1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air Saloon - V8

Offered here is a 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air Saloon that has been subject to a complete body-off restoration finished to very high standards and the quality of the finish achieved has allowed this ’50s American Saloon to feature in magazine articles and take numerous awards at shows and events. Truly spectacular, finished in correct original colours of Regal Turquoise with Indian Ivory and a remarkably well detailed turquoise interior.  At the time of cataloguing, the speedometer indicated just 12,920 miles which appears to be since restoration.

The rebuild was total ground-up nut and bolt including all new inner and outer panels, front and rear wings, door sills and floor pan. The panel fit is excellent across the entire body including the doors. Paint finish remains very good along with all the fixtures and chrome-work. The interior is a work of art with seats retrimmed correctly in keeping with the original ‘50s Bel-Air pattern and all instruments appear to function correctly.

Documents within the history file suggest that the six-cylinder, 3.9-litre engine has been replaced by a new 5.7-litre GM Factory unit upgraded with performance enhancements including ‘Pro-heads’, four-barrel Holley carburettor, twin exhaust system, uprated manifolds and an improved cooling system with aluminium radiator and cooling fans. On test the Bel Air fires into life with ease thanks to the electronic choke, sounds very healthy and makes good oil pressure. Out on the road, the car is an absolute pleasure to drive with the 3-speed transmission smooth and responsive, relatively precise steering and decent brakes.

Accompanying the Bel Air is a substantial history file with numerous invoices for works completed in the US before import into the UK. Once back here, a previous owner took the car to the next level of detail and more invoices can be found evidencing further extensive works. All import documentation is on file and the car is correctly registered with a current V5C ready for transfer or export. A feature in ‘Classic American’ July 2020 outlines one man's obsession to create the perfect '50s Bel Air – successfully achieved it seems. Numerous trophies accompany the car for ‘Best in Show’ at specialist American car and hot-rod events. A professional private classic car inspection report can also be found in the file which supports the integrity of this example totally.

This is a beautifully finished 1950s American Saloon which could be a focal point of any car collection or will continue to attract all the right attention from Concours judges or enthusiasts at classic car events. With decent space in the rear, this could also be enjoyed by friends and family.