55 CHEVY CALIFORNIA HARDTOP

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air/150/210 BELAIR Description

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A QUALITY 55 DRIVER TYPE CAR TO CRUISE AROUND IN, OR A SHOW CAR PROJECT, YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT.
FOR A TOP SHOW CAR PROJECT, YOU COULD EASILY SPEND THIS MUCH BY THE TIME YOU B UYA PROJECT CARAND TURN IT OVER TO A QUALITY SHOP TO PATCH UP A SUPPOSEDLY GOOD CAR. BUYING ON LINE CAN REALLY COMPOUND YOUR PROBLEMS UNLESS YOU LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO GO LOOK AT THE CAR, BUTIN THIS LISTINGTHERE ARE ENOUGH HIGH QUALITY PICTURES HERE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE BUYING.
THIS CAR HAS ALL OFITS ORIGINAL METAL WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE, BECAUSE AS NEAR AS I CAN TELL IT WAS NEVER IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THE PANELS HAVE NEVER BEEN (MASSAGED) FOR FIT, BUT YET THEY FIT LIKE A GLOVE.
TAKING THIS CAR TO TOP SHOW QUALITY STANDARDS WOULD BE AVERY EASY AND FUN PROJECT. ALLOF ITS ORIGINAL UNPITTED CHROME WILL PLATE NICELY AND ACTUALLY FIT THE CAR, UNLIKE THE REPRODUCTION.
THE STAINLESS IS ALL THERE, STRAIGHT, FITS LIKEGM ENGINEERS INTENDED,ANDONLY HASMINIMAL SCRATCHES. THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEMSSUCH ASTRYING TO MAKE THE METAL OR TRIM FIT, NOT TO MENTION THE COST.
OF COURSETHE CAR HASBEEN A GOOD DRIVER AND COULD STILL BE THAT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
This is an article from Hemmings classics by Richard LentinelloA low price can easily tempt you into buying a rusted-out car; however, you can avoid a lot of problems and expense by buying a car that's solid and complete instead. Your potential project car doesn't have to run, or to have nice paint or a complete interior-rather, its far more important for its metal structure to be solid inside and out and be devoid of any major frame or body damage. Spending a few extra dollars for a car with less rust will greatly reduce the overall cost of the restoration, because you won't have to spend thousands of dollars buying replacement body parts and patch panels (which may not fit), nor will you haveto pay a hefty labor charge to have those panels installed.
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten” – BenjaminFranklin
I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA OF CALIFORNIA AROUND 1985 AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO MICHIGAN WHERE IT HAS REMAINED SINCE THEN. IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN IN THE LA AREA, SO IT WAS THE TYPICAL RUST FREE CALIFORNIA CAR. PRIOR TO 1985 IT HAD BEEN A MULTI YEAR PROJECT FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER.
THE CAR WAS USED DURING SUMMERS ONLY FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS INCLUDING A COUPLE OF 600 MILE ROUND TRIPS WITH NO PROBLEMS. IT HAD THE ORIGINAL 55 3.55 RATIO REAR END, WHICH MADE IT UNBEARABLE ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE TWO SPEED POWERGLIDE, SO I REPLACED THAT REAR END WITH A 57 3.36 RATIO, AND THATDROPPED THERPM (NOISE LEVEL) AND MADE FOR MUCH MORE PLEASURABLE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.
THE CAR FOUND A NEW HOME IN MICHIGAN IN 1990, AND THE NEW LADY OWNER DECIDED TO HAVE IT PAINTED AND A NEW INTERIOR PUT IN, BUT MEDICAL PROBLEMSARE NOWFORCING HER TO SELL. SO I WILL TRY TO EXPLAIN THE CARS GOOD AND BAD POINTS, AND SHOW EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE,
IT STARTS VERY GOOD, EVEN THOUGH THE LAST TUNE UP WAS YEARS AGO,IT RUNS GOOD, DRIVES DOWN THE ROAD GOOD, AND STOPS STRAIGHT. YOU WILL LIKE THIS CAR.
THE CONDITION OF THE FLOORSWOULD BEAMONG THE BEST YOU WILL FIND ON AN ORIGINAL 60 YEAR OLD CAR---JUST CLEAN IT AND ITS AS GOOD AS NEW.CHECK THE PICTURES FOR THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE FLOORS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE TOP SIDE OF THE FLOORS CAN'T BE SEEN ENTIRELY BECAUSE THE UPHOLSTERY GUY GLUEDINSULATION ON IT, BUT I DO REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS MY CAR THE FLOORS HAD THE ORIGINAL FACTORY RED PRIMER ON THE TOP SIDE, AND THERE ISONE PICTURE WHERE I PULLED UP THE INSULATION.
INSIDE THE TRUNK IS VERY CLEAN AND RUST FREE. THE ONLY RUST THAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE WHOLE CAR IS ON ONE SIDE OF THE TAIL PAN BRACE, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT IT WAS EVER IN AN ACCIDENT.
THE TINTED GLASS IS GOOD AND ALL ORIGINAL EXCEPT THE WINDSHIELD WASREPLACED IN 1985. THE CURRENT OWNER SAYS THE TIRES ARE NEW, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD THEY ARE, AND IT HAS A NEW BATTERY AND FUEL PUMP. THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO NEW IN 1985.
ALL THE CHROME IS ORIGINAL AND VERY NICE EXCEPT THE CHEVY CRESTS ON THE TRUNK AND HOOD LOOK NEW TO ME---I REMEMBER THE CRESTS PAINTED CENTERS WERE FADED, SO SHE PROBABLY REPLACED THEM. I HAVETRIED REPRODUCTION TRIM ON OTHER CARSAND ITFIT SO POORLY I WOULD NOT USE IT.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE OVER A HUNDRED PICTURES TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THE CAR, ANDSEVERAL OF THEM ALSO HAVE NOTES ON THEM. I HATE TO SEE POOR QUALITY PICTURES OF A CAR THAT I'M INTERESTED IN, OR NOT ENOUGH PICTURES TO SEE EVERYTHING, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO BE GUILTY OF THAT.
THE STAINLESS HAS NOT BEEN BUFFED, AND THE BUMPERS ARE THE ONLY ITEMSTHAT WERE REPLATED.
THE BUMPERS DO HAVE THE HOLES FOR ACCESSARY BUMPER END GUARDS, BUT THEY DIDN'T COME WITH THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT BACK IN 1985.
LOOK AT THE FIT OF THE TRUNK LID. THE FIT AND GAPs ARE NICE ON THE DOORS, AND HOOD ALSO, AND THEY CLOSE LIKE THEY DID IN 1955---DO YOU REMEMBER?
YOU ARE GOING TO LIKE THIS CAR
NEW TRUNK MAT
AND NO RUST
THE ROUGH TEXTURE IN THE PREVIOUS PICTURE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT I REMEMBER, SO I USED A RAZOR BLADE TO SCRAP THE PAINT DOWN TO THE GRAY PRIMER THAT THE LASTPAINTER USED. THEN IT WAS OBIOUS FROM THE SMOOTH AND FLAT GRAY PRIMER THAT THE ROUGH TEXTURE IS ALL IN THE WHITE PAINT AND NOT THE METAL.
THE POOR PAINT PREP WORK IN THE TRUNK AREA IS OBVIOUS.THIS CALIFORNIA CAR HAS ONE PIECE BUMPERS AS CAN BE SEEN HERE, FRONT AND REAR. THREE PIECE BUMPER SEAMS ARE UNDER THE BUMPER GUARDS ONTHE 55s.
SOME OF THE TRIM WAS VISIBLE IN THE PREVIOUS PICTURES, AND HERE ARE SOME CLOSE UPS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL CHROME, BUT ACTUALLY IT HASN'T BEEN POLISHED IN MANY YEARS.
SOME CHROME HAS COME OFF THE RIGHT REAR BUMPER GUARD,BUT IT IS STILL SMOOTH METAL WITH NO RUST.
YOU DON'T SEE MANY 55 OR 56 ORIGINAL GRILLS WITHOUT RUST, BUTTHIS IS THE ORIGINAL GM GRILL, ALTHOUGH IT DOES NEED POLISH.
THIS IS ZOOMED IN FOR A CLOSE LOOK
ORIGINAL GM RIVETS ON TOP OF THE GRILL
THE ORIGINAL GLASS AND WINDOW TRIM,ORIGINAL QUARTER WINDOW FRAMES ARE ALWAYS RUST PITTED. BUT ALSO TAKE NOTE OF THE WAY THE SEAT BACKS ARE ALIGNED.
AND THE ALIGNMENT OF THESEAT TRIM (SHELLS).THESEDETAILSMAY SEEM TRIVIAL TO SOME, BUT ITS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SEPARATES A QUALITY RESTORATION, AND THIS INTERIORUPHOLSTERY HAS BEEN RESTORED.
THE DOOR SILL PLATES ARE OBVIOUSLY NEW
DON'T GET ME WRONG, THIS IS NOT A "SHOW CAR", ITS NEVER BEEN RESTORED AND THE PAINT DETAIL ISN'T SHOW QUALITY, BUT IT IS AN EXCELLENT DRIVER QUALITY CAR WITH GREAT POTENTIAL, AND ITS AS SOLID A FOUNDATION AS YOU WILL FIND.THIS PAINT JOB WAS DONEAT LEAST 15 YEARS AGO.
THE VIN TAG LOOKS AS NICE AS THE REST OF THE CAR.
IT WAS COMMON IN THE 1970S IN CALIFORNIA TO HAVE THE GARNISH MOLDINGSCHROME PLATED, AND THE CHROME ON THESE IS STILL VERY NICE.
THE GAGES WORK JUST AS THEY SHOULD, EXCEPT THE CLOCK.
KEEP IN MIND THAT NO ONE IS GOING TO GET A CLOSEUP LOOKLIKE THIS, BUT AFTER YOU POLISH THE CHROME, YOU WON'T MIND IF THEY DO.
CHECK THE ALIGEMENT OF THE ASH TRAY AND GLOVE BOX.
THE CURRECT OWNER PUT THIS RADIO IN, BUT THE ORIGINAL WORKING AM RADIO COMES WITH THE CAR.
AND OF COURSE IT ISN'T A RUSTY MESS
ALL THE RED ON THE FLOOR IS ORIGINAL GM FACTORY RED PRIMER.
THE HEATER WORKS AND IS ORIGINAL, AND I'M 99% SURE THE FIRE WALL PAD IS ALSO ORIGINAL. THE WIRING IS ORIGINAL,BUT IT IS PLIABLE, AND HASN'T CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS.
THE ENGINE HAS A WRIST PIN SLAP, BUT FOR CRUISING IT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM. MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT NOTICE, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LIFTER.
THE COWL TAG IS SO STRAIGHT AND CLEAN IT MAKES YOU THINK IT IS AREPRODUCTION, BUT A CLOSE LOOK AT THE RIVETS WILL SHOW THAT THEYARE THE ORIGINALS.
THIS IS THE ENGINE THAT CAME TO ME WITH THE CAR, BUT IT IS NOT ORIGINALTO THE CAR, IT ORIGINALLY CAME WITH A 4 BARREL ENGINE.
THE TRANSMISSION IS A 56, AND THE REAR END IS OUT OF A 57, SO IT IS PERFECTFOR A RESTO MOD.
THE REAR SPRINGS ARE A LITTLE HEAVY, AND THEY SQUEAK. THE CAR WOULD LOOK MUCH BETTER WITH THE REAR END A LITTLE LOWER---IMO
THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER SHOULD BE ADJUSTED DOWN JUST A LITTLE, THEN ITWOULD LINE UP PERFECT WITH THE ROCKER AND DOOR. CHECK WITH YOUR BODYMAN ON THIS.
STARTING AT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR PAN.
AND GOING BACK FROM THERE
NOTICE THE ROCKER/QUARTER PANEL SEAM AND HOW IT IS STILL FINISHED JUSTAS THE FACTORY DID IT. ALSO JUST IN FRONT OF THAT IS THE SPOT WELDS FOR THE BAFFLE THAT THE FACTORY INSTALLED IN THE ROCKER, BUT THAT BAFFLE ISNOT IN THE REPRODUCTION ROCKER PANELS. IT'S IN THERE TOLIMIT THE TRASH FROM GOING TO THE ROCKERS FROM THE QUARTER PANELS, BUT STILL ALLOWS THE WATER TO FLOW UNTIL IT GETS PLUGGED UP. AND THAT IS WHY THE ROCKERS RUST IN THIS AREA.
THERE IS SOME RUST ON THE OUTER PARTS OF THE FLOOR, BUT IT IS LIGHT AND WILL CLEAN UP EASILY.
SCRAPED WITH THE RAZOR BLADE
AND SANDED WITH 80 GRIT SAND PAPER ON MY THUMB
BOTH ROCKERS ARE STRAIGHT, NODENTS AND RUST FREE.
ALMOST ALL THE FLOOR BETWEEN THE FRAME RAILS IS COVERED WITHOIL AND GREASE SO IT IS EXTREMELY NICE, FACTORY RED PRIMER CAN BE SEEN THROUGH THE OIL. THECENTER HUMPIS UNCUT, SOI GUESS THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TRI-5s THAT NEVER HAD A 4 SPEED.
PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN. THE EXHAUST PIPE IS ALSO VISIBLE AND IT IS RUSTED AND PROBABLY IS READY FOR REPLACEMENT.
DRIVERS SIDE
AND GOING ON BACK
CENTER TAIL PAN AREA, BUMPER, FRAME,AND TAILPAN BRACE
DRIVERS SIDE TAIL PAN AREA, AND A PEEK INSIDE THE FRAME RAIL.
PASSENGER SIDE TAIL PAN AREA
THE ONLY PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE SEEN OR KNOW ABOUT ARE..... FOR ONE THING, THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL PAN BRACE END HAS SOME RUST,AND THAT IS THE ONLY RUST I HAVE SEEN.
THE UPHOLSTERY GUY PUT A SCREW IN TOO FAR AND POKED INTOTHE ROOF CAUSING A STAR CRACK IN THE PAINT.
AND NOT SURE WHATS GOING ON HERE, BUT THAT IS A FACTORY LEADED SEAM.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED MORE PICTURES. I LIKE TO SELL QUALITYITEMSAND BE ABLE TO SHOW EVERYTHING IN DETAIL SO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE BIDDING ON. YOU WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CAR FROM THESE PICTURES THAN IF YOU WERE HERE LOOKING AT IT IN PERSON.
BID WITH CONFIDENCE, YOU KNOW THE GOOD POINTS OF THIS CAR, AND YOU KNOW THE PROBLEMS.
BTWTHE TRANSMISSION DOES THE NORMAL POWERGLIDE BURP (ON THE FLOOR) OF ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF FLUID IF IT IS LEFT ALONE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD---SO IF YOU WIN THIS AUCTION, PLEASE DON'T IGNORE YOUR BABY.