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1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan
Detroit, 9:30 PM
Fri Nov 27
4 posts in the last 24 hours
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1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
04/12/09
Potential QOTD... what modern car could pull off a two tone paint job like that?
04/12/09
On the other hand...
04/12/09
I like how the Veyron does it, honestly. I know there's something else, too, but I can't finger it at the moment...
04/12/09
What's the time? IT'S TIME FOR THAT BENZ!
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I can't stand the SSR. Thought it was badass for a few weeks, and it got very, very old to me.
And, good call on the R8! One combination in particular was excellent, though I can't remember what it was...
04/12/09
In the mid-1950s Ford and Chevy were locked in a sales battle so intense that it pretty much sucked all of the oxygen in the room. Plymouth struggled to keep up and most of the American independents fell by the wayside.
Graverobber: The 1955 Chevy was the basis for the Checker Marathon? From what I can tell the "modern" Checker was introduced in 1956. Did it borrow both Chevy's chassis and body? If so, the Checker's wheelbase was stretched five inches and the"dog leg" windshield was discarded.
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There's a '57 convertible, faded yellow-with-black, rotting away under a car cover up in Antrim. I hope to God somebody buys that thing.
04/12/09
GM should just build this car again with modern drivetrain and slightly updated interior. But then again, I wouldn't trust a bunch of accountants to preserve any of the beauty of the shape, the colours, the style.
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04/12/09
Plus, I always like the '58 better.
Speaking of which, while prone trying to breathe properly, yesterday, on Suck TV (used to be Speedvision when they did BTCC, ATTC, and WRC), Barrett-Jackson had a '59 Pontiac convertible. I've never seen one, which is a good thing, as I'd likely still be cuffed to it in an attempt to outlive the owner.
Since the '57 has been less in-your-face over the past 10-15 years, I've grown to like them, again. What I always found positively fascinating is how the '55, '56, '57, '58, and '59 were SO different, you can tell which one is which with a baklava and mittens on.
I hate to sound old, but when I see the modern-day version of the entry-level Chebby, I think, "hmmm, that Kia is pretty beat...I wonder if it's first generation or second...regardless, maybe I should leave an card and keep my fingers crossed for LeMons."
04/12/09
...which is delicious, but hard to wear.
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04/12/09
Down on the Street is where I spent most of my days
Chillin' out, parkin', relaxin' all cool and all
Blowin' out grey smoke outside of the school
When the sauciest guy, he was up to some good,
Started takin' pictures in the neighbourhood
She got on one little blog, and Novaload's granddad got scared
He said "I ain't sellin' my one car, the Chevy Bel Air!"
He whistled for his car, and when I came near
The licence plate said DRZ 613 and it looked nice in a mirror
If anything, nowadays, this car is rare,
But he thought, "nah, forget it, you're just a Bel Air!"
She pulled up to the blog around seven or eight
And yelled to the Roy Wort, "Yo homes, smell ya later!"
Looked at her weekend, it was finally there,
To deliver his pics of that Chevy Bel Air.
04/12/09
04/12/09
While I might want to say I toiled for five hours at my desk one midsummer's eve in anticipation of a Bel Air down on that Alameda street, in truth I was lying in bed at my computer (which was so moved to allow the window replacer man to do his thing yesterday), channeling Jazzy Jeff, wishing I didn't have to go to work today.
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The Lutzmeister kink?
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A crappy snapshot, but this is the only '55 Chevy I've ever bothered to photograph:
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(On the bright side, most of your friends are my friends too. But I've got a lot of friends.)
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04/12/09
Weird, I think you're right. I don't see me on your friends-list either, but I do see you on my followers-list. Try that.
04/12/09
04/12/09
His dad's got a '64 Daytona and a '48 Land Cruiser himself. They're such awesome cars. You got pictures of yours?
04/12/09
Front lap belts only, unpadded pointy steel dash to crush your skull in a quick stop, slick vinyl rear bench with door releases at elbow height and nothing to hang on to, etc. Lots of fun for cruising but not a car I'd want to be in if it hit something.
04/12/09
When I look at this example, it's a lesson in how to integrate many different parts into one pleasing whole, with chrome, line, color--as opposed to the monocolor blobules we have now.
Why did chrome go away? Anyone know? Anyone?
04/12/09
04/12/09
I'd gladly give up a few mpg for some genuine style that didn't cost 6 figures. And the economic argument for actual bumpers is that in so many cases they could absorb your average bump or crunch without damaging the expensive paint and metal; but on the safety side, they do not crumple and help keep you alive.
Still, I'm amazed at what a little fender bender costs people now, when all that plastic crap and inter0connected bits fall off. So you can't just replace a bumper, you have to get the bumper and the cover and the nose.
04/12/09
These cars ARE made today. They just have different names. Heard of the Toyota Camry? How 'bout Honda Accord?
The appeal of the Camry and Accord is the same as the tri-five Chevys: nicely styled, affordable for most people, comfortable, reliable, strong performance without being tempermental or expensive, enough variants and options to satisfy most buyers. The tri-five's were very popular new AND used, the sign of a very good car.
The difference between these cars and modern Camrys and Accords is they set a standard for style, performance and affordability. Chevy did everything right at the right time with these cars. They were the right car at the right time for the right marketplace. By comparison, modern Hondas and Toyotas are derivative, well-executed copies of someone else's ideas and innovations. In 50 years do you think a 2009 Toyota Camry LE sedan with its 2.4L 4-cyl engine will be loved and canonized like the 1955 Chevy is today? No way, IMO.
The Camry is a good car for today, but even in 1955 people knew the Chevy was something special. You can't even say that for the more popular '55 Ford, how can one say that for an Accord?
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I know all about Japanese blandgineering. I drive an '06 Prius and before that a '96 Camry. But when my roommate's out of town, I drive his '65 Studebaker, because when it all comes down to it I don't actually need a nine-speaker JBL that hooks up to my iPod, integrated Bluetooth, stability control, six airbags, 5-mph bumpers, anti-lock brakes, three-point seatbelts, crumple zones, or a collapsible steering column.
04/12/09
I'd hope automakers have learned something in the last 54 years in terms of refinement, quality and design. They've had plenty of time to work on those things since the '55 Chevy hit the market.
I've spoken to many people who bought tri-fives new or lightly used (bought in the late 50's/early 60's). While there are some who just saw the cars as transportation, many understood the uniqueness of the design and performance. They bought and appreciated them for that. Those sentiments still exist today.
In the end, today's knowledge does not and should not diminish the accomplishments of cars like the tri-five Chevy's. It remains to be seen if the modern Japanese car is held is such high regard.
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My grandmother had a similar be Air. It was a great ride and absolutely cherry. But I don't think she ever had it up over 40 mph. Too bad some kid without insurance ran a light and T-boned her. And that was all she wrote.
04/12/09
327 holley 4 barrel carb. Corvette V8
4 speed hurst shifter
rear end suspension mod for drag racing (don't know exact specs off hand)
The car, is, in one word, gorgeous, both aesthetically and mechanically. paint is beautiful, a lot of the engine bay has been chromed.
And nothing sounds like it. Scares the dogs away when it starts up.
04/13/09