Introduced in 1955, the Chevrolet Tri-Five remained in showrooms for only three years, but it was enough to turn the nameplate into one of America’s most iconic rigs. Beautiful, affordable, and available in a wide range of body styles, the Tri-Five moved almost five million units through 1957.
Almost 70 years later, the Tri-Five is regarded as a design icon of the 1950s, and it’s one of the most desirable classics. And because it’s relatively common, it’s still affordable in 150 and 210 trims. The Bel Air versions cost a bit more but don’t break the bank either unless we’re talking about Concours-ready Sport Coupes and Nomad wagons.
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.
Sure, the fancied-up Bel Airs are nice and all, but the 150 has a thing of its own going. They’re lighter thanks to their stripped-off cabins, while the lack of excess chrome makes them a bit unassuming. And when you combine these feats with a V8 engine, you get a really nice hot rod. The 1950 One-Fifty you see here is not one of those 283-cubic-inch (4.6-liter) rigs, but it’s a rare time capsule that soldiered on into 2023 in excellent condition.
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.
But even though it’s not an original Tri-Five color, it goes great with the two-tone, black-and-silver interior. The cabin is also a hint that this Chevy rolled off the assembly line in black or silver. I can’t see traces of the old paint in the door jams or under the hood, so it remains a mystery.
Under the hood, this 150 has an entry-level 235-cubic-inch (3.9-liter) inline-six. Rated at 140 horsepower, the straight-six is nowhere near as powerful as the V8s that were available in the 150 at the time, but it’s potent enough to make the Chevy a nice 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. Hurray for yet another Tri-Five saved!