Chevy produced stunning and powerful vehicles in the mid-20th century, including the 1957 Chevrolet, 1955 Cameo Carrier Pickup, the 1958 Impala, and many more important entries in the history of classic and luxury cars. Perhaps their most sought-after vehicle is the 1955 Chevy Bel-Air. The Bel-Air offers classic car enthusiasts a number of features worth writing home about. In this blog, we discuss eight reasons why people absolutely love this car.
#1. Innovative Engine
The 1955 Chevy Bel-Air’s original engine options were a 216.5 cu in Thriftmaster I6, 235.5 cu in Blue Frame I6, and 265 cu in Small-Block V8. The 265 cu in V8 has a short-stroke and high compression ratio along with an overhead-valve system. At the time of its release, the engine was smaller yet far more powerful than similar vehicles’ engines.
Additionally, Chevy equipped the V8 with a double-barrel carburetor with 162 hp. Plus, Chevy offered a quad-barrel carburetor option with 180 hp. The 265 cu in V8 was so innovative and modern that Chevrolet still sells the engine to this day.
#2. Excellent Transmission Options
The 1955 Chevy Bel-Air came with three different transmission options: the 3-speed synchromesh manual transmission, a 3-speed manual, and a 2-speed automatic transmission. All three transmission options work with a column shifter.
The 3-speed synchromesh manual transmission was paired with the 6-cylinder engine options, including the Thriftmaster I6 and the Blue Frame I6. The synchromesh option allowed drivers to change gears faster.
The other 3-speed manual option could come equipped with an overdrive unit, which saved drivers fuel.
The 2-speed automatic transmission was known as the “Powerglide” and was developed by General Motors.
#3. Breathtaking Design
The Bel-Air sports a luxurious and stylish design. Chevrolet designed its large chrome front grille with 1950s race cars in mind. They were especially inspired by Ferrari vehicles. The vehicle’s chrome features look breathtaking, especially in the daytime. The vehicle also boasts gorgeous details, including immaculately-designed bumpers, rims, window frames, and sides.
#4. Body Options
Some of the 1955 Chevy Bel-Air’s details depend on its specific body type. Chevrolet released notable options like the 2-door hardtop, 4-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, 2-door convertible, 2-door station wagon, and 4-door station wagon.
Although every Bel-Air body type looks gorgeous, people especially adore the Bel-Air’s 2-door convertible edition. The convertible option sports a wide body and a stunning soft top that retracts easily.
#5. Gorgeous Interior
Chevrolet designed Bel-Air vehicles to provide drivers with an incredibly smooth, peaceful experience. They designed the interior to reduce the audibility of sounds outside of the cabin, making for a more pleasant experience. Chevrolet even equipped the vehicle with full carpeting for more noise control.
In addition to providing drivers with a peaceful ride, the Bel-Air also features gorgeously-upholstered leather seats. The interior is also incredibly spacious and comfortable and features a stunning thin-rimmed steering wheel.
#6. Color Options
The Bel-Air came with many different color options, all of which look great. The vehicle came with 15 different solid paint colors in addition to 24 combinations of two-tone options. Some of the combinations include light-blue and gray, red and white, red and tan, pink and blue, orange and black, silver and green, and blue and white. A few of its single color options include black, red, and blue.
#7. Great Vehicle For Modifications
Many contemporary Bel-Air owners have taken creative liberties with the vehicle and crafted stunning resto-mods, meaning a classic car that’s been restored but modified. The 1955 Chevy Bel-Air’s unforgettable style and performance make it a great base for those looking to modify classic vehicles.
#8. Iconic Legacy
The 1955 Chevy Bel-Air is more than just a stunning classic vehicle — it also serves as an important icon for its era. Chevrolet mass-produced the vehicle, so it wasn’t uncommon to see it on the road in the 1950s. It also offered such an original style and powerful performance that it became highly sought after both domestically and internationally. Owning this collector vehicle is like owning a piece of 20th-century American culture.
Check Out Our Video Series on Restoring a 1953 Chevy Bel-Air
The 1955 Chevy Bel-Air is an important vehicle in the history of automobiles, but it’s not the only iteration of the Bel-Air that’s noteworthy. The 1953 Chevy Bel-Air is also a gorgeous and dependable vehicle.
In 2020, classic car expert Rick Drewry took on the task of restoring a 1953 Chevy Bel-Air. Rick had owned the vehicle for around 15 years, but he had never driven it because the Bel-Air had required significant repairs due to a garage fire. The car’s body suffered from notable damage, and the vehicle’s engine was non-functional, so Rick’s work was cut out for him. You can watch this informative and entertaining 32-part video series on our YouTube channel.
Protect Your 1955 Chevy Bel-Air With Premium Car Insurance
Whether you’re driving a pristine Chevy Bel-Air or another classic car, collector’s, or luxury vehicle, you can count on Classic Auto Insurance to help you keep your beauty on the road for as long as possible. We offer enviable features included in our car insurance like agreed-upon value, inflation guard, flexible plans, rollover miles, and nationwide roadside assistance with flatbed towing. Call us today at 888-901-1338, or get an instant quote online.
