Bel Air
Solid Driver: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
I was once asked to compile a dream car list, but I could only choose one car from each decade. I struggled with some, but the 1950s was a no-brainer. It couldn’t be anything but a Matador Red 1957… more»
Needs Interior: 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air
In its heyday in the 1950s, the Bel Air was Chevrolet’s top-of-the-line automobile. Then came the Impala and then the Caprice, so the Bel Air was repositioned toward the bottom of the rung by 1966. The rather stark Biscayne… more»
Gold Plated 50 Millionth Tribute: 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
In the Fall of 1954, General Motors was preparing to celebrate its 50 millionth vehicle to roll off the assembly line. The honor went to a new 1955 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe that was gold-plated from head to… more»
Real Barn Find: 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Project
Although the Chevrolet Bel Air was introduced back in 1950, it’s the ’55 through ’57 models that enthusiasts typically have recurring dreams about, the years lovingly known as the tri-fives. Sadly, the fifties decade was a long time ago,… more»
Mild Sleeper 283 V8: 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air
Chevrolet set a record for sales in 1965, so without many changes going into 1966, it was no surprise that sales with drop off (about 20% for the full-size cars, depending on model). Still, Chevrolet managed to build more… more»
One Family Owned: 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan
Choosing to part with a classic that has been part of your family for sixty-eight years must be difficult, but it is the decision made by the owners of this 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan. It presents beautifully, carrying… more»
283 Dual-Quad: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
The term “icon” is probably one of the more overused in the classic world, with some cars unworthy of that accolade. However, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air deserves its place on the list. It has remained a staple of… more»
Déjà Vu: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
Though not popular when new, the Chevy Nomad of 1955-57 has become extremely collectible today. Only 23,000 were built in three years and the 1957 edition is the rarest at just over 6,000 copies. If this 1957 Nomad looks… more»
Classic Sport Wagon Project: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
I’ve never understood why the “Sport Wagon” never took off. By that I mean the 1955-57 Chevy Nomad and its corporate cousin the Pontiac Safari. Perhaps they were too fancy to be used to haul around stuff. Or they… more»
Fully Equipped Project: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
To many, the styling of the 1957 Chevrolets was the best of the “Tri-Fives” era (1955-57). The cars would sprout tailfins for a single model year, only to return after skipping 1958. The Sport Sedan, available in Bel Air… more»
Stored 34 Years: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Though Chevrolet redesigned its cars in 1955 (the famous “Tri-Fives”), a 4-door hardtop was not included initially. That changed in 1956 with the introduction of the Sport Sedan, perhaps the coolest model next to the Sport Coupe and Nomad… more»
Former Barn Find: 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air
Styling of the 1959-60 Chevrolets was inspired by the “Forward Look” redesign of Chrysler products in 1957, which may have caught the industry by surprise. Tailfins quickly became the all-the-rage and led Chevrolet to shift gears, causing the all-new… more»
Family Owned for 61 Years: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe
Here’s an interesting one that I’d like to know more about. This iconic, highly-collectible ’57 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe has been in solitary confinement for at least eight years in a car trailer. It’s been owned by a… more»
Stored 22 Years! 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Wagon
After a period of styling excesses, Chevrolet toned down the appearance of their full-size automobiles in 1961 (no more “batwings”). The 1962s were even crisper in appearance and may be the best that Chevy had to offer that decade… more»
924 Horsepower Gasser: 1955 Chevrolet 150
When it comes to road movies I could watch over and over in my youth, Two-Lane Blacktop may not have been an all-time favorite but it certainly gets an honorable mention. However, its impact wasn’t so much for the… more»
350/4-Speed: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Post
Some enthusiasts studiously avoided tackling another person’s unfinished project build. Their reluctance is understandable because nothing sours the ownership experience like rust emerging from beneath inch-thick Bondo on a car they were told was rock-solid. That shouldn’t be an… more»
