Basic information and history

With the 1956 model year, Chevrolet took the next step in the series that enthusiasts today collect under the term Tri-Five. The model year received a new front-end design where the grille was widened across the entire front, relocated tail lights and new two-tone colour schemes, while the Bel Air continued to be the top model in the line-up with more generous chrome trim and a more upscale interior. During 1956 it was also the small-block V8 that firmly established Chevrolet as a manufacturer of strong, easily tuned engines, a trait that has made the model one of the most beloved platforms for custom and restomod builds ever since.

This Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan from 1956 has been imported to Sweden from the USA and is reported to have had three owners in total. The odometer shows 108,000 km, but this cannot be guaranteed, partly because the trip odometer has stopped working.

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The car is being sold from an estate, and information about it is scarce. All the paperwork that belonged to the car was unfortunately thrown away during a clean-up. The deceased owner is said to have been very meticulous, and the car's condition supports this. Prospective bidders should nevertheless form their own opinion through their own inspection.

Bidders Highway will shortly carry out a start-up and inspection of the car, and more information will then be published.

Equipment and options

• Engine swap to LT1 from a Corvette C4
• Disc brakes, likely from the same Corvette C4
• Lowering blocks on the rear axle, 2 inches
• 17-inch wheels from American Racing

The car has been rebuilt in classic restomod style. The original engine has been replaced by an LT1, the second-generation small block that Chevrolet introduced in the Corvette C4 in the early 1990s, providing considerably more power and better usability in modern traffic than a period-correct engine. According to the seller, the disc brakes from the same donor car have very likely come along as well, which is a common and appreciated upgrade on a Tri-Five. The chassis is lowered at the rear with 2-inch lowering blocks, and the wheels consist of 17-inch rims from American Racing. Other equipment is not known due to the car's background.

Condition

The paint, body and windows are all described by the seller as being in excellent condition.

The interior is likewise stated to be in excellent condition, as is the headliner, while the instrument panel is described as being in good condition. The trip odometer does not work and appears, according to the seller, to have stopped.

The tyres and rims are described as being in excellent condition.

On the mechanical side, the engine, gearbox and brakes are stated to be in excellent condition. The vehicle passed its inspection, most recently on 13 March 2017.

Service history

The car is stated to be fully serviced, but there are no receipts or other documentation to support the service history. The reason is that all documents belonging to the car were discarded during a clean-up following the previous owner's passing. The information about maintenance is therefore based on what is known about the owner, who is said to have been very meticulous, as well as on the car's general condition. We recommend that a prospective buyer inspects the car themselves and forms an opinion about the work carried out.

Summary

A Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan from 1956, imported from the USA, with three owners and 108,000 km on the odometer which cannot be guaranteed. The car has been rebuilt with an LT1 engine from a Corvette C4, likely matching disc brakes, rear lowering blocks and 17-inch wheels from American Racing, resulting in a Tri-Five with a more modern drivetrain and brakes. The body, paint, windows and interior are described as being in excellent condition, and the engine, gearbox, brakes and tyres and rims are all given the same rating by the seller.

The vehicle is being sold from an estate without accompanying documentation, meaning the history is incomplete. Bidders Highway will shortly carry out a start-up and inspection of the car, and further information will be added. An interesting starting point for anyone seeking a well-built Bel Air with a Corvette heart.