_{Page created Nov 25 2005}
^{Last modified May 1 2007}

Even 50 years ago it rarely happened that a new car model was made all from scratch. However this is exactly how Chevrolet 1955 was created - a milestone in American car history. The bosses at GM could not ignore the writing on the wall: "Studebaker V8", "Oldsmobile V8" and not least "Ford V8". They only had a 6 cylinder single-row Chevrolet, quite a nice 6-cylinder, but it just could not stand the competition any longer. Chevrolet was loosing market shares and especially it's appeal to young drivers. Ford V8 appealed to the "Hot Rods", while their grandads drove Chevrolet.

Headed by Ed Cole the work started on the new Chevrolet in 1952 and Cole and his team did a thorough job. Chassis, suspension, rear shaft, body and not least an excellent V8 engine was developed from scratch. Among the car´s approx. 4500 parts only 675 are reused from earlier designs. By using an advanced new "green sand" moulding technique the new V8 engine could be produced very rationally in a thin-walled foundry piece, which actually made the new V8 41 pounds lighter than the old Stovebolt single-rowed 6'er. As the 265 cui V8 produced significantly more power than the old 6'er and furthermore with a lower fuel consumption, Chevrolet suddently had a winner.

        

        
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This particular Bel Air is a piece of Danish motoring history. It was first sold in 1955 to a manufacturer in Denmark, purchased via the socalled special dollar premium system, which was part of the fifties' Marshall-aid to Denmark. The car has only had 2 owners from new and it has been well taken care off. The second owner have had the car for more than 2 decades, and has been extremely passionate about keeping the car as original as possible.

"Matching numbers"

The car is truly original apart from exterior paint kept in its original two-tone Indian Ivory White over Ocean Blue Metallic. Apart from this the car stands un-restored in near mint condition as when it left the dealer in 1955 with original floor mats, interior, labels, instructions etc. Even the body-drop number used at the plant to match the body with the chassis is written in a rush with a grease pin on the torpedo plate in the engine bay.

  
Click on pictures to enlarge.

This sample is one of the rare 2-door sedans and the top of the range model with 265 cui V8 (standard was 6- cyl.), Powerglide automatic transmission, safety glass in all windows, one-piece bumpers and is on white-wall tyres, typical of the time. Needless to say this Bel Air comes with complete documented history and all it's original papers, customs certificate, owners manual etc.

Chevrolet Bel Air 1955 is an icon of the fifties and might be one of the very best cars to represent the essence of American culture of the time, and is today a sought after car classic. We dare to say that this car is one of very few well preserved '55 Bel Air's still left.

To contact the seller, please email chevy@advertigo.com.