1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible - Beach Find
March 10 2018, Saanich Peninsula BC - Soon after I earned my driver's license, I started taking long trips in the countryside scouring the local farms and fields for old cars. Though the fields have largely been picked clean of useful material over the decades, it seems that hobby never gets old. You drive in your sleep to find the unrusty but dusty cars of your dreams, where everything is possible. Once in a while the car finds you, and you are wide awake.
Always one to take the long way for groceries, we happened upon this sorry looking but very real 1955 Chevrolet convertible. Old convertibles have a pretty narrow range of practical geographic/climate range. With the soft tops they are susceptible to the elements and many parts suffer from exposure. Snow and rust do cruel things to ragtops, and rain will inevitably find a way to the floor boards. Sun isn't much better for open tops and interior either. If you don't keep your car out of the weather, you are going to pay for it - sooner and later. The longer it sits, the longer it is destined to sit. When metal starts to evaporate on your car, there is almost no turning back.
There was not a soul around so we couldn't trespass long, but we suspect the original history of the car has dissipated along the top. Now sitting less than a football field away from salt water on a rainy island, the car might never have been 50 miles away from salty air. We wonder how many people ask to buy it - even in the past due date condition. It is a 55 Chev after all - convertible yet; there can't be too many left to raise from the rot. How crazy is it to think this is a good idea? You probably know someone that might for a few minutes.
Nothing would be impossible with a good but killed donor car, a lot of skilled time and a trunkload of willed money. The mind races through all the work that needs to be done. The good news is that you can buy just about every part for a 55 Chevrolet - one of the most popular and recognized automobiles on earth. Given the starting point, you should probably not bother to go back to "original" - no such thing anyway. If you replace or paint any part, it's not original. This car is a Pro-Street Monster in waiting - no sentimental need for the way things used to be.
Since I know I would die alone and broke if I brought this home, all I can do is offer a few pieces of advice for where to start on your own adventure. Since this is a ground up project, the lower parts are best to start with. For under $25k you can buy a new frame complete with brakes, steering. rear and suspension at a Western Canadian hot rod fabrication shop:
Canadian Hot Rods Inc. - (250)-835-2070
Trans Canada Hwy, Tappen BC V0E 2X2
Well that was easier than expected - now you can go shopping for everything else. Download the phone book sized Tri-5 catalog from Classic Industries and we'll see you in a week when you are finished shopping. You can't believe what you can buy for 63 year old car:
Classic Industries - (800)-854-1280
There is a lot more to this kind of story, but we hope to meet the owners to discuss the situation a little further. Maybe we can donate a tarp so we can sleep better in the meantime not thinking about the rain.
by Randy Berg
Hagerty Valuation for 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
