Build It Your Way: 1955 Chevrolet 150/210 Coupe
Tri-Five Chevrolets come in all flavors, all conditions, all modifications, all trims, and all body styles. And today’s shoebox Chevy is no exception. Located in Saint James, New York is this 1955 Chevrolet 150 or 210 two-door sedan (hard to know with certainty), for sale here on eBay with a BIN price of $3,900. Thanks to Russell G for the tip.
There’s a lot going on here that can be summarized pretty briefly, it’s essentially a gutted race car. The vibe it gives off is a sort of “Two-Lane Blacktop” set-up. The right-side quarter panel has had the wheel opening radiused while the driver’s side looks like it was radiused and then the removed steel was reattached or was it never cut-off completely in the first place (One-Lane Blacktop)?
Not much to discuss under the hood. A ’55 Chevrolet would have had, originally, either a 235 CI in-line six-cylinder engine or the new for 1955, 265 CI small block V8. Being 64 years old, this shoebox could have had a plethora of engines over its life-time but crickets, at best, is all we’ll hear now.
Interior? What interior? Gutted – seat springs, ignition switch, some of the instrument panel and that’s about it. There are some parts sitting nearby on the lawn but other than the obvious parts, like the bumpers, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s there as there is little accompanying detail.
Underneath is a differential and what the seller describes as a “front frame clip welded in from possibly a Nova.” So, I guess that means a X or F body sub-frame was somehow incorporated into or replaced the front portion of the original ’55 Chevy perimeter frame. This one will take some investigation. There is mention of some surface rust too, that would be expected; hopefully it’s not the invasive surface rust kind of rust.
All in all, the body doesn’t look too bad, the wheel opening matter referenced earlier is a little confusing but the sheet metal looks intact and not terribly corroded or rotted away – replacement steel, including the entire body, is available from suppliers.
This is pretty much a shell with, as I mentioned earlier, a track car persona which would probably be the most logical direction to pursue. With it as gutted as it is, it’s going to need a lot of time, money, effort and skill to build this tri-five into a going concern again. So, what would you do if you wanted a ’55, rebuild this into what was probably intended, attempt a stock restoration or consider another candidate all together?
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Comments
I say 150, a 210 should have stainless around the windshield.
And, the rear window…
Yup that’s what’s left of a poor ol’ one fitty alright
Yowza!
I see this one has the rare sunfloor option, for those occasions when you’re upside-down and want to allow some sunlight in.
Pass for $3500. Hard pass.
And here I thought it was the Fred Flintstone Power Brakes option.
The VIN starts with “A”, which means that was originally a 6-cyl Series 150. This series had simple wiring, no fuse block. Turn signals and back up lights were optional and had to be wired in with a special kit.
Since as noted you can buy new body s ,why bother with this junk, it will never be original anyway
I left my 55 Bel Air 2 door sedan in Leesville, Louisiana after gettin out of the Army in 1967.
I still have pictures of it.
I traded it for a 57 Dodge. Just curious if it still exists. Turquoise and white. 265, power glide.
Near Ft Polk. Joe
My 55 serial number was VC55L090208. Still have contract when I bought it on Feb 4, 1964 $395. Brasher Used Cars, Artesia, Calif. Had 44,000 original miles. Was a radio delete. I had installed a 56 Chevy search tune radio.
I sold my 55 2dr hardtop with a rebuilt 327 four speed and black lacquer for 800 in 1979.
It would drag often on the backroads on weekends after date nights 🤣
Memories… 😉
I have the vin somewhere in the house too .
I hate restomods, but this would make a fantastic sleeper for someone. Give it the appearance of a completely correct 210 (just cut and replace body panels with serious rust using repro stuff), but use a small turbo engine and modern transmission, as well as stronger drivetrain parts.
It would be such a nice change from all the other restomods with obvious customization. A quiet, correct appearing car with little sacrifice involved, but all the power of a more obnoxious one. Heck, go crazy in the engine bay making it look like an original small block Chevy engine!
Bob Falfa tribute car?
Barney Rubble tribute car ?
If that car was in sunny so cal I would be building a gasser tribute of the old Tabasco 55. 327 and a hilborn and a straight axle.