1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan

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, a top of the line Bel Air for 1956 and a mere two owners have had this special car in their possession. Save for an armrest on the driver's side, a new rear bench covering, and a respray, the car remains original.

Exterior
Calypso Cream covers the upper roof and rear of this car. It is delineated by a trim spear where we see Grecian Gold below. Panels are straight, and gaps are good. Some surface rust in the form of bubbling can be seen on the lower panels, and areas of touch up are noted throughout. Chrome bumpers are good and trim is shiny with slight dimpling in a few areas. The Bel Air badging and Chevrolet script in your grandmother's handwriting is good. 15-inch Grecian Gold steel wheels with shiny hubcaps are wrapped in thin whites and are seen on all 4 corners. A shout to the rear brake lights with their Buck Rogers styling.

Interior
Looking like the original but very nicely preserved with only a few smudges from age and use, door panels that sport light yellow tuck and roll uppers, a black vinyl with molded armrest covers the mid section, and some darker yellow smooth vinyl below create a field for the shiny handles and cranks. Looking toward the front bench nifty fifty design appends with dark black/gray striped broadcloth inserts for the seats and backs. The backs form a duplicating V pattern and yellow vinyl bolsters. These panels are bordered by a silver metallic flat piping and a silver button at the bottom of the V. The rear bench emulates this snazzy pattern looking showroom, has been recently recovered, painstakingly matched to the original front bench, and has seen little action since. Black clean carpet covers the floors throughout. Hanging above is the dual fan shaped dash front which has a black metal dash top, and wonderful horizontal ribbed chrome middle with painted metal below. Bezels and knobs are pristine. In the middle we see the original AM radio and hanging below is an FM receiver add on. All original parts for this interior including the mohair headliner which is darker tan.

Drivetrain
A raise of the hood, and the presumed original 265ci V8 is mounted in a clean but unrestored engine bay. It has a single 4-barrel carburetor on top and a 2-speed Powerglide transmission is on back throwing power back to the original rear axle in 3.55 form.

Undercarriage
Plenty of patina and surface rust is under here with some invasive rust seen on the back structure of this car. Floor pans, most 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.

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. I noticed the horn and heater blower were not functioning at the time of the test drive.

A 2 owner car has undergone some minor upgrades but remains mostly original, with some of the exterior panels starting to show minor surface rust, and a beautiful 50's interior. Solid power plant, a nicely colored example of the mid tri five era on the high end in the form of a Bel Air trim. And the dual fan dash is to die for!

VIN DECODE
VC56B161875
V-V8
C-2400 Series BelAir
56-1956
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
161875-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 56 1019D-1956 BelAir 4 Door Sedan
BODY NO M28395-Baltimore Body #
TRIM NO 626-Charcoal & Cream Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT NO 756-Calypso Cream & Grecian 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.