1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION
Colourful, stylish and charismatic, this Chevrolet Bel Air perfectly captures the spirit of 1950s America, and has benefitted from a restoration during which no expense was spared.
Little is known of the car’s early history, but the current UK-based owner bought it in France, having fallen in love with it when he travelled there with the intention of buying a Citroën 2CV. At that time, the Chevrolet had recently been rebuilt – all the way down to the last nut and bolt.
The bodywork was stripped to bare metal and repainted in the original two-tone colour scheme of Matador Red and India Ivory. All of the brightwork – including the iconic ‘jet bird’ mascot on the bonnet – was rechromed, a process that cost €30,000 on its own.
The original straight-six engine has been replaced with Chevrolet’s 283ci (4.6-litre) V8, which is running on a Demon carburettor and an Edelbrock intake manifold. Electronic ignition has been fitted, while the cooling system has been upgraded with an electric fan.
Other modifications include uprated double-wishbone front suspension and disc brakes all round, while the standard wheels have been replaced by 15in American Racing rims.
Inside, the two-tone interior is pure ‘1950s Americana’, the original features being complemented by a powerful Sony Xplod stereo system, complete with remote control.
The total bill for the restoration came to about €100,000, and the Chevrolet has been used only sparingly since being brought into the UK. The owner took it to one car show, where he reported that, not surprisingly, it was the star attraction. Throughout his ownership, it has been kept in a garage beneath a breathable cover and has never been driven in wet weather.
The end result is a Chevrolet Bel Air that is being offered for sale in truly exceptional condition. Its combination of an effortlessly powerless V8 engine and three-speed automatic gearbox makes it a relaxing, easy car to drive. When you add its ‘rock and roll’ style, it’s little wonder the Bel Air has become such a coveted Stateside classic.
MODEL HISTORY
Chevrolet first used the famous Bel Air name in 1950, when it was applied to its two-door hardtop coupe. From 1953, it became the marque’s flagship range, sitting above the 150 and 210 models, and was offered in an extensive combination of body styles, engines and transmissions.
Chevrolet introduced a revamped Bel Air for the 1955 model year, the most significant change being the availability of a small-block V8 engine in addition to the existing straight-six. The 265ci (4.3-litre) unit produced 162bhp in standard trim, but could be specified with up to 195bhp thanks to the ‘Super Power Pack’ option.
The 1956 Bel Air was a mildly facelifted development of the ’55 model, and once again offered a choice of straight-six or V8 engines, plus a three-speed manual gearbox or the two-speed Powerglide automatic. The ‘Power Pack’ option now gave 205bhp, and when Road & Track magazine tested a Bel Air in that specification, it recorded a top speed of 111mph and a 0-60mph time of nine seconds.
Later in 1956, the ‘Power Pack’ engine was boosted to 225bhp, and the Chevrolet V8s of this period were referred to as the ‘Hot Ones’. Their performance was highlighted by Chevrolet’s assault on the 12-mile Pikes Peak hillclimb in Colorado in September 1955. Using a ’56 car before it had even been unveiled to the public, Zora Arkus-Duntov broke the long-standing hill record for the sedan class by more than two minutes.
Chevrolet sold more than 100,000 of its 1956 Bel Air, and its V8 engine – soon to be enlarged to 283ci for the 1957 model – became a favourite with racers and hot-rodders. While the Bel Air name lived on until 1981, the ’56 model is renowned as being a particular sweet spot thanks to its combination of specification and styling.