The Bel Air is wonderfully styled, and regardless of the two-tone paint task, chrome trim, hood ornaments, fins, and more, it's still somehow downplayed in its design. There's no excess in this piece of rolling American exceptionalism. It's a true work of art of automotive styling, a testimony to what automobile designers can do when permitted to put design ahead of all else.
See all 14 photosDipping into the throttle and taking a look at the sun-swept California hillside rolling out prior to me releases me of ideas of impending death. The Bel Air's engine isn't feeling well todaya most likely vacuum problem limiting the automobile to about 15 mph (or 110 miles per hour if the speedo is to be believed) but it doesn't matter.
It even deals with decently, specifically when compared to the '49 Cadillac also on hand. After spending some time driving and appreciating the Bel Air, it's not hard to see how it won our hearts. The '55 Chevy defined its generationjust as much then as it does today.
The 1955 Chevy Bel Air: The World's Most All-time Popular Cars And Truck? To start, the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air has actually been featured in numerous Hollywood films. Here's an example: it remained in American Graffiti. Harrison Ford made his screen launching driving a black 1955 Chevy in this movie. This was what challenged John Milner (Paul Lemat) in his intriguing yellow 1932 Ford 5 window coupe.
One of the reasons 1955 Chevy's remarkable appeal in the media was that General Motors offered lots of them, over 3 million. This was likely due to the fact that it had an effective new V8 engine and a fresh brand-new body design. First, let's consider the body redesign. Although Ford had actually currently went to a "shoe box" body style (without external fenders) in the late 1940s, Chevy was gradually starting to do the exact same thing through the early 1950s.
This appearance involved smooth straight panels on the sides and hood, triangular tail lights that stuck out outside and wrap-around glass on the windshield. According to the Sales Supervisor at, the motoring public went nuts over this make over. The next attribute that was a huge hit was the available V8 engine.
The new 265-cubic-inch overhead valve V8 for the 1955 model year was a style that was a massive hit. This engine was created to be lighter, smaller, and more effective than any other V8s in the cars and truck industry at the time. The 1955 design year was also a year for other Chevrolet firsts.
These options included changing from an antiquated 6-volt system to a 12-volt and the introduction of many new choices like a/c, power windows, power seats, power brakes and power steering. The 55's highest trim offering was the Bel-Air. The Bel Air had more chrome and trim than the 150 or 210 designs.
Today, the non-post version is more popular with collectors. The Bel-Air might likewise be had in a convertible version. If you wish to see what this vehicle appears like, it would be extremely handy to Google "1955 Chevy Bel Air." Chevrolet kept the similar chassis and body design for the 1955, 56, and 57 model years.
Survey some cars and truck buffs and you will likely discover an agreement on the following truth: the 1955 Chevy is the most identifiable cars and truck ever made. We hope that you have actually enjoyed learning about this vintage car!.
The all-new 1955 Chevy brought a renewed energy to the brand. Streamlined "Motoramic" styling and a hot new 265-cid "Turbo-Fire" V-8 engine first of the legendary small-blocks made this Chevy a nearly instant classic. Rock-and-roll music was just beginning to shock American culture, and the Bel Air was the best vehicle for Saturday night cruising.
Wrap-around windscreen. Curved taillights styled into rounded rear fins. If you have any issues about where and how to use Highly recommended Internet site, you can get hold of us at the web-site. Chevrolet entirely revamped its automobiles for 1955, with what it called the 'Motoramic' try to find the top-of-the-range Bel Air plus the intro of the fabled 'small-block' V8 engine. Exciting efficiency and a flamboyant, positive and colorful design were what made the 1955 Bel Airs coupes, convertibles and station wagons - stand apart from the crowd.
" In my opinion, the '55 Bel Air is the finest of the Tri5s," asserts Ed. "It was such a departure from 1955, so fresh, so contemporary. This was a vehicle that looked more pricey than it in fact was, something that might also be stated about the Cruze today." The brand new 1955 Bel Air wonderfully redefined Chevrolet, with its streamlined Motoramic styling, improved chassis and sizzling brand-new 265-cid Turbo-Fire V-8 - the very first of Chevy's famous small-block V-8s 1955 Speed Car-Chevrolet introduced its new small-block V-8 engine in 1955 and showcased the powerplant in the Chevrolet Bel Air Speed Cars and truck convertible.
Keating, was the chauffeur TV personality and Chevy representative Dinah Coast presents with kid in pedal automobile replica and real 1955 Bel Air Indy Pace Car. The Chevrolet Bel Air, main pace automobile of the Indy 500 in 1955 Even now, many a car-obsessed kid's mini lorry stash consists of at least one '57 Chevy.
And there is more to the 1957 Chevy than excellent appearances. Chevrolet presented fuel Injection to American cars for 1957, and the 283-cid small-block Chevrolet 'fuelie' produced one horsepower per cubic inch, impressive efficiency in 1957. Fuel-injected '57 Chevys thrashed rivals so comfortably in NASCAR racing that the company prohibited FI innovation a restriction that is still in effect today.
Big, wedge-shaped metallic silver trim insert on Bel Air rear quarters. Blade-like tailfins, with rounded taillights atop the rear bumper ends. Including a smooth roofline first seen on the 1954 GM Motorama concept station wagon, Chevy Wanderer put dream-car design into countless American driveways. The strikingly smooth Chevy Nomad of 1955-1957 brought mid-century modern style to the practical station wagon.
Encouraged by the show automobile's reception, and conscious that America's growing suburban areas were taking in ever more station wagons, Chevrolet developed the Nomad into a premium Bel Air-level "halo" model for their 1955-57 routine wagon lines. The Wanderer two-door sport wagon style was produced through 1957. Each of the 3 design years still has its enthusiastic fans the original Wanderers have actually never gone out of style.
Chevrolet knocked one out of the ballpark in 1955. Not just was the vehicle longer, lower, and larger, it offered a purity of style extremely without the chrome-laden excesses that had ended up being the norm on American cars and trucks. This was a landmark automobile, too, as it marked the first year of the age-old "little block" V-8 which rapidly became the darling of hot rodders and racers alike.
