1956 Chevrolet Bel Air/150/210

Sedan

V8 with Power Pack

Manual 3 on tree

56S057843

Clear

Gas

You are bidding on an original 1956 Chevrolet Bel-Air V8 Sedan equipped with optional Power Pack, the 3-on-the-tree manual transmission and 94,181 miles shown on the odometer ... This Bel-Air is in very nice condition inside and out, but per my other Condition Description the paint is original and it shows a little age. It looks great from even 4 feet away and you wouldn't be embarrassed to drive it but it is 59 years old! The car has never been in an accident and really looks great for it's age. The engine compartment needs the most work, then the paint and the interior is in the best shape. Leave it as-is and enjoy it or totally restore it to like new condition. The lack of rust makes it a perfect candidate for either. It drives great and cars are only original one time. It's priced to sell and be enjoyed by a new owner - will that be you? We do have a complete collection of photographs that document every aspect of this vehicle including the undercarriage, so please request them! And be sure to mail us if you have any questions! Please also keep in mind that this vehicle is being advertised via other retail venues, so we reserve the right to cancel this auction at any time and without notice. Additional Details: (VIN: 56S057843), we are proud to offer this 6-passenger Bel Air sedan finished in Twilight Turquoise with India Ivory accents and a Turquoise pattern cloth & imitation leather interior. The odometer shows 94,181 miles. It is powered by a Super turbo fire 265 ci V8 with a power pack (four-barrel carburetor and other upgrades yielding 180 bhp) and drive comes from a 3-speed manual transmission. This example was built in St. Louis, MO and was the 56,842nd example built out of the 269,798 total 1956 production. What makes this Bel-Air unique is that the motor, paint and interior are all original to the vehicle. The body has not been painted, the chrome has not been refinished and the motor that was installed on the assembly line is still with the car. While it is not a show car, there is no rust on the body, all of the gauges function properly and the car drives great - I have put about 50 miles on it. What makes it rare is that it's only original once! There are plenty of cars on the market that have been modified and painted, etc. But this is a chance to own one that hasn't been changed! The paint is faded and spider-webbed / crazed in some areas, but the car looks good enough to leave as-is and drive, or it's the perfect restoration candidate. The fuel tank and mufflers have been replaced and there were some auxiliary gauges and an FM radio added at some point in the past (the previous owner did drive the car), but those are easily removable if complete period correctness is your goal. The cleanest part of the car is the interior, which is outrageously good condition - the carpet and vinyl are both excellent, the headliner is not drooping or sagging - it looks like a time capsule inside! The engine compartment could be detailed and has some oil drips but as I stated above - originality is what is attracting the buyers today. Another added bonus with this vehicle is that I have two original 1956 sales brochures for the car, as well as the original 1956 title and the original invoice of sale!!! Try to go find that with the others on the market! I have a lot of photos, including the undercarriage, that will show the condition of the car, so please request and review them! According to the invoice, this Bel-Air was delivered by Hasenour Motor Company in St. Anthony, IN on 01/10/1956 for a total price of $2,676.75 with the following options: Tutone $25.85 Interior trim $6.50 Oil filter $8.65 Large heater $00.00 E-Z-I glass $32.30 Power pack (four-barrel carburetor and other upgrades yielding 180 bhp) $32.30 Whitewall tires $32.30 Accessories $155.45 Radio $91.00 Undercoating $25.00 Backup lamps $8.25 Door handle shields $3.80 2 mirrors $10.25 Vent shades $10.25 Mats $6.95 For 1955, Chevrolet's full-size model received all new styling and power. It was called the "Hot One" in GM's advertising campaign. Chevrolet's styling was crisp, clean and incorporated a Ferrari-inspired grille. Bel Airs came with features found on cars in the lower models ranges plus interior carpet, chrome headliner bands on hardtops, chrome spears on front fenders, stainless steel window moldings,[1] and full wheel covers. Models were further distinguished by the Bel Air name script in gold lettering later in the year.[8] For 1955 Chevrolets gained a V8 engine option.and the option of the 2 speed Powerglide automatic, or a standard three speed Synchro-Mesh manual transmission with optional overdrive. The new 265 cu in (4,340 cc) V8 featured a modern, overhead valve high compression, short stroke design that was so good that it remained in production in various displacements for many decades. The base V8 had a two-barrel carburetor and was rated at 162 hp (121 kW), and the "Power Pack" option featured a four-barrel carburetor and other upgrades yielding 180 bhp (130 kW). Later in the year, a "Super Power Pack" option added high-compression and a further 15 bhp (11 kW). "Idiot" lights replaced gauges for the generator and oil pressure. This was not the first Chevrolet to be installed with a V8 engine. The first Chevrolet with a V8 engine was introduced in 1917 called the Series D which was built for two years, and was manufactured before Chevrolet joined General Motors. Motor Trend magazine gave the Bel Air top marks for handling. Popular Mechanics reported acceleration for a V8 Bel Air with Powerglide as being 0-60 mph in 12.9 seconds, plus a comfortable ride, and good visibility. On the other hand, the horn ring blocked some of the speedometer, regular gasoline made the engine knock, and the first V8 engines off the line burned too much oil.[10] Front legroom was 43.1". Brakes were 11" drums. A new option for V8-equipped 1955 models was air conditioning, with outlets on each side of the dashboard; a heavy-duty generator was included on cars equipped with this option. The 1956 Bel Air received a face-lift with a more conventional full-width grille, pleasing those customers who didn't favor the Ferrari-inspired '55 front end. Distinctive two-tone bodyside treatments and graceful front and rear wheel openings completed the "speedline" restyling. Single housings incorporated the taillight, stoplight, and backup light, and the left one held the gas filler - an idea popularized on Cadillacs. Among the seven Bel Air models was a new Sport Sedan, a pillarless four-door hardtop that looked handsome with all the windows rolled down and allowed easy entry into the back seat. Production exceeded 103,000, compared to 128,000 two-door hardtops. Shapely two-door Nomad wagons topped the price chart at $2,608, but now carried the same interior and rear-wheel sheetmetal as other Bel Airs, lacking the original's unique trim. Only 7,886 were built. The least costly Bel Air, at $2,025, was the two-door sedan. Seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, and a padded dashboard were available,[9] and full-size cars could even get the hot Corvette 225-horsepower engine. In 1956 sales material there was an optional rain-sensing automatic top, which was first seen on the first on the 1951 LaSabre concept car. However, it is believed that it was never installed on a car. Popular Mechanics reported only 7.4% of owners in their survey ordered seat belts. In 1957 engine displacement grew to 283 cu in (4,640 cc) with the "Super Turbo Fire V8" option producing 283 hp (211 kW) with the help of continuous (closed loop) mechanical fuel injection. These so-called "fuelie" cars are quite rare, since most Bel Airs were fitted with carburetion. The 1957 Bel Air is among the most recognizable American cars of all time; well-maintained examples, especially Sport Coupes and Convertibles are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. They are roomy, with tastefully restrained, period use tail fins and chrome. A second automatic transmission, Turboglide, was optional. While the original two-speed Powerglide continued unchanged, Turboglide provided a continuously variable gear ratio which made "shifting" imperceptible. The shift quadrant on Turboglide cars followed a "P R N D Gr" pattern. From 1955 to 1957, production of the two-door Nomad station wagon was assigned to the Bel Air series, although its body and trim were unique to that model. Prior to becoming a regular production model, the Nomad first appeared as a Corvette-based concept vehicle in 1954. Chevrolet has since unveiled two concept cars bearing the Nomad name, most recently in 1999. The 1955–1957 Chevrolets are commonly referred to as TriFives. The 1955-1957s were made in right-hand drive and shipped from Oshawa, Canada, for local assembly in Australia (CKD), New Zealand (SKD), and South Africa. All three model years had a reversed version of the '55 LHD dashboard and did not get the LHD models' 1957 redesign. Bid with confidence - we have been a member of eBay since November 1998 and we have a 100% feedback rating!! We do have a complete collection of photographs that document every aspect of this vehicle, so please request them! And be sure to mail us if you have any questions! Please also keep in mind that this vehicle is being advertised via other retail venues, so we reserve the right to cancel this auction at any time and without notice. God bless and good luck in bidding! *This vehicle is located in Southern Indiana - more information or photographs are available upon on request. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the description of this vehicle, mistakes regarding hp ratings, options, etc. can be made. I have also done my best to be very honest and very critical about the cosmetic and mechanical condition of this vehicle. Of course, it is not always possible to pick-up on every minor detail or flaw. Please keep expectations realistic as this is a pre-owned vehicle, and I have personally found blemishes on brand new un-driven vehicles. If you are an exceptionally detailed oriented person, please contact me to verify any information directly, and I will do my best to specifically photograph anything you request and to answer any of your questions to the best of my ability.