1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe

Unique barn find vehicle!

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a “barn find,” then let me enlighten you. This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe is a fine example of a barn find because it was uncovered on a Missouri farm having been abandoned for some time. It’s in coral and grey, and is now restored to its former glory.

Notable Features:

The 1955 Chevy Bel Air is one of the most iconic 1950s-era US cars, and has come to symbolize an automotive era. This model includes the small-block 4.3L V8 engine, which became an option for Chevrolets in this exact model year. They also came with chrome and steel detailing, interior carpet, and the Bel Air model name in gold lettering to help distinguish it from other contemporary Chevys.

Exterior:

Though it has a name that evokes rich soft furnishings and well-appointed Hollywood mansions, it has a typical muscular build with firm, straight lines, round headlights, and a front grille inspired by Ferrari. There’s a sense of bulk and power about it when you look at the exterior, which was built on the GM A Body, but also the chrome and steel detailing help to add some sophisticated edge, particular on the bumper, side panels and around the windows and windshield. The Bel Air has a 115” wheelbase and is 195.6” long in total, loaded with a 4.3L V8 engine.

Drive Quality:

This is an older car but the positive reviews it received back in its heyday hold true today. The car has great handling, and a lot of power, though it does take 12.9 seconds to get from 0 to 60. But hey, come on, the car is 65 years old!

Interior:

You get a real 50s diner feel on the inside with the bench seating, long lacquer-feel dashboard and cool original features like the analog clock with the fan-shape Bel-Air speaker sitting right on top of it --- it kind of looks like the inspiration for the Wi-Fi logo --- and the odometer has the same shape design. There’s interesting attention to detail, too. If you look along the metal dash strip, you’ll notice that the markings are actually a pattern of the Chevy “bowtie” logo.

The interior also features a working stereo system, manual windows and lots of attractive metallic finishes throughout. The seats have fabric seat bottoms with leather trim across the back rest, and the steering wheel is the original gigantic 3-spoke “ring-within-ring” design. Open up the trunk and you’ll find a great amount of trunk space.

Barn Treasure

This is the kind of model that helps to show the real potential and value of barn finds. The 1955 Chevy is an old car by every measure, but it’s very versatile and it’s not a lot of work to upgrade with some modern features like a modern stereo, new air conditioning, better upholstery, carpeting and more. It’s very roomy, seating up to 6 people and is great fun to drive. It’s a nostalgic time warp on wheels, just with added automotive quality!