1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
For 1955, Chevrolet’s studio head Clare MacKichan worked under styling chief Harley Earl to recast the entire car. The result featured a high, dipping beltline, a lower roofline, a wrap-around windshield, and an egg-crate grille in place of the previous generation’s upright, rounder bodywork.
The Bel Air Convertible sat at the top of the range and was available in two-tone paint combinations carried across both exterior and interior.
The 265 CI “Turbo Fire” OHV V-8 was new for 1955, developed by chief engineer Ed Cole. In base two-barrel configuration it produced 162 hp; the “Power Pack” option with a four-barrel carburetor raised that to 180 hp.
Ball-joint front suspension and tubeless tires were also new, as was a 12-volt electrical system. The 3-speed Synchro-Mesh manual was the standard transmission, with Powerglide 2-speed automatic optional.
The Bel Air Convertible was priced at $2,206 new. The model set a production record with 42,278 convertibles built for the year.
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