(1955–1957) Chevrolet Bel Air – Second generation
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
The all-new 1955 Chevy brought a renewed energy to the brand. Sleek “Motoramic” styling and a hot new 265-cid “Turbo-Fire” V-8 engine – first of the legendary small-blocks – made this Chevy an almost instant classic. Rock and roll music was just starting to shake up American culture, and the Bel Air was the perfect set of wheels for Saturday night cruising.
Look for: Rectangular egg-crate grille. Wrap-around windshield. Curved taillights styled into rounded rear fins.
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
Chevrolet completely revamped its cars for 1955, with what it dubbed the ‘Motoramic’ look for the top-of-the-range Bel Air plus the introduction of the fabled ‘small-block’ V8 engine. Exhilarating performance and a flamboyant, confident and colorful style were what made the 1955 Bel Airs – coupes, convertibles and station wagons – stand out from the crowd. Such was the distinctiveness of General Motors cars from the period 1955 to 1957 that they received their own nickname, ‘Tri5’. “In my opinion, the ’55 Bel Air is the best of the Tri5s,” asserts Ed. “It was such a departure from 1955, so fresh, so contemporary. This was a car that looked more expensive than it actually was, something that could also be said about the Cruze today.”
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe
The all-new 1955 Bel Air wonderfully redefined Chevrolet, with its sleek Motoramic styling, improved chassis and sizzling new 265-cid Turbo-Fire V-8 – the first of Chevy’s legendary small-block V-8s
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Pace Car Convertible
1955 Pace Car-Chevrolet introduced its new small-block V-8 engine in 1955 and showcased the powerplant in the Chevrolet Bel Air Pace Car convertible. T.H. Keating, was the driver
1955 Chevrolet Small Block V8
Since it was introduced in 1955, the Chevrolet Small Block has consistently featured a compact, efficient 90-degree V-8 design, with overhead valves, pushrod valvetrain, and 4.4-inch on-center bore spacing. see full details
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe
Even now, many a car-obsessed kid’s miniature vehicle stash includes at least one ’57 Chevy. After more than five decades, the 1957 design still has appeal. And there is more to the 1957 Chevy than good looks. Chevrolet introduced fuel Injection to American cars for 1957, and the 283-cid small-block Chevrolet ‘fuelie’ produced one horsepower per cubic inch, astonishing performance in 1957. Fuel-injected ’57 Chevys thrashed competitors so soundly in NASCAR racing that the organization banned FI technology – a ban that is still in effect today.
Look for: Chromed dual “wind-split” ornaments on hood. Large, wedge-shaped metallic silver trim insert on Bel Air rear quarters. Blade-like tailfins, with rounded taillights atop the rear bumper ends.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad
Featuring a sleek roofline first seen on the 1954 GM Motorama Corvette Nomad concept station wagon, Chevy Nomad put dream-car design into thousands of American driveways.
The strikingly sleek Chevy Nomad of 1955-1957 brought mid-century modern design to the utilitarian station wagon. The Nomad got its name, along with its unique roofline and rear body treatment, from a 1954 GM Motorama Corvette concept wagon conjured up by GM design chief Harley Earl – father, as well, of the 1953 Corvette roadster. Encouraged by the show car’s reception, and mindful that America’s burgeoning suburbs were absorbing ever more station wagons, Chevrolet developed the Nomad into a premium Bel Air-level “halo” model for their 1955-57 regular wagon lines. The Nomad two-door sport wagon design was produced through 1957. Each of the three model years still has its passionate followers – the original Nomads have never gone out of style.
