Barn Find Gasser Project: 1955 Chevrolet 210 Post
This car is a quintessential barn find. Everything about the look, the condition, and the make and model of the car. Specifically, it is a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 210 2 door post. It is located in Ooltewah, Tennessee and has a Buy-It-Now price of $9,500 with the ability to make an offer. The seller says they can provide documentation to register or title the car. You can view more about this Tri-Five here on eBay.
There is nothing listed about the engine and that is because there is none. The seller calls the car a Gasser in their title and that it had a 327 V8 with a 4-speed. Both are long gone, but the third pedal is still present on the inside. This car would have originally come with either a 235 inline six or a 265 V8. The 327 was a popular upgrade for people that wanted their Tri-Five to go faster and it sure would be interesting to know the full story behind this car and where the drivetrain has gone to.
Just like the engine, the interior is mostly missing. The listing does state that there is a lot of surface rust, and some significant rust, most notably the floors, transmission tunnel, and both doors. They do say though that the trunk is in good shape with not a lot of rust, and there is a photo that shows that. The original side moldings were replaced many years ago with Bel Air moldings. The car has been off the road since 1971.
The math is kind of interesting though because the listing says the car has been in storage for the last 30 years. What happened between 1971 and 1989 could be considered a mystery. The seller says that they are happy to answer any questions. They also state that since many people want patina, this car has all the patina you could want. Either way, this car could be a really great project.
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Comments
I’m a bit confused over this patina thing- does patina also cover places where the bondo has fallen out?? This is a ruffian and seems like a lot of dough for what is offered, what do you guys think? Blank slate otherwise. So much “patina” (choke) you would need to inspect closely. good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
That BIN price is “buy it never…”. For $1,500 it’s a project. For any more it’s expensive junk.
Piece of crap when new, piece of crap when I bought a Bel Air in 1964. None have their original 265. Junk engine when new.
I heard the dealers often poured Bon Ami sink cleaner into the motor in order to get the rings to set and the oil consumption to become better (less). Not sure if this is true but I have heard this several times. They certainly ironed all the problems out of the SBC in short order though. This car is scary rusty and the stance is wrong for a gasser.
Looks like Betty Croker decorated that “baby cake”!
“Gasser”? I guess if you throw that word at a derelict car it’s supposed to make it more desirable and valuable.
Steve R
$9,500 for a rusty shell? No motor or trans, not much left of the interior but you do get an abundance of rust. “Everybody wants patina nowadays.” Absolutely not true. I guess the seller has to hype what he’s got which isn’t much.
Like Aerosmith said……..”Dream On.”
What’s a Ford radio doing in a Chevy?
Why are Cheeby engines in Fords?
Improvement
My father saved money by not ordering a radio in his new 67 F100. He had a tube type Chevy radio that he built this huge box for and hung it under the dash. When I started driving in 72 a trip to a flea market yielded a Rambler All Transistor radio for $2.
Oh jeez you got the eyesight working today brother, I spit my coffee out laughing.
You da man…………
Bel Air 210 ??? New model ?
There’s patina and then there’s pile of “””t. Insert your own words, you know, gotta keep it PG here.
Its still got the front bumper, can’t see a straight axle in the front, so I’m calling it an old hot rod at best. Very old rod.
Less dollars to get more horsepower!
Forget the gasser, although, they are cool, I’d keep this original. When was the last time you saw a stock “double nickel” 2 door? These were the cars Joe Lunchpail drove to work and home everyday, not flame belching gassers. They couldn’t afford much, and for them, and many others, this was as good as it got, maybe even their 1st new car. They were dependable enough for folks to get out and see this great country, a piece of history, really, and should be done up so, small V8, Powerglide, poverty caps,, just like dad’s.
When I was a kid in Milwaukee, the guy across the street had an old car, he never drove it, we could see it through the garage windows. When he died, they pulled the car onto the street, it was a car just like this in perfect shape.
An all original stocker ’55 is interesting, personally it was the black ’55 in American Graffiti that instantly turned me into a fan of these…all at the age of eight or nine. Another ’55 in a very dumb movie in the seventies called “the pom pom girls”, then of course all the tri five hot rods around town. Stock is nice, but few cars ever caught on with hot rodders as much as these did for so many years. Agreed, the gasser is a bit over the top.
Just looking through the google images for ’55 Chevy 2 doors, it was almost impossible to find a stock one. The all had some modifications. I finally found one, isn’t this cool? BTW, Bob Falfas ’55 Chevy in Graffiti was the same car in 2 Lane Blacktop, and also made an appearance on Adam-12 in a street racing episode.
http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/chevrolet/1955-chevrolet-054.html
Yes, but my problem with the two movies is that I could never get an answer on which of the two ’55’s was used in Graffiti.? In car camera or outside camera car? That tunnel ram dual quad 427 wreaked havoc for the in car filming scenes of Two Lane, as it vibrated so badly and had such a high idle. The other car was switched to a single four barrel intake with a piece of metal exposed inside the scoop…appearing like carburators, and used for filming inside scenes. Doubt that tunnel ram would fit under the smaller period correct hood scoop in Falfa’s ride but I could be completely wrong. Always a pleasure to learn.
Troy, I’ve read that the American Graffiti car had a 454 and was capable of 10 second quarter miles. If it had been period correct it might have had a 348 or 409, or even an Olds 398 or 392 Hemi.
Dave.., it’s a bit late for me to comment now, but the ’55 in Graffiti that swerves off the road at the end was the 454 powered stunt car built for Two Lane, automatic transmission made it much easier during some of the inside filming for American Graffiti as well…but the car we all really love, seen on all of the racing action in both movies and any engine shots was powered by an L88 427 with built headers and the tunnel ram set up. That car and only that one was good for 10.9’s a 127 mph(!!) with slicks. Not too shabby for an otherwise over the counter L88, jeepers! The other car from Two Lane used for all inside filming was sold off before AG was ever filmed and also had a 454,…
The “under hood” shot brought back memories. (The frame brackets for the rear engine mounts that connected to the bell housing, the clutch crank, and the hole in the firewall for the accelerator lever.) I thought that I had gotten over my ’55 Convert that I had in high school and college. But every once in a while I see one and it just brings me back. Lots of fun and memories. They were good reliable cars from the factory. The valve seals were crap, as were the valve cover gaskets. ( no machined surface of a gasket to seal on until much later ) And the Powerglides of that vintage were not the greatest. But overall a well built car.
Gasser……….I don’t think so, gasser project I don’t think so
I really don’t think there’s enough trim pieces on the car to warrant that kind of money!! If you soda blast it there might be nothing left to work on!! The dash looks ok but not for that money!!!
What Keith said…….
Tri-fives…yawn …….. Give me a 58 any day !……..
I wonder if this was a donor car for the 55 in the background ? That could explain where the motor and trans went !