1956 Chevrolet Bel Air

The trinity of Chevrolets will always be the years 1955 through 1957.  For me, a personal fave will always be the middle year, 1956.

The 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air was the first of many Chevrolets to receive a face-lift.  This gave Chevrolets a more full-width grille, appeasing those customers who didn't favor the Ferrari inspired '55 front end.  Their two-tone body side treatments on the Bel Airs gave them the illusion of moving even when standing still.  Graceful front and rear wheel openings completed the "speedline" restyling.  Single housings incorporated the taillight, stoplight, and backup light, and the left one held the  gas filler, an idea popularized on Cadillacs.  It also may have confused a few Gas Station attendants I would imagine…

Among the seven Bel Air models was a new Sport Sedan, a pillarless four-door hardtop that looked handsome with all the windows rolled down and allowed easy entry into the back seat.  Production exceeded 103,000, as compared to 128,000 two-door hardtops.  The shapely two-door Nomad wagons topped the price chart at $2,608 but now carried the same interior and rear-wheel sheetmetal as other Bel Airs, but lacked the original's unique trim.  Only 7,886 were built.  The least costly Bel Air, at $2,025, was the two-door sedan.  Seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, and a padded dashboard were available, and full-size cars could even get the hot Corvette 225-horsepower engine.

In September of 1955, a disguised '56 Bel Air four-door sedan, set an American Stock Sedan record for the 12.5-mile ascent up Pike's Peak.  In 1956, sales material there was an optional rain-sensing automatic top, which was first seen on the first on the 1951 LeSabre concept car.  However, it is believed that it was never installed on a car.  It’s been reported only 7.4% of owners in their survey ordered seat belts.

These shoebox Chevrolet’s also lend themselves to making an excellent choice for Hot Rodding both on the street and the strip.  While most prefer to use model years 1955 and 1957, the 1956 makes for one classy looking street rod.  Just check out the amount of car fans that flock around one at any car show.  Go ahead…I’ll wait here…

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