Make: | Chevrolet |
Model: | Bel Air/150/210 |
Type: | Coupe |
Trim: | -- |
Year: | 1956 |
Mileage: | 88672 |
VIN: | VC56J180302 |
Color: | Black |
Engine: | 5.3L V8 |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Interior color: | Charcoal |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Local pick-up only |
This attractive 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop is one of those cars that already has all the right ingredients. Fuel-injected small block? Yep. Overdrive transmission? Of course. Gorgeous interior with all the toys? What did you expect? And it's so nice that it's mind-boggling to believe that the build is more than a few years old. Basic black never looks wrong, but on shoebox Chevys, it's downright spectacular, especially rendered in modern two-stage urethane. It tends to... emphasize the chrome and trim, all of which remain intact on this mild custom, and all of it was treated to a pretty decent makeover a few years ago. All the body panels are straight, and the reflections in our photo studio are proof enough that someone invested the time and effort to make this one look right. They didn't shave, delete, or modify any of the exterior pieces, but you know instantly that this car is special, which is a testament to the workmanship. It's been driven and enjoyed properly, so it's not perfect and there are a few nicks and scratches here and there, but nothing that you would worry about if you're the kind of guy who likes to hit the road. Same for the chrome; obviously the money was spent but it was a few years ago and the whole thing has now mellowed to a nice driver-grade cruiser that needs no excuses. The completely freshened interior is a big step up from 1956, and offers all the comforts and conveniences of a modern luxury car with all the style of 1956. Seriously, is there anyone who thinks they can do a better job than the GM stylists? The factory bench seat is wrapped in beautiful upholstery that has the right look with modern materials to make it comfortable. Black carpets match the dash which retains a factory look, complete with original gauges in the original gauge pod and a pair of aftermarket dials underneath. The floor-mounted shifter falls easily to hand and you'll be delighted to note that it's linked to a 4-speed automatic transmission, making this Bel Air move like your favorite muscle car yet cruises easily at highway speeds. A polished tilt column holds a leather-wrapped wheel, and a powerful entertainment system fills the car with sound thanks to an AM/FM/CD head unit and speakers stashed throughout. The trunk is finished with a correct rubber mat and you can see that there are no issues in the spare tire well, the most common place for rust to begin on these cars. You can't make a car look this good and not have it perform, so a fuel injected 5.3 liter Vortec V8 went under the hood. Famous for its great manners and strong performance, the engine is equally happy trundling through traffic or hammering down the interstate. Thanks to OEM engineering, it starts instantly, idles well, and even tells you what it needs when something goes wrong through the ALDL connector. Better yet, with a giant aluminum radiator it never overheats and fuel injection delivers instant power without a stutter. It's also nicely well detailed so that it looks almost like the factory installed it themselves, including the serpentine belt drive system and VORTEC engine shroud. A custom dual exhaust system with Flowmasters gives it a traditional V8 voice, and the original rear end doesn't seem to mind the torque. Power front disc brakes help it stop like a modern car and it rides on great-looking chrome Cragar SS mags wearing 215/65/15 white-letter radials. Customs don't get much more user-friendly than this, and it's the kind of car you can drive anywhere with confidence and it will still draw a crowd when you get there. Call today!