1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air

[@AlaskaErik]

What a beautiful car. I was born in 1954 and I've always wanted a car from that year.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

GOOD CALL!

[@ronaldcarnevale3424]

My uncle bought a 54 Bel Air new off the showroom floor. It was an awesome turquoise and white color 2 door hardtop. White walls of course. He traded it in for a 59 Bonneville which too was awesome.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

OH mAN....The Bonneville is such a GREAT car.....never owned one....I have had aa couple of Grand Prix Pontiacs.....LOVED them!

[@Little_Man152]

Beautiful 54. My dad has a 57 2 door ht and a 55 2 door post. Both fully restored. He's got a 67 Camaro and a 65 Corvette.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

can't beat a well sorted Camaro....OR Corvette ....I have owned both....so good!

[@Matas226]

The 53 through 57 will always be the cool ones.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

AGREE! ....My dad had a 55, 57....then a 57 when I was a kid...

[@clark5242]

Beautiful car! I am currently working on a 54 Belair hardtop right now! Unfortunately is has power nothing. :)

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Power nothing is OK! I love that!

[@jimbo97]

Wonderful! I had my '54 "210" 4-door, PowerGlide, for 6 years in high school and college. After that, it sat for 20 years in my big garage before my cousin bought it. He still drives it occasionally. I found it hard to find replacement horn rings which were easily broken. Great car! 🤩

[@lindagray2282]

What did you replace it with?🤷‍♀️ I’d have kept this beauty for my whole life 🥰

[@jimbo97]

@@lindagray2282 It's still in the family. 😄 Replaced with 1973 Grand Am, 455 with sun roof.

[@lindagray2282]

😱 Oh wowieeee 😱 Hopefully kept in top condition??? Grand Am/Trans Am - Burt Reynolds 🥰 Smokey and the Bandit. Here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 we very rarely see these classic 50’s American metal sculptures, nor 70’s American muscle. I’m 76, owned a 1953 GM/Vauxhall Cresta,then a 1964 Cresta,, straight 6 engines. 1964 & 1969 Ford Zephyr’s, straight 6 then V6 engined. Great British “muscle” when I was a young 👧 Closest we Brits could get to American V8’s. I’m now reduced to a little 2007 VX Corsa with a puny little 1.2 litre engine 😭

[@jimbo97]

@@lindagray2282 Well, I'm 70 and we don't need to go as fast as we used to, right? 😆 My current car is a Chevy Tahoe, 10 years old now. I will ONLY be buying truck-based cars like that that are roomy and easier to get in/out of.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

yes sir!

[@jamesmooney8933]

My neighbor used to ride me to 2nd grade in a brand new red Chevy like this one. I remember setting in the front seat. I would see my legs on each of the crome bands on the dash.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

What a cool memory!

[@davidgrisez]

That 1954 Chevrolet is a very amazing and rare car, because it has all the options on it that were available from the factory. Most of these 1954 Chevrolets at the most had only an optional heater defroster and maybe a clock and radio. There were very few 1954 Chevrolets that were equipped with power steering and power brakes, let alone power windows and a power seat. Also most had a 3 speed manual transmission. Also it was great to see the original inline 6 cylinder engine. Some restored 1954 Chevrolets have been modified with the Chevrolet small block V-8 that became available in 1955.

[@rayhanks8529]

❤

[@ClassicInvestments1]

You are correct!

[@JxT1957]

Beautiful Bel Air, I owned a 1961 Bel Air without power steering but felt like it had power steering, except when parallel parking :)

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Yeah ...moving down the road is not hard at all! That giant steering wheel does help when going slow!

[@ramblerdave1339]

Loved the two toning on the 53-55 Bel Air. Hardtops not rare in that era, in fact the Bel Air name came from the first hardtop in 1950. My memory a lot better than this guy, but I lived a half mile from the Flint Chevy Plant in 1954. The truckloads from Fisher Body to Chevrolet, drove right past our street. Bel Air hardtop production numbers. 1953 99,047 1954. 66,378 1955 185,562 A drop off in '54, for sure, but hardly rare. In '55 the hardtop exceeded the number of two door sedans, in the Bel Air line, by 17,000.

[@ClassicChrome86]

I used to have a 56 Chevy with the "Blue Flame". You're right, they were "bullet-proof". Would start right up everytime.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

I have seen that motor sitting for years and start right up without much effort.....

[@ClassicChrome86]

@@ClassicInvestments1 I believe it.

[@charlesf4428]

Just imagine that you bought a cool '54 like this one in the summer of '54.....then..you saw the 55's in the Fall of 54!!! Yikes!!

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Yeah! The '55 looked so much better IMHO!

[@larrykrise3609]

what a awsome car.that was when they built cars to last.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

cared for properly....they last forever!

[@markgreen4377]

I have one with those same factory options but the power steering which I have had for 28 years now putting electric stand in right now purchased the car from the original owner I have sold many Chevys in the past all which went to Japan I sometimes regret selling a few I was offered good money for this '54 years ago glad I didn't sell it

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Awesome!

[@frederickorestuk9089]

The car I learned to drive with., three speed on the column, with the blue frame six, no power anything.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Me too ! 3 on the tree Rambler!

[@luisourique9837]

Absolutely Beautiful.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Thank You!

[@markwagner4909]

This is the first car I remember my dad owning as a kid He traded it in for a 59 Impala

[@antoniocovarrubias7831]

A nice 54, I own a 53 convertible the body is the same only difference on this Belairs is the tail lights and grill also the convertible has an x shape reinforced cross member for safety. Greetings from California 🇲🇽

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Thank You from Georgia!

[@ramblerdave1339]

For body stiffness, not safety.

[@observer3232]

Absolutely beautiful automobile. I'm guess air conditioning wasn't available in Chevies. Didn't realize power windows and seats were in a 54.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

yep....1955 was the first year for a/c in a Chevrolet

[@garypippenger202]

The best extant '54 Bel Air, I am sure.

[@Al-thecarhistorian]

Love the '54 Chevy! Why was the rear view mirror mounted on the dash on the '53 and '54 hardtops? The sedans, convertibles and wagons mounted their rear view mirrors in the traditional location.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

I think that it may have had something to do with the top latching of the soft top...

[@curtislucero1331]

.....you HAVE a Light-Out !!!

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Yeah.....I know.....thanks!

[@catfish24]

Beautiful car.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Thank you!

[@alfredbisson9997]

I dont see the heater hoses in the firewall ??

[@danielulz1640]

No heater! You can see the blanking panel on the firewall.

[@jamesglavich1426]

If this car has every option, where is the engine oil filter? It should be mounted with a bracket hanging from the intake manifold, just behind where the power steering reservoir is located. There seemed to be more 51 and 52 Belair 2 door "Hard Tops" than 53 or 54, but 1950 through 52 the Belair name was used for 2 door Hardtops only.

[@badomanclassics]

Beautiful car. I've got a similar '54 Sport Coupe, the video is in my profile. My '54 is a Pontiac though. I do love the Chevys more.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

me too!

[@Blend-24]

BEAUTIFUL!! My 54 was also that color hardtop but had the 3 on the tree and a lot less options. Mine had crank windows.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Love it!

[@ronniemullis8717]

Absolutely Beautiful, I’m looking for one for my last car.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Good ones are getting harder to find ....but they are out there!

[@davidmann4533]

Beyond fabulous

[@kevind6675]

Stunning 54 Hardtop. Absolutely love it. I do have a quick question about it. You mentioned it's a power brake car, but the pedal looks like the standard one. My 54 has PS & and PB, but there's a treadle-vac booster with master cylinder right where it would be on more modern cars. Also, my brake pedal comes from the top and says Power Brake on it. Are you running an aftermarket form of power brakes or something?

[@jeromebreeding3302]

I had a 57 Chevy 210 6cyl. Powerglide. Unless you were Harvey Milktoast, they were'nt hard to steer, unless double parking. With hydraulic lifters and fiber timing gears they did"purr"

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Exactly! that oversized steering wheel made it pretty easy....

[@daveallen8824]

Never, EVER saw one of these with all the power accessories! But what about that mirror on the dash? Is that correct?

[@ClassicInvestments1]

it is!

[@thomasbradley512]

I'm curious about the 8 volt battery. That's the second 54 I've seen with one. I know the generator was 6 volts as well as the battery but why did they use an 8 volt battery on a 6 volt generator?

[@jimbo97]

I'd like an answer too! I never heard of an 8-volt battery.... because of all the power options?? My '54 was 6-volt.

[@disneydorks6396]

@@jimbo97 eight volt made it more reliable for starting. You could adjust the voltage regulator up a bit so the generator could charge the battery just fine, All the standard six volt electrical items worked just fine at eight volts. I had an old 1947 Willys that i put an eight volt battery in. Loved the improved cold starts!

[@ClassicInvestments1]

I do not know the answer to that?

[@Aztec73]

Now that is a true American classic #Aztec73 12:23

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

I❤❤ The Driving In The Country 😊

[@ClassicInvestments1]

such a dream to drive.......

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

Very Beautiful 😍 ❤

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Thank You!!

[@ronaldolweiler7745]

But no air conditioning ?

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Don't need it! big wing vents!

[@thomasduff3725]

It must be difficult seeing out the windshield with the white dash.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

not really.....

[@ClassicInvestments1]

not really.....you would think that it would be more difficult...

[@chuckhibbett4124]

when did Chevy start offering factory A/C?

[@mrBILL-sr2cu]

1955 was the first year for factory installed air conditioning in Chevrolets. It was the Harrison up front (dash ducted) system...

[@danielulz1640]

​@@mrBILL-sr2cuair conditioning was available late for the 54 model year. Very similar to 55 installation, but the outer dash vents were about two inch long tubes mounted on swivels. They looked like biscuit cutters!

[@mrBILL-sr2cu]

@danielulz1640 Chevrolet did not build any 1954 models with air conditioning. It would have been impractical with the 6 cylinder engine. As I stated previously, 1955 was the first model year that Chevrolets could be ordered with factory installed air conditioning and that option was reserved strictly for the V8's. Pontiac, however, did offer air conditioning for 1954 8 cylinder models. The vents were as you described.

[@danielulz1640]

@@mrBILL-sr2cu I have seen not one but two 1954 Chevys with factory installed air conditioning just as I described. Chevrolet also offered power for all four windows later in the 54 model year. My piano teacher had a 54 Bel Air four door sedan with four power windows from the factory.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

1953

[@davidzdziarek-zl8cu]

Power brakes on THIS example wasn't common on these cars, and the manual brakes are inadequate. Owners complained about improper stopping performance.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Agree.....heavy car...harder to stop!

[@timpriddy349]

235 cubes of outrageousness

[@ClassicInvestments1]

yes sir!

[@palerider2451]

Why is there such a gap between the steering wheel and the column?

[@Thesyndicate11111]

The blinker holder needs adjustment, an easy fix with a Phillips.

[@rickdaniel8478]

Love it !

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Thank You!

[@rickymarcrom5059]

My high-school sweetheart had 1

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Nice!

[@victorgalashaw3615]

Nice. Car we're can I buy one like that 💯

[@ClassicInvestments1]

not sure ....we sold this one

[@ronaldgriego8287]

Is it For Sale just wondering

[@ClassicInvestments1]

we sold it!

[@johnashep109]

Does it have a/c

[@clark5242]

no, and I didn't see a heater either!

[@ClassicInvestments1]

nope

[@kenbarnes8958]

super nice

[@ClassicInvestments1]

Thank you!!

[@isaiahtellez9640]

I have a 54 hardtop that doesn’t have the electrical option for the windows. Literally everything else is the same. Fire red

[@ClassicInvestments1]

awesome!

[@downhillwelder73]

MIne was blue.

[@jimbo97]

Mine was Sea Foam "goat puke" Green. 😄

[@ClassicInvestments1]

nice!

[@Masterchief68]

This would be great with a new FI 5.3L V-8 in it. Upgrade the suspension and brakes and change NOTHING ELSE! What a cruiser that would be! Too many memories of being stranded on the side of the road so it’s leave it stock on the outside but upgrade the mechanicals.

[@ClassicInvestments1]

ha! that would be sweet!

[@joelbell9082]

It is absolutely beautiful but there was nothing special about a 54 Chevy 6 cylinder it couldn't get out of its own way Chevrolet how to do something drastically that's why they came up with the V8 for 1955

[@ClassicInvestments1]

yep....the v8 changed everything!.....the 6 was pretty dependable!