Introduced in 1955, the Chevrolet Tr-Five was one of the most revolutionary automobiles of its era. And in addition to being a pretty sight, it introduced Chevrolet's first mass-produced V8 engine. Offered in several body styles and three trim levels (150, 210, and Bel Air), the Tri-Five sold like hotcakes: Chevrolet delivered nearly five million units through 1957.
Come 2024, the Chevrolet Tri-Five is a highly desirable classic, especially in Bel Air trim. The two-door Hardtop Sport Coupe is particularly sought-after. But because this body style was highly popular back in the day, it's quite common nowadays as well. Specifically, Chevrolet sold 488,340 examples over three model years, which is about 10% of the total production.
All told, there's no shortage of Bel Air hardtops today, but solid examples that haven't been tampered with are getting harder to find. This 1957 example, one of 168,293 made, is one of those rigs that soldiered on for decades as a highly original survivor.
Featured by the folks at YouTube's "Iron City Garage," this pink Bel Air was last driven in 1976. This means it sat for a whopping 48 years as of 2024. However, while most classics that sit for so long become rust buckets, this Bel Air emerged back into the light in excellent condition. That's because it spent all those decades in a garage, safe from the elements. And it's almost a time capsule.
Why "almost?" Well, the Bel Air was repainted at some point. Our host says it's the "wrong color," so this means the Chevy left the factory in a different hue. The interior, on the other hand, is still all original and sports a nice two-tone black-and-silver color combo. Maybe this Bel Air was originally red on the outside?
The hardtop still packs the original V8 engine under the hood, which is a big plus for a classic Chevy. The unit in question is a 283-cubic-inch (4.6-liter) small block, the largest Chevrolet V8 available at the time. The 283 sat atop the mid-range 265-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) V8 and the 235-cubic-inch (3.9-liter) inline-six. It generated 185 to 283 horsepower, depending on configuration. This one probably relies on the 185-horsepower version.
Even though it sat for nearly 50 years without a sip of gasoline, the old V8 didn't need a massive amount of work to run again. And it still had enough oomph to take the Bel Air for a spin around the block. Our host is now looking to sell it. Hopefully, the Bel Air will find a new owner that will restore the hardtop to its original glory.
Until that happens, watch it spring back to life in the video below. If you're a fan of "first wash" videos, the Bel Air is also getting cleaned and buffed at the 54-minute mark.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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