Introduced in 1955 with Chevrolet’s first mass-produced V8 engine, the Tri-Five sold like hotcakes. Chevrolet moved no fewer than 1.77 million units that year. Impressively enough, almost half of them left the factory in range-topping Bel Air trim.
The four-door sedan was the most popular Bel Air iteration, selling 366,293 examples. It was followed by the two-door Hardtop Sport Coupe, which sold 189,269 units. At the other end of the spectrum, the two-door Nomad wagon sold only 8,530 examples.
Nearly 70 years have passed since the Tri-Five hit showrooms, and the Bel Air is among the most sought-after classic cars. And even though it’s far from rare, the Sport Coupe version can fetch more than $100,000 at public auction. I’m obviously talking about well-maintained unrestored examples or Concours-ready cars with rotisserie restorations.
The weathered grey-over-coral example you see here is neither, but it’s one of the very few unrestored survivors still in one piece after decades of neglect. This 1955 Sport Coupe spent a very long time in a barn, and it’s finally free to find a new home and a loving owner who would put it back on the road.
The Bel Air is pretty rusty on the outside, with holes on just about every body panel. On the flip side, it’s in better condition than many of its barn-kept siblings. But the Chevy looks a tad better inside the cabin. Sure, the upholstery needs a complete restoration, but it took decades of barn storage like a champ, as in, it’s still there to brag about its cool two-tone finish.
The engine bay is a bit of a mystery, though. The weathered mill looks like a period-correct small-block V8, and the seller says it’s a 265-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) powerplant that’s been rebuilt. While Chevrolet did offer a 265 V8 in the 1955 Bel Air, there’s no word on whether the lump is original to this car. Moreover, this V8 was rebuilt a very long ago and probably needs another refresh to run again.
Other than that, the Bel Air appears to be a very original classic. And it also comes with a couple of cool dealer accessories, including a continental kit and a visor. While I’ve seen plenty of Bel Airs with spare wheels atop the rear bumper, the visor makes this Tri-Five a tad exotic. They weren’t very popular in 1955, and many were removed and lost over the years.
So, is this Bel Air worth restoring? Well, it will probably swallow more cash than its current market value. Financially speaking, it doesn’t make much sense. But all that changes if it becomes someone’s labor of love. If you feel like this project is for you, the Sport Coupe is located in New Castle, Delaware, and costs $15,000.