I’m not going to talk about how the Bel Air (together with the Impala) helped put Chevrolet back on the map in the late ’50, yet I can’t help but remind everybody that the full-size lineup was the one that helped GM steal Ford’s crown in 1958.
Models like Impala, Bel Air, Biscayne, and Brookwood pushed Chevy’s sales through the roof in the late ’50s, so the focus on full-size models proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered for the struggling GM brand. However, the previous years paved the way for this historic achievement, and the 1956 Bel Air was integral to Chevy’s eventual success.
The 1956 example you see here is a museum piece allowing diehard Chevy fans to inspect a classic Bel Air in perfect shape. The car is no longer completely original, though what you’ll find under the hood is at least as impressive as Chevrolet’s stock offering.
This Bel Air started its adventure in the automotive world as a getaway car. It was involved in a bank robbery (a failed one), with the police eventually confiscating and keeping it locked in a garage. The Bel Air was donated to a school auto shop in Nevada, as the authorities believed students could use it to learn mechanics.
After 35 years, the Bel Air was ready for a new adventure. Sam Gianino purchased it in the early ’90s, eventually transforming it into what you can see today.
If you did not check the photos revealing the engine, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. Sam Gianino is a famous name in the world of drag racing, having won several prestigious prizes with custom cars. For example, he won the Spring Nationals in 1969, 1971, 1976, and 1977. He set 26 NHRA and 10 IHRA records in his entire career, eventually making his way to the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Outside of the racing career, Gianino also founded Gianino Racing Engines in 1970. Several NASCAR teams used his engines before his custom builds made their way to boat racing.
You can already see where this is going. The Bel Air was one of his projects, with the car restored to tip-top shape and equipped with a massive 595-horsepower engine. The vehicle is still street-legal and has attended plenty of shows where it served as a superstar. The odometer indicates just 7,200 miles, and everything is in perfect shape outside, inside, under the hood, and under the car.
A car with such a history can’t sell for cheap, and this Bel Air really doesn’t. The Bel Air is currently sitting in Arvada, Colorado.