The Bel Air is magnificently styled, and despite the two-tone paint job, chrome trim, hood ornaments, fins, and more, it's still in some way understated in its style. There's no excess in this piece of rolling American exceptionalism. It's a true work of art of automobile styling, a testament to what vehicle designers can do when enabled to put style ahead of all else.
See all 14 photosDipping into the throttle and looking at the sun-swept California hillside rolling out before me frees me of thoughts of impending death. The Bel Air's engine isn't feeling well todaya most likely vacuum issue limiting the cars and truck to about 15 mph (or 110 mph if the speedo is to be thought) but it doesn't matter.
It even handles decently, particularly when compared with the '49 Cadillac likewise on hand. After investing a long time driving and admiring the Bel Air, it's not hard to see how it won our hearts. The '55 Chevy specified its generationjust as much then as it does today.
The 1955 Chevy Bel Air: The World's Most All-time Popular Vehicle? To begin, the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air has been featured in numerous Hollywood films. Here's an example: it was in American Graffiti. Harrison Ford made his screen debut driving a black 1955 Chevy in this film. This was what challenged John Milner (Paul Lemat) in his interesting yellow 1932 Ford 5 window coupe.
One of the reasons 1955 Chevy's exceptional appeal in the media was that General Motors sold lots of them, over 3 million. This was likely since it had a powerful new V8 engine and a fresh new body design. First, let's consider the body redesign. Although Ford had actually already went to a "shoe box" body design (without external fenders) in the late 1940s, Chevy was slowly beginning to do the exact same thing through the early 1950s.
This look involved smooth straight panels on the sides and hood, triangular tail lights that stuck out outside and wrap-around glass on the windscreen. According to the Sales Manager at, the motoring public went nuts over this make over. The next characteristic that was a big hit was the available V8 engine.
The new 265-cubic-inch overhead valve V8 for the 1955 design year was a design that was a huge hit. This engine was developed to be lighter, smaller sized, and more powerful than any other V8s in the car market at the time. The 1955 design year was likewise a year for other Chevrolet firsts.
These options consisted of altering from an old-fashioned 6-volt system to a 12-volt and the intro of numerous new choices like air conditioning, 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 models.
Today, the non-post variation is more popular with collectors. The Bel-Air could also be had in a convertible variation. If you wish to see what this lorry appears like, it would be really handy to Google "1955 Chevy Bel Air." Chevrolet kept the similar chassis and body style for the 1955, 56, and 57 model years.
Survey some automobile enthusiasts and you will likely discover a consensus on the following truth: the 1955 Chevy is the most identifiable vehicle ever made. We hope that you have delighted in learning more about this classic automobile!.
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 initially of the famous small-blocks made this Chevy an almost instant classic. Rock-and-roll music was just starting to shock American culture, and the Bel Air was the perfect vehicle for Saturday night cruising.
Wrap-around windshield. Curved taillights styled into rounded rear fins. Chevrolet entirely revamped its cars and trucks for 1955, with what it called the 'Motoramic' search for the top-of-the-range Bel Air plus the intro of the legendary 'small-block' V8 engine. Thrilling performance and a flamboyant, confident and colorful design were what made the 1955 Bel Airs coupes, convertibles and station wagons - stick out from the crowd.
" In my viewpoint, the '55 Bel Air is the best of the Tri5s," asserts Ed. "It was such a departure from 1955, so fresh, so contemporary. This was a cars and truck that looked more expensive than it actually was, something that could likewise be said about the Cruze today." The brand new 1955 Bel Air splendidly redefined Chevrolet, with its streamlined Motoramic styling, enhanced chassis and sizzling brand-new 265-cid Turbo-Fire V-8 - the first of Chevy's legendary small-block V-8s 1955 Speed Car-Chevrolet presented its new small-block V-8 engine in 1955 and showcased the powerplant in the Chevrolet Bel Air Rate Automobile convertible.
Keating, was the driver TELEVISION personality and Chevy representative Dinah Shore poses with child in pedal vehicle reproduction and real 1955 Bel Air Indy Speed Car. The Chevrolet Bel Air, official rate automobile of the Indy 500 in 1955 Even now, numerous a car-obsessed kid's mini vehicle stash consists of at least one '57 Chevy.
And there is more to the 1957 Chevy than excellent looks. Chevrolet presented fuel Injection to American automobiles for 1957, and the 283-cid small-block Chevrolet 'fuelie' produced one horse power per cubic inch, impressive performance in 1957. Fuel-injected '57 Chevys whipped rivals so soundly in NASCAR racing that the company prohibited FI technology a ban that is still in result 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 sleek roofline initially seen on the 1954 GM Motorama concept station wagon, Chevy Wanderer put dream-car design into thousands of American driveways. The noticeably sleek Chevy Wanderer of 1955-1957 brought mid-century contemporary style to the practical station wagon.
Encouraged by the program automobile's reception, and conscious that America's burgeoning suburban areas were soaking up ever more station wagons, Chevrolet developed the Nomad into a premium Bel Air-level "halo" model for their 1955-57 regular wagon lines. The Wanderer two-door sport wagon style was produced through 1957. Each of the 3 model years still has its passionate fans the initial Nomads have actually never gone out of style.
Chevrolet knocked one out of the ballpark in 1955. Not just was the vehicle longer, lower, and broader, it offered a purity of design remarkably devoid of the chrome-laden excesses that had actually become the standard on American cars and trucks. This was a landmark automobile, too, as it marked the first year of the age-old "small block" V-8 which quickly became the beloved of hot rodders and racers alike.
