The 1955-1957 year range represented a lot of effort by GM. They spent a million dollars in 1956 alone because they wanted to make the Bel Air look like the more expensive Cadillacs. The result was extravagant body lines, Cadillac-inspired bumper guards, and tail fins. A brand new body style for 1955 especially for Bel Air models. This is thanks to the popular V8 introduced in the prior year. For consignment, the debut car in the tri five craze, the 1955 Bel Air. A great mid 50's presentation for its paint quality which with the Regal Turquoise and India Ivory two one you cannot go wrong. Now sporting a 350ci crate engine, a single 4-barrel carburetor, and 15 inch torque thrust wheels. Tight! A superior India Ivory paint covers the upper roof and rear of this car. It is delineated by a trim spear where we see Regal Turquoise below, on the hood and front quarters. Panels are straight, and gaps are dead on. The jet age hood ornament is flying above the simplest of the grilles for the tri five Bel Airs. It takes the shape of a squared off oval if you will, and uses a chromed egg crate inside the panel. Chrome bumpers are good and the trim is shiny with no dimpling or rust. The Bel Air badging and Chevrolet script in your grandmother's handwriting is good. 15-inch polished Torque thrust wheels are wrapped in wide whites and are seen on all 4 corners. A shout to the rear brake lights with the nifty round ball in the center of the ''flame shape'' taillight with a small rectangular backup light below all within a lamplighter styled bezel on each rear quarter upper corner. A great job right down to the perfect cloisonné badges all over this car. And don't leave out that curved front glass and chrome B pillar adornment framing more wrap around glass on back. Looking like the original but totally redone and like new, door panels sport turquoise upper stitched vinyl housing the door actuator, and window crank. A white vinyl mid-section has the armrest which has a trim spear shape conforming to the upper swoop spear turquoise panel. Also, this floats in a field of horizontal ribbed stitched white vinyl and a turquoise panel just above the bottom of each door. Looking toward the front bench, a nifty fifty design abounds with a white tuck and roll vinyl for the inserts, and turquoise vinyl is seen on the bolster's tubs and smooth uppers. In the center of the split front bench the turquoise forms a lazy V pattern for extra interest. Seatbelts are seen at every passenger position front and rear bench. Turquoise clean carpet covers the floors throughout. Hanging above is the dual fan shaped dash front and a wonderful horizontal ribbed chrome middle with punched bowtie pattern and more turquoise metal below. Bezels and knobs are pristine. In the middle we see a vintage replacement Wonderbar style radio. Otherwise, this interior and dash are simply...elegant. Right up to the white headliner with chromed straps at the seams. Call me a sucker for this only year dual fan dash, I'm proud to be one! A raise of the hood, and there completely chromed and blinged 350ci V8 crate engine and it just gleams under there. It is topped by a 4-barrel carb, which pushes air to the poppers through an Edelbrock intake manifold. A 200R4 4-speed automatic is backing up the 350 cubes and throwing power to a 3.36 rear axle. Just another beautiful presentation with its gray painted block, pristine headers, chromed valve covers, cast intake and corrosion free bolt ons and master cylinder. And I need to mention a new battery, running the electric radiator fan. Not a hint of surface rust is seen anywhere. All freshly painted black framing and floor pans with a new fuel tank. Body hangers and framing is all rust free and more black paint. Dual Flowmaster mufflers take the handoff from the headers. Power disc brakes for the front, and power drums for the back, and it is looking great underneath, just like the topside. The car runs smooth and quiet, accelerates nicely and shifts smoothly automatically. It has a nice cruising altitude if you will, and an overall comfortable seating and ride. The backup lights are a dealer add on option from this year. The steering was tight and braking bias free. All functions were in perfect working order.
