Make: | Chevrolet |
Model: | Bel Air/150/210 |
SubModel: | Delray Club Coupe |
Type: | Coupe |
Trim: | 210 |
Year: | 1956 |
Mileage: | 129501 |
VIN: | VB56K051383 |
Color: | Yellow |
Engine: | Original 265 V8 |
Cylinders: | 8 |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Drive type: | RWD |
Interior color: | Black |
Drive side: | Left-hand drive |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Englewood, Colorado, United States |
Up for sale is an Extremely Original 1956 Chevrolet 210 Delray Club Coupe. It would be hard to find another one like this. It comes with its all original 265, 2 barrel carb, 2 speed cast iron power glide with EZ Eye Glass and rare optional padded dash. Original color is Crocus Yellow and Laurel Green. This car was purchased new at Murphy-Mahoney Chevrolet in Denver and driven to its home in Golden CO.(Side Note: Murphy Mahoney Chevrolet was opened before 1920 and became Spedding Chevrolet in 1969) The car still has the original Murphy-Mahoney Denver dealership badge on the trunk. This car has never left the wonderfully dry state of Colorado. The car reads 29,501 on the odometer and I am guessing it has turned over once but I am unsure of the actual mileage. I learned it is a Delray Club coupe through the tri-five forum helping me to understand the data plate. At some point in the 80’s, the son of the original owner took possession and was thinking of hot rodding it. He bought a ton of parts but fortunately didn't get too far with it. He did however take the hood off and sanded down the center ridge and then welded the bird holes closed. Fortunately, the next owner that I bought it from kept that hood, but purchased an original 1956 Plum colored hood and put that on it as a replacement. The original hood was sanded down and primed and wasn't worth keeping so I sold it. Outside of that as well as welding the 3-piece bumper in the front together, he fortunately didn’t get much farther than that. The owner I bought it from had it for a very long time and parked it after he bought it. He had plans to restore it back to its original glory but never got around to it. As we all do, he aged, his wife passed away and there it sat and sat until I found it when I was introduced to him through his neighbor who happened to be having a garage sale. Pure luck, because this car was not up for sale.
I believe the only paint that is not original on the car is on the hood. I had the plum colored 56 hood media blasted and repaired of any small dings and then painted with a patina finish in an effort to match the rest of the original paint on the car. It should be noted that the original paint around the car is faded and rubbed thin in areas but it is presentable if you don’t mind that old patina look. It could be cleaned up and someone with knowledge of lacquer paint could probably get it looking even better
Here are some of the things I have had done to the car. I am sure I am forgetting things.
I had the original 265 Rebuilt top to bottom at 27,400 (probably 127,400) miles on Odometer. So there is less than a few thousand miles on the car since then. Re-installed with all new motor mounts and engine compartment cleaned up while everything was out
Original 2 speed cast iron power glide rebuilt top to bottom at the same time again 27,400 (probably 127,400) miles on Odometer
New fuel tank
5 New Coker wide 2.75 inch white wall tires (spare in trunk is new as well)
Alignment
new aluminum 1956 dual exhaust from Ecklers
New brakes and brake master cylinder and cleaned bearings
original 2 barrel carb rebuilt
Repainted the hood to match the rest of the original paint
Flushed and filled rear end
New Heater Core
Radiator cleaned and checked
New Gas Cap, original cap will come with the car
Rebuilt Wiper Motor
And much more that I am forgetting
The interior is almost all original, original headliner in really nice shape with the original leather straps in the back and the original clothing hooks, original padded dash in superb condition, original door panels, original carpet, original completely working radio that sounds very cool, all original EZ Eye Glass in nice shape, original hub caps, original rubber trunk mat and original jack and jack instructions. Original glass wiper jar, lid and vacuum lines. It is truly a unique find because of its mostly untouched state. It runs terrific, drives straight down the road, brakes straight, all lights (including license plate), horns, wipers and instrumentation work. I even have the original dealer installed clear floor mats with an eagle on each one. I think it’s an eagle as I've never seen anything like them before. It looks almost like a coat of arms eagle. They will come with the car. When I got the car, I noticed the end of the one handle that controls the heater core was broken. However, I have a new set of replacement handles as well as the end caps that I have not put on yet, but they will come with the car.
The original interior is as follows: The back seat has a crack in the vinyl across the sitting portion of the seat where the stitching separated from our dry climate and the fluctuation in temperature from sitting all these years. It is not from wear as it looks like no one ever really sat back there. The front seat backs are all original with some wear on the driver side. The front seat base has been recovered some time ago and shows some wear. The steering wheel is really nice for never having been redone. Dash glass and instruments are great for their age.
This car could be kept the way it is and thoroughly enjoyed. I get more beeping horns and waves when I am out in it. Everyone loves that it’s untouched and original. It would also be a glorious candidate for full restoration because it is all there. Please keep in mind the car is 63 years old and pretty much almost all original so it does have a few small dings and shows some wear.
There are a fair amount of extra parts that will go with it. An original three piece front bumper that has some rust and needs to be re-chromed but is straight. A complete extra driver side tail light assembly that flips open so you can get to the gas cap as well as Extra Bumperettes front and rear, extra rear brake lenses, extra original glass windshield wiper jar with lid and vacuum cap, extra new in the box wiper blades that are very old, Extra original in the brown paper wrapping sun visors, extra cables, extra heater knobs, extra new in the package radio antennae, extra chrome bumper hardware kit, full large service manual and more. Boxes of things. Extras from the original owner’s family and the last owner who was collecting stuff just in case he got around to doing something with it.
This car overall is a solid original find. I can’t imagine there are a lot of original 56 Delray Club Coupes like this one around. There are two small sections of rust in front of each rear wheel. One side looks partially repaired. There is also a very small area on the outside of the rocker panel on the driver side. I have added pictures of everything. This car is NOT a rust bucket. The rest of the panels, headlights, floors, frame, etc. are in really nice shape. Inspections are more than welcome. I am not a tri-five expert but have been learning a lot from the forum. Please feel free to ask any questions or for additional pictures. I have many more pictures than what Ebay allows me to upload that I would be happy to send to you. I have set the reserve where I think it should sell. However, if it doesn’t sell right away, I will then entertain offers, or I will keep enjoying it even if I don’t take it out of my garage too much. Clean clear Colorado title in my name. I (Justin) can be reached on my cell at Three Oh Three 246 zero zero zero three. I would be happy to face time with anyone and walk you around the car so you can direct me to the specific areas you would like a close look at because there is nothing to hide.Thanks for looking and please let me know if you have any questions.