Vehicle Description
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
Dinah Shore was the first female talk show host, and at the end of
each show she would sing the jingle "see the USA in your
Chevrolet". Talk about a marketing coup!
For consignment, the top of the line Bel Air trimmed for 1956. This
car is complete with a 6-cylinder engine, Adobe Beige and Sierra
Gold two tone paint, trim spears, and plenty of big chrome. Some
wide white sidewalls, snappy pointed center chromed hubcaps, and
two tone 50's styled interior, how can you go wrong smack dab in
the middle year of the Tri Five craze.
Exterior
Adobe Beige covers the upper roof and rear of this car. It is
delineated by a trim spear where we see Sierra Gold below. Panels
are straight, and gaps are good. A few scratches show up mostly on
the lower part of the car, but overall, the presentation is very
nice. Chrome bumpers are good, and the trim is shiny with no
dimpling. The Bel Air badging and Chevrolet script in your
grandmother's handwriting is good. 15-inch chromed steel wheels
with dog dish pointed center style caps are wrapped in thin whites
and are seen on all 4 corners. A shout to the rear brake lights
with their Buck Rogers styling within ever so slightly finned rear
quarter corners. From the front hood ornament of the streaking jet,
single headlight on either side with a chromed visor above and
lots-o-chrome below with the egg crate silver grille and lower
bumper with extra chrome vertical bump bars. Let's go to the
drive-in and turn some heads on nostalgia night. A shout out to the
curved glass in front and back, which wraps around the form the
rear of the passengers compartment, which we are waiting with eager
anticipation to enter and read about...here we go!
Interior
Looking like the original but very nicely preserved with only a few
smudges from age and use, door panels that sport what appear to be
original copper smooth vinyl uppers and newer lowers, with a spear
like pattern of the tan vinyl for the armrests and window crank
background. Looking toward the front bench nifty fifty design with
textured tan and brown broadcloth inserts for the seats and some
nice white piping separating the smooth copper colored vinyl
bolsters. Broadcloth inserts for backs as well forming a V pattern
with the inside of the V filled with more copper vinyl. A shiny
button is in the apex of the V. The rear bench emulates this snazzy
pattern and is looking showroom. It has been recently recovered and
painstakingly matched to the original front bench and has seen
little action since. Sierra Gold clean carpet covers the floors
throughout. Hanging above is the dual curved eyebrow shaped dash
front which has a gold metal dash top, and wonderful punched
horizontal ribbed chrome middle with painted metal below. Bezels
and knobs are pristine. In the middle we see an original AM radio.
In front of the passenger is another fan in the dash with Bel Air
written in your grandmother's handwriting and a routine clock in
its lower V. Above is a light tan headliner which shows slight
darkening from water damage in a few seams.
Drivetrain
A raise of the hood, and a clean blue blocked 235ci inline 6
cylinders is mounted. It has a single barrel carburetor on top and
a 2-speed Powerglide transmission is on back throwing power back to
the original rear axle with a 3.36 ratio. A large oil beneath air
cleaner is one the driver's side of the engine, and all else is
nicely painted black bolt ones and. Supple clean wiring and hoses
abound.
Undercarriage
Plenty of patina and surface rust is noted especially on the rear
inner fenders and lower portions of these panels. Floor pans, body
hangers and toe kicks are rust free and have a nice black patina of
worn off rustproofing. Some oil blowback is noted from the bottom
end of this engine. Drum brakes are on all 4 corners. Independent
coil springs are upfront and provide the smooth ride, and leaf
springs are reserved for the rear.
Drive-Ability
The car runs smooth and quiet, accelerates nicely and shifts
smoothly automatically. It has a nice cruising altitude if you
will, and an overall comfortable seating and ride. A very
impressive fun and event free test drive from this classic.
This classic car has undergone some minor upgrades but remains
mostly original, with some of the exterior showing a few encounters
with whatever might have come its way over time. Wonderful chrome
and two tone paint and a beautiful 50's interior are all in this
car. Solid power plant, a nicely presenting example of the mid Tri
Five era on the high end in the form of a Bel Air trim. While the
dual fan dash is to die for, as are the two tone styled Vees in the
upholstery. And throw on a button just for some extra style!
VIN DECODE
VC56F045079
V-V8
C-2400 Series Bel Air
56-1956
F-Flint, MI Assy Plant
045079-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 561037D-1956 Bel Air 2 Door Hardtop
BODY NO F4165-Flint Body #
TRIM 618-Tan & Copper Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT 700D-Adobe Beige, Sierra Gold
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.