The Chevrolet Tri-Five was introduced in 1955 and was only available in showrooms for three years, but that was enough time for the nameplate to become one of the most recognizable vehicles in America. With its stunning appearance, reasonable price, and variety of body types, the Tri-Five sold nearly five million copies by 1957.
Nearly 70 years later, the Tri-Five is still considered one of the most sought classics and a design symbol from the 1950s. Additionally, it’s still reasonably priced in 150 and 210 trims because to its relative popularity. With the exception of Sport Coupes and Nomad wagons that are suitable for the Concours, the Bel Air models are slightly more expensive but still affordable.
On the flip side, the entry-level 150 models don’t get a lot of love. Sure, many were transformed into flashy restomods with insane power, and that’s awesome, but unrestored survivors are hard to come by. Moreover, beat-up examples usually become parts donors for the more desirable Bel Airs. And that’s a bit sad.
Although the fancy Bel Airs are wonderful and all, the 150 has a unique quality. Their bare-bones cabins make them lighter, and the absence of superfluous chrome gives them an understated look. And you have yourself a pretty beautiful hot rod when you couple these accomplishments with a V8 engine. This 1950 One-Fifty is a remarkable time capsule that survived into 2023 in superb shape; it is not one of those 283-cubic-inch (4.6-liter) rigs.
Reportedly refreshed in 1987 with new paint and upholstery, the 150 changed a few owners until the early 1990s when someone decided to park it for good. The Tri-Five emerged back into the light in 2023 as a nice survivor in need of a little TLC. It’s also a one-of-none 150, thanks to the paint.
There’s no info as to which color graced this Tri-Five when it left the factory, but the 1980s restoration included a refinish in dark gray. And as far as I know, Chevrolet did not offer this hue in 1957. The Tri-Five was available in Onyx Black and Inca Silver, but there was no gray in the color palette.
Though it’s not the original Tri-Five color, it complements the interior’s two-tone black and silver nicely. Another clue that this Chevy came off the manufacturing line in silver or black is the cabin. It’s a mystery because I can’t find any remnants of the previous paint in the door jambs or underneath the hood.
This 150 is powered by an entry-level 3.9-liter (235 cubic inches) inline-six engine. With a horsepower rating of 140, the straight-six isn’t nearly as strong as the V8s that were offered in the 150 at the time, but it’s still plenty to make the Chevy a pleasant cruiser.
The mill also roared back to life with just a bit of work, which speaks volumes of the Blue Flame’s solid construction and reliability. Not powerful enough for you? Well, it’s a repainted 150, so it wouldn’t be a crime to perform an engine swap. This thing would fly with a 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V8 from the muscle car era.
But if you love plain Tri-Fives like I do, I’m pretty sure you’ll find the video below very satisfying. Especially the final minutes showing the 150 getting a much-deserved first wash in decades.