The Bel Air was Chevrolet’s number one money-making machine during the ’50s, but the debut of the Impala changed everything for the GM brand and its full-size lineup.
Introduced in 1958 as a Bel Air version and promoted to a stand-alone series a year later, the Impala rapidly became the go-to model for anyone who wanted the best Chevrolet had to offer on every model year.
The Bel Air remained plan B for full-size customers, still commanding a solid user base that gradually increased in the United States.
A 1960 Bel Air recently pulled from the North Dakota prairies recently landed on eBay with few bits and bad news under the hood. It all depends on what you have in mind for this Bel Air, as the car could qualify for a complete restoration candidate if you already have another engine in your garage.
The reason is as simple as it could be: this Bel Air rolled off the assembly lines with the six-cylinder unit under the hood. The VIN code is confirmation that the laziest engine in 1960 powered this Bel Air, and I don’t expect good news under the hood today, either. The engine looks in bad shape, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it already locked up from sitting.
eBay seller carcrop says they didn’t clean up the cars, so the Bel Air comes in the same shape as it was on the day the owner found it. It’s impossible to tell how long it was parked in the prairies, but the owner claims the carburetor and the radiator are no longer available. A good mechanic should be able to decrypt more engine information with an in-person inspection, and you’re strongly advised to order a third-party inspection if you believe this Bel Air is worth a second chance.
Everything else is up to the Internet to decipher. The owner didn’t post more information, but the body looks solid, with the typical rust problems expected. You should inspect the floors and the trunk pan, but it’s probably safe to say they’re rusty.
The best thing about this Bel Air is probably the selling price. The owner posted the car online with a no-reserve auction, meaning the highest bidder will take it home. The digital fight starts at $950, and if nobody enters it, it’s a great chance to buy a Bel Air for the price of a new iPhone (though I expect several bidders to enter the race as the listing gains more exposure).
If you want to see it in person, you must drive to Cavalier, North Dakota. Considering its condition, you’ll need a trailer to take it back home, but this isn’t a surprise. The car sells with a notarized bill of sale.