OK, before you crucify me, I bleed Ford Blue. Always have, always will. So don't gimmie me no guff !

We gear-heads do love cool finds however no matter the vehicle, and I thought you'd like to share my "happy moment". For many of us, (although I had a '64 Caliente) the Tri-5s were the car to have in high-school in the '60s although I like the post models better.

Anyway.... My previous business partner once told me about his Dad's '55 Bel-Air that had been garaged since '71. It was originally purchased by his Grandfather who then passed it down. His dad recently died. My friend (who can't change a tire) contacted me about bringing it down to San Diego and asked me to advise him on what to do. Instead, I told him to have it towed directly to my house. I offered to do the things you need to do to carefully get it back to running condition and safety.

The body has some bumps and bruises with a little rust in the headlight bezels (a common spot for this car) but it is generally solid everywhere else. It has 60,140 original miles and every part on it is from the factory. I'm just starting on it but after doing the fluid flushes, carb rebuild, correct fuel pump, I got it running and it sounds great. The Powerglide leaks like a pig though. 265 - No Oil Filter - No Fuel Filter that year......

The plan is to keep it as is. Any changes I make (Tune Up, Hoses, Exhaust System is shot, Rear Leafs gone etc.) will be minimal and factory correct. He will not paint it or change anything. Hub Caps and other goodies in the trunk. Jack instructions are pristine.

Pretty Cool Huh ?

Dawgie

 

I love virgin vehicles. Thanks for posting

 

Any chance he'll let you keep it?! Hard to love Glides, but hard to hate them too, they last forever and I'd bet the re-seal doesn't cost much more than $100. Just think how nice a 4-sp on the floor would be...

Be sure to test drive it extensively, don't want any comebacks!

 

I'm glad he doesn't want to change anything out. There is something special about these untouched ones..

 

That's sweet - And yes I owned Tri Fives of both makes of cars

 

Love the 55, and an original one I just not found. Are you fixing the body damage?

 

I loved when you could tell make, model, and year at a glance. What happend ?

 

My first car was a 56 convertible that I got for $250, a 265 that had originally been mated to a powerglide but the PO had changed it to a 3 speed on the floor. Second car was a 56 2 door wagon (not a nomad) that also had a 265 with a 3 speed column shift. Both were good cars, but I was a high school kid who didn't respect them. Later, I was to get my grandmothers 56 Chevy 2 door post, 265, auto, that she purchased new and kept in her garage. In 85 I drove it when I went to see her in LA, it had 17K miles and looked like it was new. She had it in her will to me! Ten years later, with almost 18K miles, she was 89 years old and still driving. She shouldn't have been though as she sailed through a red light in the middle of LA and got T boned. Sadly she died of complications a few months later, and the car was totaled. A terrible one two punch for me, worse for her. And sad to see such a great car in perfect shape totaled.

 

Thanks for posting...I love reading this stuff.

 

That is a very nice '55 Bel Air hardtop! The interior is nearly immaculate!

Here is a 57 and a 55 I owned in the mid-70's to early 80's:
My 55 2 door sedan, 210 model (1978-84):
<a href="http://s1146.photobucket.com/user/abestauffer/media/ford%20trucks/55Chevya_zps979b60db.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o536/abestauffer/ford%20trucks/55Chevya_zps979b60db.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 55Chevya_zps979b60db.jpg"/></a>

My '57 Bel Air 2 door sedan (1974-82):
<a href="http://s1146.photobucket.com/user/abestauffer/media/ford%20trucks/57Chevya_zps9a44805d.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o536/abestauffer/ford%20trucks/57Chevya_zps9a44805d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 57Chevya_zps9a44805d.jpg"/></a>

Not a good pic of my 57. It was winter time. I took the slotted mags off the back and had snow tires on. It was my daily driver and it was dirty. About the cop: I was in college and had an 8:00 class at the building behind me. My next class was not until 11:00. Street parking was limited, so I would park in front of the "NO PARKING FROM HERE TO CURB" sign, and be back out by 8:50. One day I got there just as a cop was giving me a parking ticket. My buddy, who had a photography class that semester, was coming out of his apartment with his camera and caught this shot for posterity. Oh, by the way the officer took back the ticket!

 

Dawg,
Very cool! Leave it just as it is, drive it, enjoy it. If he just can't stand the powerglide you could swap it out for a 3 or 4spd auto without hurting the car much.
Love the tri-five's. Back in the day my buddy was a huge tri-5 guy (still is). Here's a shot from early 80's, we were towing the drag car behind my truck.



Bobby

 

That's in amazing shape for original!

I've got a 57 Chevy... that's always been my true love


I've got most of the trim, etc. Just all boxed up and stored away.