Today, almost every new car comes with air conditioning as standard equipment. But that was not the case in 1955 as it was usually an option only available to the “rich and famous”. The seller’s 1955 Chevy Bel Air is thought to be one of less than 500 built that year with the newfangled apparatus designed to improve your driving pleasure. Located in American Canyon, California, and loaded with oodles of patina, this ’55 Chevy is available here on eBay. So far, $6,900 is the latest bid amount.
The 1955 model year was a big one for Chevrolet. They rolled out an all-new design which would become quite popular and would offer their first V8 engine since 1918. Buyers were pleased with the result and nearly 1.8 million copies flowed through dealer showrooms that year (a similar number would repeat in 1956 and 1957). The Bel Air was the top model and this one has almost everything on it that you could order in those days.
This Chevy was last on the road in 2007, so its drivability would reasonably be in question. But it looks to be complete and provides a solid foundation for a restoration. Yes, there is some rust (such as in the floorboards), but nothing here can’t be fixed with time and/or money (mostly money). Besides having the new 265 cubic inch V8, this Bel Air also has a Powerglide automatic transmission, power steering, and that new “thang” called air conditioning (even rare in a Cadillac in those days).
Unlike a lot of Tri-Five Chevies, this one hasn’t been cut up or molested. And that may be because it’s a 4-door sedan rather than a 150 coupe or 210 hardtop. It still wears (what’s left of it) the original Indian Ivory/Cashmere Blue paint job. If you’re looking for an as-built 1950s car to restore, this example may be as close as they come. And if you can get the A/C going again, you can impress your friends at Cars & Coffee in July!
Unusual that the original owner didn’t select the tinted glass option when ordering a/c; at least for the windshield.
Electric wipers also ,to bad it not 2door post
I witnessed a video recently, a fellow EASILY converted his 4 dr into a 2 dr, I was very impressed with the results
I had a shirt- tail relative who turned his ’55 wagon into a El Camino. Black in and out. Nicely done
If it were a 2-door Bel Air the price as is would be through the roof as it is! Those coupes go for big money.
An exceptional find, nice work! Would be a nice one to have and in factory fresh real restoration. It would be a great addition to a fastidious collection. Even in 56 an AC Chevrolet (or Ford) was more uncommon than “hens teeth”. Hope it lands in the right hands to keep it alive as a unique factory 56 Chev.
The AC RPO for this car was listed at $162.26.
That was probably 2 weeks wages in 55, much cheaper to roll the window down
Aren’t the air shocks mounted upside down?
I believe you’re right! Probably shocks for some other car so they just put them on how they could get them to work.
Good luck tracking down those heat/ac control levers, probably impossible. Same for the vanes in the vents, if it had any to start with.
Lots of rusty metal, but still looks sorta solid. Would be a good candidate for a two door conversion, not really that hard since they all shared the same body except the wagons. Just have to have the doors and the door post to fender well sections from a two door post sedan.
Sharp eye , JW. Maybe the installer was laying in the trunk looking through a rust hole and thought he was looking up instead of down,! Lol!
The only other car I’ve seen of this vintage with factory a/c is a ’55 Pontiac Safari wagon. The wagon had a center vent in the dash so small I think it’s less than an inch tall. The radio antenna was mounted on the right rear quarter panel, too.
Oldest car I’ve seen with factory AC was an ultra-rare `52 Olds 98 sedan that was a pilot prototype car built for testing the system a year before it became a factory option! When I realized I was seeing a `52 and not a `53 model I questioned it. Then the owner filled me in on it. The car remained in Lansing, MI. it’s whole life and was discovered INTACT among junkers. The VIN was marked with “X” meaning experimental, and not usually for sale to the public. Probably someone’s ride that worked at the Olds plant there.
This is the only 55 I’ve seen with a/c, but I once saw a ’54 Olds 98 convertible with a/c. Black with a white top. Owner turned down $125,000.
If only these cars could talk!
Especially the back seat.
Yep, when things got “hot and heavy”, this car had the advantage of A/C!
Was on the bay last month and reached somewhere around $10K plus and apparently wasn’t enough for the owner. I forward a question to him but he never responded. This is a 5K car at the most.
It needs the dealer installed oil filter cannister.
You are thinking about the 55 265, 56 had the full flow filter like the 283’s had.
This is a ‘55
Had a 1955, 210, same color. Got hit on freeway from rear. Car flipped over in median. We crawled out with a few scratches. These were built like tanks, heavy gauge sheet metal.
Saw a ’57 Chevrolet once with factory A/C. The A/C system covered the entire passenger side of the V8 engine, making any routine servicing of that side of the engine a major operation. Probably had to access the spark plugs from underneath!
In the early 70s I found a 1956 Nomad, tan & white. It had factory A/C, as it was sold new in southern Arizona. I can confirm the A;C made it really hard to work on the right side of the engine.
When in 1972 the US army decided they wanted me, I sold it to a neighbor. His 16 year old son ruined the car, and he took the A/C stuff off and threw it all in the trash!
There are no pics showing the AC compressor which should be on the pass side. It would have to be an early version of the A6 and have a very large clutch. The evaporator is clearly visible, as are vents inside car.The A6 AC compressors on a later 64 year Impala had a strange muffler type unit mounted to it as well. There should be pics of pass side engine to at least confirm its still there, along with its hardware, and that huge AC clutch is pretty hard to miss.
I used to have 3 55 chevy’s and wish I still had them. One was the 4dr. BelAir and 2 55 ragtops. I blew the trans. on one gutted it of interior and spare and put 12 coats of sky blue laqquer on it complete with a new top. I drove it for 6 months before UncleSam came knocking on my door. My Mom talked me into selling it three weeks later. I’ve kicked myself ever since!!!!!!!!!!