doors. The all original steel dash which has undergone restoration sits in front of the benches in its dual fan bumped, blue and repeating stamped bowtie pattern stainless banding presentation. An aftermarket radio ( radio was not standard on any of the Tri-Fives), center mounted glovebox, and lots of shining knobs and levers add to the dash, along with a nice speedo in the driver's side fan and a speaker in the other, emblazoned with the 50s style type font actually named Bel Air, but I like to call it your grandmother's handwriting! Some aftermarket gauges hang below the dash and just below and a B&M shifter floats in its own console within dark blue carpeting is under foot at every station. Headliner is near perfect and also shows in blue.

Drivetrain
A perfectly restored and painted Robin Egg Blue engine bay receives a newer Chevrolet engine in 350ci's and its from a truck circa 1978. It is topped by a 4bbl Holley Carburetor, and now on back is a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission. The rear axle weighs in at a 3.36 gear ratio. Headers are now seen on this well presenting red painted block mill.

Undercarriage
Beautifully restored white the frame was off, we see Robin's Egg Blue floorpans and rockers, and black framing and undercarriage drive train parts with no rust. Power disc brakes are now upfront and power drums for the rear. A nice Flowmaster exhaust is snaking its way rearward.

Drive-Ability
This beauty fired right up and ran like a top. Fab acceleration, bias free panic stopping with those power brakes, and good handling with no creaks or groans. All functions were working just great inside and out.

A frame off completed restoration, new drivetrain courtesy a '78 truck, and new TH350 transmission, you can confidently pull up to any establishment, and you will immediately be engaged in a nostalgic conversation about your classic first edition tri-five! The two 5 version (55 kids!).

VIN DECODE
B55T103595
B-2100 Series 210
55-1955
T-Tarrytown, NY Assy Plant
103595-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 55 1019D-1955 210 4 Door Sedan
BODY NO T48947-Tarrytown Body #
TRIM NO 510-Green Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT NO 587-Neptune Green

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.