1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Convertible

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Convertible
L2021.0001.0010, Savoy Collection

Engine: 350 cu. in. (5.7 L) Cast-iron block, V-8
Output: 162 HP @ 4,400 RPM
Transmission: Automatic
Wheelbase: 115 in.
Overall Length: 195
Weight: 3,315 lbs.
Top Speed: 132 MPH
No. Produced: 41,292
Original Price: $2,206
Manufacturer: Chevrolet

In 1953, Chevrolet decided it was time to update the first-generation Bel Airs to reflect the newest technology of the post-war era. Chevy ditched the torque tube drive, six-cylinder engines, and split windshields. The Bel Air facelift included the infamous wide chrome strip stretching from the rear fender to the rear bumper, decorated with a thin stripe to match the color of the body. “Bel-Air” was inscribed into the strips, giving Bel Air the deserved treatment.

Popular Mechanics magazine, which did a feature on the first-generation Bel Airs, reported that the ‘55 Bel Airs equipped with a V8 engine with a Power glide two-speed automatic transmission went from 0 to 60 MPH in 12.9 seconds. This was a drastic increase from the July 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics, which reported the Bel Air’s time at 19.6 seconds.