1956 Chevrolet Bel Air/150/210

Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

Gasoline

In 1956, my dear friend Walter, who was then president of the Centipede Hot Rod Club, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, purchased a wrecked 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air two door, with a 265 V-8, power glide transmission and power steering. The Bel Air was finished in Adobe Beige and Sierra Gold and had only 1,122 miles from new when it was totaled in a bad crash after only about three months of use. Walter and several members of the Centipede Hot Rod Club, dismantled the car. Walter salvaged everything he could off of the Bel Air and immediately put the useable parts into dry storage in a room above his garage where they sat from 1956 until this year when I acquired them. Walter is now in his mid 70s and has provided me with this background information. I am offering what remains of this disassembled 1956 Bel Air as a package deal, at no reserve, so bid to win. I will not consider offers to sell individual parts, so please don’t ask. There are no other parts to this car, other than what is listed. If you are in need of only a few of the parts listed, you may send me your part needs as a question thru eBay, and I will gladly pass it on to the winning bidder, in case he or she wants to contact you thru eBay at the close of the auction. I will be happy to answer thru e-Bay specific questions about any of the parts. I will post any questions and answers that I feel should be posted to help other bidders obtain appropriate information. Additional photos may be found at on photo bucket.com: http://s609.photobucket.com/albums/tt179/alden3133/1956%20Bel%20Air 1. Gauge Cluster - Odometer reading 1,122 miles, 110 MPH speedometer, fuel and temperature gauges, idiot lights for generator and oil pressure, PNDLR indicator with spring and lever. Rear of unit is stamped “1583389-W” and below it “R 1956.” Condition is amazing with very shiny chrome and clear lens. Only two very tiny pits where the chrome meets the lens above the “R”. 2. Clock and Clock Surround - The clock is in amazing condition with shiny chrome surround, nice lens, vivid numbers and hands, and still bears the time that the crash occurred in 1956. The back of the clock is hand marked with the numeral “10” and was embossed as being manufactured in Illinois. The clock is date stamped “MAR 56”. The Clock Surround may be slightly bent in the upper right corner, unless this asymmetrical shape is as-built by GM. The chrome surround is shiny with no pits, but it has a hairline crack in the right upper corner which is hard to see. The gold “Bel Air” script and mesh background material are in excellent shape. 3. Ashtray Assembly - Outside, Sierra Gold, glossy paint. Inside, evidence of a couple of cigarettes crushed out, but otherwise unused, moves well in the assembly and can be removed from assembly for emptying. 4. Heater Control Assembly - This is an amazing piece. Shinny chrome, clear lens, vivid letters, includes blower switch, night light and wiring harness with pigtail connectors, all levers move without binding. Plastic knobs are in great shape, missing one knob which attaches to Defroster lever. Red ink stamp on right side is illegible, embossed “D 56” on control arm. 5. Heater Related. Complete heater box assembly including heater core and vents and cables with knobs for fresh air intakes. Heater box is stamped “HD-05-56-B” and”34”. There is a slight indentation in the box. 6. Horn Button, Horn Ring & Emblem - Wow. Glossy Sierra Gold paint, amazing gold bowtie emblem and shiny chrome horn ring. Includes plastic contact ring and the three screws that secure it to the column and the screw with clip that secures the horn button to the horn ring. 7. Column shifter, turn signal switch & wiper switch - The Sierra Gold paint has good gloss and some minor scratches apparently from use. The shiny chrome shifter level and knob are in excellent condition. The turn signal switch appears to work as it should, with wiring harness pigtails intact and black lever and knob in excellent condition. The vacuum wiper switch looks great as well. 8. Dash Trim - Dome Light - The dome light is in superb condition, with shiny chrome and near perfect lens. The dash trim is in good condition with consistent black paint markings and good shine. Included is what might be a radio delete plate based upon its size and shape. However, I am unsure if it is. Its edges have been somewhat bent but appear to be easily straightened. 9. Mirrors - These are in amazing condition. Shiny chrome and outstanding mirrored surfaces. The O.E. outside mirror lens is stamped “chromo.” The mirror on the right appears to be a circa 1956 aftermarket (no gm part #) side view mirror that likely was clamped to the vent window surround. The other appears to be the inside rearview mirror. 10. Glove Box Door - The glove box door is in great condition, including its piano hinge, and lock. The paint on the front of the door is marred and should be refinished. The retaining arm is included, but its broken. Fresh air vent cable mounts are also pictured. 11. Misc. Engine Parts - Battery box with hold downs in great condition, including paint. Speedo cable, positive and negative battery cables in amazing condition. Each displays a “P” and a “N”. Both have no signs of abuse suffered by most battery cables. What appears to be two original hoses, possibly one upper and small heater hose, which has red engine paint overspray. The original distributor retainer and bolt with red engine paint, lower radiator hose clamp, possible carburetor and/or transmission linkage and what appears to be the original exhaust pre-heat tube in excellent condition. There is a used radiator included that appears to be tri-five and needs recored. The top tank reads - Harrison 312096 and A-02 48 F. 12. Valve Covers with “Chevrolet” script. Original valve covers with original cork gaskets and paint overspray. The red engine paint flakes off easily so these have not be cleaned. Each cover appears to be stamped out of a different grade of steel. Not sure if this is common or not. Sparkplug wire looms also pictured. 13. Exhaust Manifolds with Heat Riser Thermostat. These are in incredible condition, showing no signs of rust and very little use. Included are the original bolts, most washers, donut gaskets, nuts, etc., and engine paint overspray. Stamped D2356 and S636956 and D1956 and 837069. 14. Combination Generator - Power Steering Pump. This is an outstanding piece. Where would you find another original 1956 Generator - Power Steering Pump with only 1,122 miles on it? Includes the upper bracket and bolt pictured. Delco-Remy generator tag reads “1102041 51 18.” Includes “Do not connect” warning sticker still intact. The power steering pump has the letter “V” stamped on the back of the housing. On the front of the housing where it attaches to the generator it is stamped “D 3” and “5682631.” 15. Hood Hinges - The photos speak for themselves. Nice condition. 16. Headlight Assembly - Headlight bucket, T-3 bulb, chrome bezel and pigtail connection. This is an amazing piece. The bulb lens is clear. The chrome is shinny. The cover of the wiring harness is frayed, but otherwise fine. A second headlight bucket with wiring harness in great condition included. 17. Rear Taillight Assembly. Great condition with shinny chrome. Missing brake lens. Reverse light lens & wiring harness included. 18. Miscellaneous Interior Trim. Left side front and rear window surround and other painted trim parts with minor dents and scratches in the paint. These items are in need of repair and refurbishing and would not be satisfactory to use in there current condition. Pair of small arm rests and visors with damage to the fabric on one side. These last items may or may not be tri-five Chevy parts. 19. Trunk Related. Rear Trunk lid with emblems, lock cylinder, license plate bracket, latch and original Adobe Beige paint in remarkable condition. Salem Motors dealer sticker included. If you need an O.E. painted trunk lid with all the ugly factory drips and runs on the underside, this is it. There are a few minor chips and scratches. It is my belief that a pro could touch up and buff this panel out to a remarkable shine. Could you imagine if your original paint Bel Air needed a replacement trunk panel in Adobe Beige? How many original paint trunk lids in this remarkable condition could there be out there? Complete spare tire wheel cut out from trunk pan with torch, including spare tire hold down. Trunk hinges and spring assembly cut out of car with torch as one unit.. After only 1,122 miles, no rust here and O.E. paint remains. Complete screw jack assembly with base, handle and spare tire hold down. Paint scuffed on base. This is a neat little piece. 20. Exterior Chrome Trim. First picture of several pieces of exterior chrome which are in good shape and can be used as is. The numerous exterior chrome pieces in the second picture will need significant repair to be useable. 21. Door & Window Related. Right front wing window assembly in great condition with minor dent on interior chrome window channel cover, lock cylinder, front license plate mount nearly perfect condition including paint and front turn signal lens, with chipped corner where screw mounts. Misc. window regulators, actuators and lock assemblies and related components. 22. Rear Bumper. Three piece rear bumper in outstanding condition. It includes the mounting brackets, license plate light lens and one light socket and wiring harness. The quality of 1956 chrome is not what it is today. After sitting on the shelf since 1956, the chrome on this bumper was cover all over with little sticky spots that were very difficult to remove. I have cleaned it up as best I can, but it could be improved with more elbow grease. All parts of the bumper have very fine scratches in the chrome. The two chrome pieces which hold the license plate lights appear to have very small pits. This is not what I would call show chrome, but I think it is outstanding for being fifty-five year old O.E. chrome. 23. Hood and trunk latch components. These appear to be hood and trunk latch components, but I am not completely certain. They are in great condition. 24. Front suspension and brake related. Complete set of upper and lower control arms with ball joints, front springs, spindles and backing plates. One front brake drum with 4 lug studs. One front brake assembly, including springs, shoes, etc. Wonder what the front brakes looked like from the factory after only 1,122 miles? Also both front wheel cylinders, front brake hoses, and misc. front brake hardware. 25. Right front fender patch panel around headlight. How did they know back in 1956 that this would be useful for a future rust repair? Then again, this hot rod club didn’t throw out anything useable back then. 26. Misc. body bushings, body plugs, nuts, bolts, retainers, internal horn components, rear spring shackles and u-bolts, and front door hinge straps with pins, but damaged beyond repair when they mount to the front cowl. 27. Misc. rubber seals and grommets, including steering column surround. 28. Fuel tank with sending unit, straps, filler neck and gas cap. This piece is in outstanding condition with one very slight indentation about the size of my thumb not noticeable in the photos and lots of undercoating. It appear the seal on the back of the factory gas cap is either paper or cork. There are also rubber seals present for the filler neck where it mounts to the tank and were it seals to the body. 29. Steering related. Power steering box with steering arm, shaft and column surround. The power steering box body is embossed 5666687 followed by a large embossed “S” and then a large embossed “11” with a raised “88” in small print under the “11”. The bolt on cover plate is embossed with 5660723. Power steering cylinder and link system including, cylinder unit with low and high side hoses and center link, both appearing to have factor yellow paint marks as pictured, right side outer and inner tie rods and adjusting sleeve, idler arm, left side outer tie rod and adjusting sleeve. The left inner tie rod and its dust boot is present, but the tie rod itself is damaged, possibly in the collision or during disassembly. There are also two pieces which appear to be suspension arms. I’m not sure if these are tri-five parts or not. I am a not a tri-five Chevrolet expert and have never owned one. I have a couple of mid-sixties Pontiacs that I work on as a hobby, to give me a brake from my office job, so I am no expert and I am not a dealer. Please keep in mind that these parts are 55 years old. This 1956 Bel Air was undercoated when new, so some parts have undercoating applied to them. While these parts are in amazing condition for what they are, they are not perfect. Like any NOS or OE part left to sit on a shelf for fifty five years, you should expect that these parts will have minor scratches, scrapes, dings, chips, dirt, etc. However, I can’t image that you would find 1956 Bel Air NOS or OE parts in much better condition than what I have to offer in this auction. Additional photos may be found at on photo bucket.com: http://s609.photobucket.com/albums/tt179/alden3133/1956%20Bel%20Air Since the Bel Air was in a bad crash, it is possible that some of the parts may have damage that I have not been able to detect. Also, as to the electrical parts, I have no idea if they function correctly, or if they function at all. There are 174 photos of these parts on photobucket.com. I will not take partial payments from multiple parties who may desire to split up the parts between themselves. If you have no feedback, please don’t bid, or your bid will be removed. Thanks to Walter and the Centipede Hot Rod Club of Clarksburg, West Virginia, this time capsule from 1956 has been well preserved. Bid to win. The parts are located about 60 miles south of Pittsburgh. Pick-up only. No shipping. Payment in full must be received within seven days from the auction close, with funds clearing my bank account before parts will be released for pick-up. No exceptions. Thank you for your interest.On Jan-31-11 at 18:04:01 PST, seller added the following information: I just received information from a bidder that the used radiator included is date coded 1948. The radiator is well used so I suspected it was not from this 1956 Bel Air. The top tank reads - Harrison 312096 and A-02 48 F and their are no provisions for automatic transmission cooling lines. The used radiator is included in the auction but it is not from a tri-five chevrolet. Link to 174 pictures of the parts for sale from this Bel Air. http://s609.photobucket.com/albums/tt179/alden3133/1956%20Bel%20Air I thank you all for your comments and interest.