Very Sharp Tri-5! 383 Stroker, Holley Sniper EFI, Auto, PS, Pwr Disc Brakes, A/C

Description

The true measure of a great design is whether it ages well. In the case of this dialed-in 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, the answer is a resounding confirmation that the Tri-5 is one of the greatest automotive designs of all time. Beautifully restored to a high-level with several choice upgrades, this shoebox '55 Chevy is a high-quality piece that is ready to rock.
Finished in two-tone silver-on-gray with a gloss that can almost be seen two towns over, there's no mistaking this 1955 Chevy for anything else. The design was game-changing when it was new, and even today it remains a benchmark for all car guys and gals. Sooner or later, all of us want to own a Tri-Five Chevy, don't we? The classic lines and somewhat restrained use of chrome and brightwork make it difficult to improve on the original, so the builder of this 2-door coupe wisely chose to simply restore the exterior back to specs and to an extremely high driver-quality standard not long ago. Paint and bodywork are really great, with a sharp finish that's showing only very minor imperfections, but nothing major that needs any attention in our opinion. Nope, this '55 looks just right. Gaps are even all around, and the entire car fits together in a way that modern cars just can't seem to duplicate. During the comprehensive restoration, the chrome and stainless was all restored or replaced with exact reproductions, and the car proudly wears all its trim like jewelry. Even the red, white, and blue Chevy emblem on the nose is a wonderful piece that offers crisp details and bright colors, and the lightly tinted glass is crisp, clear and without any imperfections to speak of. Bottom line, this Tri-5 is ready to be shown-off and envied all around town.
Perfectly complimenting the two-tone exterior is a wonderfully comfortable matching two-tone cloth interior, a subdued combination that would look right at home in a much more expensive vehicle. The original-style bench has been stitched in upgraded patterns, with vertical interior pleats that mirror the feel the exterior color combination. Stylish door panels were tailored to match, and they worked hard to make it look close to OEM, with silver paint on the dash, window moldings, and steering wheel. The original dash is intact, with modern Classic Instruments gauges ahead of the restored steering wheel that's perched atop a polished tilt column, and the machined-turned shiny trim strip that spans the entire width of the dash really brightens things up inside. Cold blowing A/C has been added, with power windows, seatbelts, and a column-mounted shifter rounding out the options inside. Entertainment comes from an AM/FM/Cassette stereo radio with a Kenwood CD changer hidden out of sight in the trunk. The carpets are plush and insulate the cabin from road noise, the headliner above was neatly finished, and the backseat likely hasn't hauled anything outside of a cruise-in trophy and the occasional grandchild out on a Sunday afternoon trip with the family. Out back, the cavernous trunk is carpeted to match the cabin, and has plenty of room to accommodate all travel plans thanks to a tucked-away Optima battery.
Power comes from a great-running 383 cubic inch V8 crate motor with electronic fuel-injection hooked to a 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission. And while there's nothing more traditional than a small block Chevy in a 1955 Bel Air, the many upgrades under the hood make this car safer and more reliable than any stock '55 ever was. Fuel injection from a Holley Sniper EFI unit atop an aluminum intake means it starts easily and idles well, hot or cold, and with aluminum heads and ceramic-coated shorty headers, the torque curve is legendary. Other upgrades include a serpentine belt system that drives the components, an aluminum radiator that keeps the whole show nice and cool, along with Tubular A-arms up front, coilovers at the corners, and power steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes - making this a car that can be driven daily without worries and taken on cross-country trips at the drop of a hat. In the sparking engine bay and underneath the car it's clean and tidy, but not so insanely clean that you're afraid to drive it, and you'll never get tired of the shorty headers and rumbling dual exhaust singing their song. That upgraded suspension adjusts the attitude of the stance and it rolls on classic set of oversized Rally-style wheels with 225/60/17 front and 235/60/17 rear Uniroyal radials for a subtle upgrade on the traditional Tri-5 look.
No, it's not radical, but there's no question this 1955 Bel Air is timeless. Put it in your garage and I guarantee you'll never run out of reasons to take it for a spin. Call today!