Most people are interested in the second-generation model, also called the Tri-Five, since several of these vehicles may fetch over $100,000 when they are in concours-ready condition. Despite being fairly desirable as well, the 1958 Biscayne-based vehicle is frequently eclipsed by its more ostentatious sibling, the Impala.
Conversely, hardly much attention is paid to the original Bel Air model. Not only does it lack the Tri-Five’s distinctive appearance, but it was also unavailable with a V8 engine. Chevrolet, in contrast to Ford, was obstinate enough to continue using inline six mills until 1955. That being said, the original Bel Air shouldn’t be overlooked.
Granted, nothing beats a classic with a numbers-matching V8 under the hood, but if you really can’t do with an inline-six powerplant, you could always perform a swap. Or you could just get an early Bel Air that had a V8 installed by a previous owner. Like this 1954 barn find. Sort of…
Offered by Classic Auto Mall, this Bel Air spent a really long time in improper storage. As a result, the once-cool India Ivory over Pueblo Tan body is plagued with surface and invasive rust. Some chrome parts have some issues as well and will need to be redone. However, the exterior is complete and comes with all the trim pieces that aren’t present on the car.
After several decades in storage, the cabin is just how one might anticipate. The interior is in bad state, but it does look original and has the same beautiful mix as the exterior. It requires fresh upholstery, a thorough cleaning, and maybe some attention to the floor panels, which appear to be rusted on the outside.
Regarding the engine, there are two pieces of information. The good news is that a 350 cubic inch (5.7 liter) V8 was substituted for the original, weak inline six by a previous owner. The mill was not installed correctly, and quite a few parts are missing, which is the bad news.
The powerplant is also somewhat of a mystery because there’s no info about its origins. Is it a crate engine? Was it sourced from a different Chevrolet? Will it run? I guess these questions won’t get answered until someone starts working on this rig.
But the ad does include a few valuable details, including that it comes with roller rockers, a 512 lift cam, an Edelbrock intake, and the fact that it was bored .030 over. It also mates with a TH400 three-speed automatic and a 3.73 rear end.
All things considered, this Bel Air project is difficult and will cost a fair amount of money in addition to time and patience. However, the latter is dependent on how you like the conclusion of this 1950s classic to seem. Personally, I would leave that exterior just the way it is since I believe the color combination is stunning and the patina is just appropriate. However, I could absolutely see it turning into a flashy restomod with a heart-pounding V8.