Name Game
Many people identify any of Chevrolet’s full-size range as a “Bel Air”, but this was actually just a trim level, topping the range. The full-size models didn’t actually have a name to group them under, so they’re often referred to as “full-size” in official literature as they were the largest models Chevrolet sold in a given year.
A car for everyone
While we’re used to seeing a lot of different cars on the roads today, Chevrolet really went all-out in the mid-1950s, offering eight body shapes across three trim levels on the second-generation full-size model, leading to 15 different car choices. There were two-door convertibles, two-door coupes (pillarless) and sedans, four-door hardtops (pillarless) and sedans, two-door wagons, four-door wagons, two-door coupe-wagons (tagged “Nomad”), and two-door sedan-delivery.
It packs a sting
Chevrolet’s first serious race-ready car debuted in 1957. Known as the “Black Widow” after the venomous North American spider it was based on the lightweight two-door 150 utility sedan (it had no back seat, no winding windows in the back, arm rests, or radio) but packed the top-shelf Rochester fuel-injected 283ci small-block making 283hp. It is believed six were built.
Chevy Bel Air – 1950-1954
- Year manufactured : 1968
Like many manufacturers at this time, Chevrolet (General Motors’s mid-spec brand) entered the 1950 model year with many design and engineering elements left over from the middle of the previous decade. The new Bel Air model sat at the top of their full-size range, powered by a 3.5-litre Thriftmaster in-line six producing a modest 92hp, and it shared few body and interior parts with lesser models in the range.
Originally the Bel Air was only offered as a two-door hardtop coupe, but this was eventually expanded when Chevrolet rejigged their model range. The 1953 model year saw the first significant upgrades, with the new 125hp 3.9-litre Blue Flame in-line six improving performance, while the pre-World War 2-spec torque tube, split windscreen, and “knee-action” front suspension were all binned in favour of now-conventional tailshaft, single-piece glass, and independent A-arm front-end.
In 1954 the Bel Air could finally be ordered as a two-door pillarless coupe, two- or four-door sedans, a convertible, or as the Beauville wagon. Optional accessories on the Bel Air included luxury (for the era) niceties like power steering, power brakes, power front windows, dimming headlights, and even an electric power seat.
Chevy Bel Air – 1955-1957
- Year manufactured : 1969
Chevrolet probably didn’t expect they’d release a car which would become iconic for the entire world when it pulled the covers off the all-new 1955 Chevrolet full-size range. Along with radical new Jet Age styling, lashings of chrome, and bold colours, a 4.3L “small-block” V8 delivered new levels of power and refinement, producing between 162hp and 195hp.
Across the ’55-’57 second-generation lifespan, the Bel Air was available in a hardtop coupe, a two- and four-door sedan, a convertible, a two-door hardtop wagon (“Nomad”), and a four-door wagon. The styling was mildly updated for 1956, with a new four-door hardtop sedan joining the range, but the 1957 model saw a much larger update.
Among a host of engineering upgrades the V8 grew to 4.7-litres and could be optioned with Rochester fuel-injection for 283hp. With pronounced tailfins, large amounts of chrome and brightwork on the outside and interior, the ’57 Bel Air hardtop coupe and convertible models stand as icons of the decade.
Chevy Bel Air – 1958
- Year manufactured : 1970
An all-new full-size Chevy debuted in 1958 riding on a revolutionary new chassis, with the Bel Air made larger and more low-slung to accentuate speed and luxury. The buyers responded with far increased sales over the previous year, even though Chevy moved away from tailfins that were still growing taller at other brands.
Chevrolet introduced a new name for ’58, with the iconic Impala model debuting as an option on the Bel Air range. Available in a two-door hardtop or convertible, the Impala was designed as a sports-oriented model, and would go on to become one of the most iconic American cars of all time.
Another first for the ’58 model year was the 5.7-litre (348ci) Gen 1 “big-block” V8. Originally designed as an engine for use in heavy duty trucks and vans, the Chevy big-block soon became their racing engine of choice and eventually grew to as large as 8-litres as a production engine.
Chevy Bel Air – 1959-1960
- Year manufactured : 1971
Despite its success in the sales race, Chevy released another all-new Bel Air for the ’59 model year. Radically restyled to be longer, lower and wider, tailfins returned but were laid out in curvaceous horizontal “bat wings”, and thin pillars accentuated the slimline roofline on hardtop coupes.
The ’59 and ’60 Chevies were 280mm longer than the ‘57s, and 76mm wider than the ‘58s but boasted an impressive extra 130mm more interior space due to a new door design. The drivetrains were kept largely the same as the ‘58s, but with optional camshafts and increased compression horsepower jumped to as high as 315hp.
For 1960 Chevrolet toned down the styling and dropped the Rochester Ram-Jet fuel-injection as an option, but now offered three two-barrel carburettors and higher-performance internals on the 348 big-block for a wild (for the time) 335hp. The Bel Air convertible was dropped and this left the Impala as the only open-top full-size model, while the four-door hardtop featured the iconic “flat-top” roofline.
Wonder Year
While most General Motors products have a three- or four-year generational cycle, the 1958 full-size Chevies are different. Showcasing a whole new platform from the previous ’55-’57 “Tri-Five” models, the ’58 was replaced by an all-new model featuring radically different styling in 1959, despite the ’58 models selling far better than the now-iconic ’57!
Colour Me Crazy
From the mid-50s to the mid-60s Chevrolet’s colour choices on their full-size models were vast. In 1965 alone the Bow-Tie brand offered up 24 different colour choices, in both solid-tone and two-tone. There were more options for special orders, which would pretty much get you whatever colour you wanted on whatever car you were buying.
More Doors
While many consider a “Monaro” to be a two-door coupe, the four-door HQ, HJ and HX models proved incredibly popular thanks to their family-friendly practicality. Initially GM-H tested the waters with a limited-edition model called the HQ SS, the first time that famous badge appeared on a Holden, which used a 253ci (4.2-litre) V8, unique stripes, GTS wheels and three different bright colours to provide some funky ‘70s flare.
Chevy Bel Air – 1961-1964
- Year manufactured : 1974
The third all-new full-size line-up in just four years, the Jet Age styling reached its zenith in 1961. There were no signs of tailfins and the “bubble-top” roofline of the hardtop two-door has become iconic in subsequent years, as Chevrolet moved to continue to push their cars to look longer, lower and sleeker.
Chevrolet made styling updates through the fifth-generation full-size model as the design moved from sleek Jet Age to chunky muscle car. The 1962 model year saw the two-door hardtop coupe dropped from the Bel Air range, leaving just the two-door and four-door sedans, and station wagons wearing the famous name.
The ‘61-‘64 Impalas are arguably the model’s most famous generation, having split away from the Bel Air range to be Chevrolet’s high-performance full-size offering. The ’62 model year saw introduction of the legendary 409 (6.7L) big-block, which would ultimately be offered with 425hp in a race-ready tune. The 409 would be so famous The Beach Boys even wrote the song “409” about it.
Chevy Bel Air – 1965-1970
- Year manufactured : 1976
For the introduction of the all-new ’65 full-size models, Chevy pushed their length out to 5,420mm and introduced styling to accentuate the car’s width. The high waistline was softened by the beginnings of high-rising hips, which would later become known as “Coke Bottle Styling” later in the decade.
The muscle car era was raging and Chevrolet introduced new optional big-block engines boasting huge capacities up to 7-litres (427ci). While officially rated at 425 horsepower many of these engines were de-tuned from the factory and were modified within days of the car being delivered.
Chevrolet released a large redesign of the sixth-generation Bel Air in ’67, to feature more aggressive styling and a sweeping fastback roof on the hardtop coupe models, and then again in ’69 for a more bluff, formal style. As the Bow Tie brand pushed sports buyers towards the Impala models, the Bel Air was only available as a two-door and four-door sedan, or four-door wagon, and the two-door sedan was dropped for the ’70 model year.
In 1966 Chevrolet introduced the Caprice range, which was intended to be a luxury partner to the Impala and featured a “formal box-top roof” on hardtop coupes. This new model demoted the Bel Air to be mid-range, above the base model Biscayne.
Chevy Bel Air – 1971-1975
- Year manufactured : 1974
The third all-new full-size line-up in just four years, the Jet Age styling reached its zenith in 1961. There were no signs of tailfins and the “bubble-top” roofline of the hardtop two-door has become iconic in subsequent years, as Chevrolet moved to continue to push their cars to look longer, lower and sleeker.
Chevrolet made styling updates through the fifth-generation full-size model as the design moved from sleek Jet Age to chunky muscle car. The 1962 model year saw the two-door hardtop coupe dropped from the Bel Air range, leaving just the two-door and four-door sedans, and station wagons wearing the famous name.
The ‘61-‘64 Impalas are arguably the model’s most famous generation, having split away from the Bel Air range to be Chevrolet’s high-performance full-size offering. The ’62 model year saw introduction of the legendary 409 (6.7L) big-block, which would ultimately be offered with 425hp in a race-ready tune. The 409 would be so famous The Beach Boys even wrote the song “409” about it.
Do you own a Chevrolet Bel Air
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Bel Airs today
Chevy Impala and Bel Air models transcend car enthusiasm today as the badges are an intrinsic part of pop culture of the 50s and 60s, and the most famous are easily the ’57 Sport Coupe and convertible. While their popularity spans generations, full-size Chevies remain mostly affordable. Prices are strongest for convertibles and pillarless two-door coupes which were factory fitted with the most powerful engines, while mid- and lower-spec cars are genuinely affordable classics with an unbelievable aftermarket network to support them; there are even companies making new bodyshells!
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We will cover Modifications which you have listed in your Schedule or given us details of in writing, and which we have accepted.
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