The 1955 Chevrolet (Bel Air/210/150/Nomad) Is A Ferrari-Inspired American Icon!

[@thelorax7704]

Didn't know about the milk container design constraint : ). My Dad ordered a two-tone 56 BelAir 2 door sport coupe. It was light blue with white up top. Beautiful car. He had the "power pack" 265 which included the 4 barrel. I loved as a kid riding in the back seat with my hands over the front seat looking out over that airplane hood ornament, and the twin cockpit theme of the dash. Seat belts? We don't need no stinkin' seatbelts! : ). I thought it was cool that the rear taillight hinged to reveal the gas filler. Unfortunately, someone stole the car right out in front of our house. We called the police, but found the car ourselves a few hours later just a few city blocks from our house with the hood up and the manifold and carb gone. No other damage to the car. Somebody really wanted the power pack. I was a young kid and had my eyes opened to how some people in the world are selfish. My Dad put the two barrel on the car afterwards. Thanks again Adam for the video. The 55 and 56 are among my all time favorite cars.

[@Cadillac61]

Adam you hit the motherload for me as this to me is among THE most beautiful cars EVER made. The front the sides the rear absolutely stunning. Most prefer the 57 but noooo this is Chevrolet epitome! This car is just excellent!

[@rockets4kids]

Still pales in comparison to the 53 Studebaker Starliner.

[@sergioleone3583]

For sure, the 55>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>57. Big time!

[@jamesengland7461]

Agreed!

[@Cadillac61]

@@rockets4kids although the starliner is a beautiful car,id rather have a 64 lark.

[@johnvrabec9747]

I've always preferred the 55 over the 57.

[@dongrant5827]

A ‘55 Chevy Bel Air was my first car. It had started life as a 265 with automatic tranny, previous owner converted it to a 235 standard, and I put a 283 from a ‘64 Bel Air into it. BTW, those milk jugs are properly referred to as 40 quart milk cans. Sorry, but I grew up on a dairy farm and couldn’t help myself. 40 quarts of milk (10 gallons) weighs over 90 lbs. with the can!

[@RareClassicCars]

Thx!

[@philricci2012]

The ‘55 is my favourite of the trio. It is the cleanest, sleekest looking of 3 great looking years (to me anyway). It’s also the year that started it all.

[@DanEBoyd]

Absolutely beautiful cars!

[@sergioleone3583]

My favorite of the 55-57 era Chevies, and not just for that lovely Ferrari inspired grill. The rear end is so much cleaner than the 56 or 57. Just a beautiful car for all time.

[@knitterscheidt]

One of my earliest childhood memories is my parent's 56 Chevy. It was 2 tone green and white, 4 door, automatic with I'm sure a 6 cylinder as those were the only engines my dad would buy. Even when it was traded in for a 64 BelAir. I remember the drives home at night, falling asleep in the back seat, Cousin Brucie on the radio, the warm glowing sound of an AM radio, sweet deal.

[@justinweidenbach3699]

Even adjusting for inflation, it amazes me how reasonable the prices were. There are very few vehicles today that fall in the $20,000 range, and in terms of "value for dollar", nothing really comes close. When the average cost of a car in 2024 is $48,000, you have to wonder what we are actually paying for. Love the channel.

[@mrspandel5737]

But what the 1955 Chevy offered as an option will be standard equipment on almost any modern family car. Power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, radio, electric windows etc. And thats before you consider things like disc brakes, radial tires, anti-lock brakes, stability control, side impact protection, rollover protection, crumple zones, airbags, seatbelts, catalytic converters etc. How much would the '55 Chevy cost in todays money had it been engineered with all those things as standard?

[@justinweidenbach3699]

​That is a very fair point. While everything was an option back then, even certain safety features, it did allow the buyer to pick and choose exactly what they wanted and what they paid for. There is no question that vehicles are safer, better equipped, and even more reliable today. However, a top of the line, fully loaded Chevrolet in 1955 still doesn't come close to the price of a modern equivalent in today's dollars.

[@garysarratt1]

Modern vehicles last for more miles without smoking and/or rusting out, and are much safer.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

A bunch of high tech nannies, that's what! My next car is gonna be a low mileage old one. No more new cars!

[@trudygreer2491]

​@@mrspandel5737Even something as basic as a heater was optional! Evidently people in the South didn't want to pay for something the wouldn't have to use!

[@rogerhinman5427]

The Nomad is the car I'd buy first if I won the lottery.

[@johnandrus3901]

Cool! A friend of mine, whose family was one of the wealthiest in my area, had a relative who had a chauffeur driven 56. Not even the top-spec version. When she passed, we went to her estate and looked it over. It was a lighter shade of green and the driver’s door had the paint wearing thin, where the chauffeur rested his arm. Other than that, the car was absolutely clean. Nice memories. An excellent video, as always.

[@DanielJacobs-t8q]

Another gem thank you so entertaining! I'm retired and can't afford a car at this point, so thank you!

[@richardmerriam7044]

I didn't know that there was a 'business coupe' available in 1955. No rear seat, so there was plenty of room for sample cases for salesmen. Great for musicians, too!

[@ramblerdave1339]

Plenty of room for monkey business, too!

[@johngranato2673]

Great video. Ball joints greatly contributed to the reduction / elimination of nose dive. The 1955 is my favorite.

[@ramblerdave1339]

Not so much the joints themselves, but the added ability of adjusting camber and caster.

[@johncornell3665]

I was hoping you would cover this car some day. It really was a game changer for Chevrolet. Such a beautiful, iconic vehicle. Thanks Adam!

[@timmcooper294]

I feel that the 1955 Chevrolet represents the "industrial art" at it's highest form, right alongside the original WWII Jeep, the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Model A Ford. Simple and inexpensive, yet classy and extremely well designed. There was a time when General Motors, and the auto industry as a whole, was full of amazing technical skill and artistic talent.....And, for occasional short bursts like this, good taste.

[@Paramount531]

7:18 This salmon pink and white convertible brough back memories of 1971. I was 13, a neighbor was selling an engine, he made a deal with a guy who owned a salmon and gray convertible where he installed the engine. He allowed me to observe and help a little bit, this really lit my fire about car stuff. He disappeared from our street shortly after. Thanks Karl, wherever you are, for really revving up my love for working on cars, something that I still do today at age 66!

[@UberLummox]

A great color!

[@Cartier_specialist]

The actual color names are Coral and Indian Ivory. I owned a Bel Air in Coral and Indian Ivory. After the Coral ages for a few decades it looks tan. It was some type of single stage enamel that aged quickly. I can't recall the type of enamel at the moment. I'll come back and edit my comment if I remember the name. Alkyd enamel was the type of paint.

[@michaelsimko7694]

The 55-57 Chevy lineup was loaded with very attractive cars. Beautiful hot rod designs. Beautiful boulevard cruiser interiors. Eye-catching two-tone paint schemes. Absolute American icons and legends.

[@saadgt2009]

The number of little Chevrolet bowties on the Belair's turned metal dashboard. My parents' first car was a 1955 Oldsmobile. I was taken home from the hospital in Dec 1956 and lived with, and around, it until I was eight. Formative car memories for me. ❤️🖖🙏

[@petrolbokehlicious]

The milk jugs standing upright in the trunk tidbit reminds me of something in the line that one of Alec Issigonis' design requirements for the Mini was that it should be able to comfortably carry a farmer and his wife, along with two grown sheep at the back, to the market, through the British country roads of the time.

[@LlyleHunter]

The cool thin that I didn’t know was that there were all of the Chevy bow ties on the dash. I love the Chevy. Bow tie.

[@wayneknodel3347]

Over 10000 in 1 day!! I can't imagine that record will ever be broken!

[@donk499]

I remember our 55 wagon, had that two tone "band aid brown/white combination", was just a little kid but remember it vividly

[@trudygreer2491]

"Band-Aid brown"~ Great call!! 😆

[@edwardpate6128]

Of the three years of the Tri-Five Chevy's the 55 by far my favorite!

[@albertbegin5119]

On the TV show Home Improvement a '57 Nomad was crushed by dropping a 20' I beam on it lengthwise. The wagon was almost cut in two. Sick humor indeed.

[@mattwhaley9917]

The only thing new that I learned was about the milk jugs dictating the height of the trunk, that's awesome! Thanks for showing me something new about something that I thought I knew almost everything about.

[@davidgold5961]

Here’s one: the shape of the front fenders over the headlamps were designed to resemble a ladies manicured fingernail.

[@billolsen4360]

Well done, comprehensive review. The 55 Nomads were the best of the tri-fives since they had the full-radiused rear wheel wells. Our family had a '56 150 we bought used. It had been a US Forest Service supervisor's car, but the original olive drab was overpainted with a much handsomer dark green that matched the factory color on the dashboard. It had the straight-6 that would get my mom going up to 90 on the interstate if she wasn't careful. Didn't know about the milk-jug design imperative!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I never understand why the 57 was always the most popular. I think the 55 and 56 are better looking. Although I would be happy to have any of them. Truthfully I would be happy to have any vehicle from the mid 50s to the 80s. Although the 60s is my favorite decade for American cars.

[@jetsons101]

One of the weak points of the early 265 was the lack of a full flow oil filter, it only had a bypass filter "and not a very good one." Nice how the SBC had such a long life, the SBF only had 10 head bolts per head while the SBC had 17 head bolts per head. Thanks to Adam for another great watch.....

[@craigbenz4835]

Of the '55 to '57 Chevys, I like the '56 the best. The '55 is not quite enough, and the '57 is a little too much. In the 70's half the cars in Car Craft and Hot Rod magazine were modified '55 to '57 Chevys.

[@DanEBoyd]

The '55 has my favorite rear wheel openings of the Tri-Five years.

[@justinweidenbach3699]

Totally agree.

[@j.kevvideoproductions.6463]

Everyone has their preferences I guess. I think the 55's are the purest of form, but am partial to the 57's. When I was growing up, the next door neighbor lady had a '57 Belair 2 door hardtop. metallic bronze/orange, with a cream colored top. She owned it long enough that when I learned to drive in '75 she actually let me drive it once. What a beautiful car. The '57's looked like scaled down Cadillac's to me. I think that was the intent.

[@cheftomsd]

I couldn't help but notice the simplicity of the Blue Flame Six and the total ease of maintenance on it. Unfortunately those days are long gone, never to return.

[@billkerns7125]

My first car was a 56 Chevy 210 2 dr. sedan. I bought it in 1968 while in High School. A 55 was basically what I was looking for, but the 56 came up first. I sure loved that car, even though it wasn't in great shape, I sure was proud of it. A great first car.

[@jhuntosgarage]

“A confluence of factors” is why I watch your channel. Thanks for sharing.

[@chriswright2250]

Pops had a new 55 210. Green with the roof painted cream. Dad had the roof painted by a local autobody shop.❤

[@labradorguy5311]

Right on Adam!!! "55/56/57 Two tone paint, stainless steal moldings, bullet proof engines I just love'm! Thanks for doing what you do!

[@davidgrisez]

The 1955 Chevrolet car was the start of the tri-five Chevrolets, which included the 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevorlets. I am 73 years old and when I was growing my parents owned the next model year, which was the 1956 Chevrolet. The interesting thing was that the 1956 Chevrolet was basically the 1955 Chevrolet with a number of exterior cosmetic changes that made the 1956 Chevrolet look like a new car. With today's cars, all the model years of the same generation of a car look practically the same. Automobile manufacturers no longer do cosmetic changes from one model year to the next like they did in the 1950s.

[@Jody-kt9ev]

One of the best looking Chevy's ever made! I did not know about the trunk requirement, but my grandfather, a farmer, hauled cow and chicken feed in his 1953 Ford Customline.

[@DSP1968]

A great overview of these cars, Adam. I enjoyed seeing the styling mockups -- it is always fun to see what the designers were thinking before a bit of sanity prevailed.

[@dave1956]

Talk about the right car at the right time! I read in a Popular Mechanics article of owners reports that the early V8’s were real oil burners until the rings seat. A lot of owners didn’t care for the grill. I loved it and still do!

[@fasst5511]

55 was such a great year. It was also the year I was born. 🙂

[@loveisall5520]

PS--that Renner sketch looks more like the '55 or '56 Pontiac with those 'eyebrows' and the jet spear on the side. The drawing that you say was another early front-end treatment looks like a sibling of the first Facel Vega French GT's with those headlights with the little grills below.

[@johnjacobjingleheimerschmi3857]

Great Feature Car Adam. An American Icon. I didn't realize the Grill was inspired by the Ferrari, nor the trunk was engineered to accommodate a couple of milk cans. Thank you sir.

[@edwardpate6128]

My dad's first new car was a 55 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible with the V8 and power pack package he purchased at Merollis Chevrolet in East Detroit Michigan.

[@howardburakof4364]

I had a black 55 Chevy convertible stick shift. I loved that car, wish I still had it.

[@georgeburns7251]

Great presentation. I forgot how clean this car was. Thanks

[@ClassicChrome86]

GREAT VIDEO! I love the sketch drawings of styling ideas for the '55 Chevy. Very informative. Thank you for posting.

[@paulwindisch1423]

Great info, Adam! This would not be the last time some sort of standard was held with regards to a trunk design, or rather in the example I'm about to give, the roof design. One of the reasons the 2004 Cadillac XLR had a roof with so many moving parts is because one of the main objectives for the car was to be able to carry a full golf bag in the trunk with the convertible hard top in the stowed position.

[@flashg67]

My first car in the early 1980’s when I got my license was a 55 Chevrolet 210 4 door sedan with a 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree. It was a pretty cool car. It did have its quirks, by my senior year in high school we traded it in for a 2 year old 83 Monte Carlo with T-tops.

[@bullnukeoldman3794]

I rode with my father to Davidson Chevrolet in Springfield, Ohio, in a 1953 Chevy two door post Powerglide BelAire when he traded it for a new 1955 white-over-green Chevy 210 two door post 6cyl Powerglide. One of my clearest early memories. It was later traded for a new 1957 Chevy BelAire 2 door hardtop w/283 V8 and Powerglide.

[@Erik_Swiger]

Hey, Adam. Last week I started a new job, cleaning and driving classic and vintage cars at Tebo's Garage in Longmont, Colorado. I answered an ad, and they hired me. I'm totally shocked and surprised. Already, I've driven "Baby 'Birds," and 50s Fords, and Packards. To be honest, it's mind-blowing. There's a Countach, and John Lennon's car, and JFK's hearse, and I think my new love is a '36 Auburn Speedster. Oh, and there's a Tucker. There are lots of cars from the 60s and 70s, too, I just haven't got to them yet. If for any reason you wish to see the collection (385 cars), I will do my best to help make it happen. It's a private collection, only on-tour to the public at certain events, but I'm sure the owner would let you tour. Hope I'm not gushing too much, but it's all just so exciting.

[@RareClassicCars]

Wow. Very cool. Send me an email. If I'm in the area, I'll let you know.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Awesome 😎 Maybe they'll give you a YT channel, and we'll see you giving a history lesson on a feature car, and taking us all for a virtual ride. Jay Leno might visit.

[@OLDS98]

Thank you Adam. You manage to have something for everyone. That is not a bad thing at all. Thank you for sharing more design proposals. Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. The Beauville name was later used on the full sized vans in later years.

[@dominicromano1611]

Thanks for sending this. The '55 and '56 were great cars but my all-time favorite is the '57. At the time, Chevy and GM had the market. My uncle Jack had an old '55 Buick which he gave me in the late '60's. It needed a lot of work and drove like a tank. I sold it for parts.

[@Daniel-wd4jg]

My older Brothers first ride was a '55 2 dr. wagon from the Multnomah Co. coroners office. A black on black 2 dr. 235 blue 3tree wagon! We stripped the meat wagon hardware out of the back and could lift the back seats finally. Pretty wagon with baby chrome moons and the Firestone red stripe tires. Great memories and lots of dead ones also.

[@philip4193]

That information regarding the requirement of Chevrolet's engineers to be able to fit a milk-jug standing upright in the trunk was fascinating...

[@njg875]

I had never heard of milk jug height determining the trunk height before. An interesting tidbit which really takes a person back to the long ago time when this car was designed and sold.

[@larryhillstad7450]

Great video! The Tri-5 Chevy's were some really affordable, stylish and loved cars.

[@garygraycar5751]

Finally a true classic, not a malaise era 4dr yawned. Appreciate much

[@DanEBoyd]

And even though it didn't debut until 1956, (and '57) the Chevy full size hardtop is an interesting model, which deserves to be featured on this channel.

[@danielulz1640]

I presume that you mean the four door hardtop Sport Sedan.

[@MostlyBuicks]

Buick had its 4 door hardtop debut in 1955.

[@danielulz1640]

On thier lesser, B body models, as did Oldsmobile. A and C body four door hardtops did not appear until the 56 year models. ​@@MostlyBuicks

[@ramblerdave1339]

Another reason they might not have sold more V8s, was that there is a long standing habit of buyers not trusting any major new development, until it proves itself for a year, first, and the 265 didnt have an oil filter. Another is that Chevy buyers were used to only having a six, Most V8 buyers in the class, were used to buying Fords, and Ford's new OHV V8, had been out for a year, already, and was larger than Chevy's for '55 (7 cu. in.).

[@aaronalter2000]

When looking at the trunk of the 1955 Chevrolet, I was impressed with the very ergonomic low liftover. GM didn't care about liftover height in the trunks in most of the later cars until the 1990s. I remember lifting a heavy item into the trunk of my 1983 Impala. It was a real pain clearing the high liftover and then sinking the item down into the trunk.

[@mark98070]

1955...A much simpler time to be alive. And those sales numbers almost unbelievable. Quite an affordable car for most people. Fast forward 74 years and what a mess we live in compared to back then!

[@timothydigiuseppe1753]

Always among my favorites, the1955 Chevrolet, and for myself, the 1956 and 1957 models (comprising the Tri-five) are, as you mentioned, American auto icons. Your point about the reasoning behind the high trunk height is well taken. Prior to the widespread adoption of the bulk tank in the mid-1950s as a means of storing milk, the 10 gallon can (about 90 pounds when full) was used by many of what were numerous smaller dairy farms in the United States. Today a tanker picks up milk at the farm that is stored in a bulk tank, however, for many years milk was stored in those 10 gallon cans, kept cool in a chilled water bath, and either brought by the farmer to a pickup point or to the creamery by the farmer, hence what may have been the need for that trunk capacity. Thank you for this well done and informative (as usual) entry. Would you consider at some point a presentation of what I consider two examples of memorable American automotive design? I have in mind the *1950 Studebaker* and the *1954 Studebaker* .

[@MrPoppyDuck]

Thank you for another entertaining and educational video Adam! The 55 is my favorite of the tri fives. This reminds me to watch the movie "Two Lane Blacktop" to see one in racing action.

[@YOUGOTIT210]

Interesting that the trunk design was to accommodate milk jugs. My first car was the 1955 Chev. 2 door post V-8 automatic BelAir model, which was in 1962, when I began driving at the age of 16. I later purchased the car from my parents and did some restoration and customization before selling it in 1966, when I went into the military, and then later used the proceeds of the money from the $300.00 sale price to purchase tickets to fly my new wife to Germany in late 1967. She also enjoyed driving the 55, during our one year engagement, while I was away from home in the Army stationed in Germany. She jokingly has said, that she knew I loved her, because I sold the '55 to purchase her ticket to Germany in 1967. This December we will celebrate our 57th wedding anniversary. To God be the glory.

[@johnz8210]

Cool. Didn't know about the trunk and milk cans. The tri-fives - there's at least 5 restored 57's within 2 miles of here. Timeless cars. I've heard the first 265 engines were not so great, took Chevy a little while to improve them.

[@radggs6961]

Thanks for sketches. They add so much more to Chevy's story for me. I came home from birth in a green 54 Belair, brother a 57 yellow Belair, and sister a Coral 57 210 Sport Coupe. I never thought about that ride found in the new 55, but you're right, and I'll mention it handle pretty good too. I can tell some stories about it's handling with my g-mom at the wheel, maybe Devine intervention.

[@soldtobediers]

Splendidly presented, down to earth facts & well done absents of any obnoxious guitar distractions. Proud to have owned a 4 door wagon @ 16 - Belair 2 door post @ 24. Currently 2 daily driver 3100 Trucks, a '53 5w sb & a '59 Apache Fleetside bw sb both of which receive a sporadic rust sand down & a Rustoleum flat rattle can brown enamel primer every election year since Obama. Any favorable responses to either one of them is met with a thank you; followed by... ''Just one more payment & she's all mine. Cause I make that same payment that you do, every time it breaks down.'' Blessings be continued upon your site style RCC.

[@Sedan57Chevy]

The '55 is such a gorgeous design, and is one of those cars that genuinely deserves it's long lasting popularity. While my favorite of the Tri Fives is the 56 (love the two tone pattern and moulding, the addition of a hardtop sedan, and the really neat taillights), the '55 is such a clean design that honestly looks amazing as a stock cruiser, or as a "hot rod". That being said, no wonder Chevy had 25% market share in this period- all 1950s Chevrolets were really good looking cars, with great engines throughout. I think the 58 is still my favorite single year, but they're all great designs that rank among my favorites.

[@volktales7005]

You really can't go wrong with a '55 Chevy. My imaginery car collection has a BelAir hardtop next to the '65 Parisienne, next to the '63 Continental...

[@dannyc.9161]

It would symbolize the 50’s

[@DaveNorton-yi5ix]

In the late '70's my family lived in northeast Georgia ... one of my sisters was dating a kid who owned a red 1955 150. It was a terrific ride and I have fond memories of cruising around in it. I often wondered where he found the money for it, but I should also mention that this was still the era of moonshine in that area, and while I don't know if that was the source of his funds, I do know that he carried a box full of mason jars filled with clear liquid in the large trunk...............

[@ggeorge4144]

For me the 55 Ford Crown Victoria is hard to beat when it comes to styling.

[@62Madison]

Love the ‘55 Chevy, especially the Nomad with its open wheel wells.

[@radioguy1620]

Had to laugh a bit when you showed the side view of the six engine, no wonder we loved working on them.

[@silverc4s146]

Loved the milk jug thing. Never knew that

[@loveisall5520]

The 1955 Ford was rehashed; the 1955 Plymouth was part of Chrysler's "100 million dollar look". Problem with both of them was that they still stuck with the old 6-volt system for another year. Plymouth had an awful dash--attractive but ergonomically a nightmare. I was born in '55; to me today the choice is easy for this year. Harder for '56 when the competitors finally got 12-volt. Great video as always! My parents had just bought a new '54 Pontiac Star Chief, the last year of the straight-8 and also 6-volt and theirs had the first Pontiac factory a/c with 6-volt!

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Crazy in UK cars with exception of some Fords had been 12v since at least the 1920's

[@richardcathcart2952]

Love that car. Neighbor owned one, all us kids admired it. A word overused, iconic, nevertheless is appropriate.

[@ACF6180T]

The one thing I didn't know was about the high back trunks were design for the milk jugs to fit ; Pretty neat trivia. You can never say enough about Ed Cole not only was he the lead engineer on the Chevrolet small block, But he also developed 1st successful mass produced air cooled flat 6 for the Chevrolet Corvair, & the automotive world 7 years ahead of Porsche, But that's another story. Out of the Tri-5's I love the 55 but the 56 is still my favorite, & it was also the lightest of the 3. Great video thanks.

[@joshuagibson2520]

Those designers and engineers were real men. I'm pretty sure most of the current GM design department couldn't find their way out of a wet paper bag.

[@paulwindisch1423]

I would argue the opposite. The critical standards that must be met now while engineering a vehicle are astronomical compared to the 1950s. Crash, safety, efficiency, aero, pedestrian impact, emission standards, all have to be taken into account when designing a vehicle. That's not taking anything away from vehicles that came before. They are arguably some of the most beautiful vehicles ever produced! But just ask Adam, half or more of the stuff found on those vehicles wouldn't even be legal today.

[@joe6096]

@@paulwindisch1423 Which is why my ultimate dream is to restomod a classic with modern drivetrain and comfort features but yet retain the classic design without actually changing the style much if at all. If I were to do a '55 I would chose a 150 or Two-Ten to start as my base. Because I'd never want to mess with a BelAir. Start by replacing the X-frame with a full perimeter frame chassis with a fully independent front and rear suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, 4 wheel disc Brembos with replica dog-dish factory-OEM style hubcaps and white walls on modern tires. Naturally aspirated 427 crate motor with no turbos or superchargers, 6 speed transmission, posi rear end. Add a modern HVAC system, power windows and locks, a nice stereo, cruise control, and a power bench seat. Keep the factory steering wheel, column shifter, add the BelAire chrome dash trim and quarter panel trim, but keep the exterior and interior style completely as original as possible. With original factory colors as well, would love to go with a red and white two-tone interior with a black exterior!

[@ramblerdave1339]

Well, all the new cars these days just look like the wet paper bag, so it's just putting the creases in it.

[@pitman6992]

I hafta agree. I always loved the body style of the 55 way more than the 57!!

[@commandertopgun]

I DO LOVE THE 55' Bel Air, any model, thank you, Adam.

[@Colorado_Native]

My understanding is the 1957 was a last-moment addition. What we know as the1958 was slated to be the 1957, but some problems, mostly with the all coil suspension delayed its production. The engineers were told to add fins, but to keep the top of them horizontal, no rise. Flat, so to speak. All said, the 1955 was the best looking of the bunch. The next two, in my opinion, are the 1960 and the 1966. Thanks for the enjoyable video.

[@michaelbrown5601]

I had no idea Chevrolet had gargantuan production numbers and subsequent market share dominance that year, but now I can see why.

[@josephpiskac2781]

I spent a lot of time in my dad's 1955 Chevy wagon.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam, When I think '55 Chevy, I always think Ferrari. 😉 That Handyman 8:07 may be the most impressive Ferrarvrolet I have ever seen. On the other hand, the Bel Air Nomad 9:07 seems to be the genesis of the outrageous Chevrrari pricing that persists to this day. 🤨 The one possible question you left unanswered is why we cannot buy a Ferrari with an overhead valve engine today. Do those snobs seriously believe they can beat a small block Chevy powerplant? 🤔🤣

[@jamesengland7461]

The most powerful Chevy is currently more powerful than the most powerful Ferrari!

[@josephgaviota]

12:00 There is something none of us has seen in a LOOOOOOONNNNNGGG time. With the hood up, we can see the engine, and below the engine, we see the pavement.

[@davidbrown5587]

Love the “SHOE BOX”!!

[@Primus54]

I’ve been hoping you’d delve a little more into the great ‘50s cars, Adam. When I was younger, I, like most people preferred the ‘57 because of its iconic tail fins, but over the years the ‘55 has replaced it as my favorite particularly because of the grill. I also prefer the more minimalist body-side trim, and I also think the ‘55 Nomad was the best looking year (the ‘57 tail fins on the Nomad looks completely out of place, IMO). Great video! 👍👍👍

[@davidmckibbin4440]

i had two tri fives, a57 two ten two door wagon 265 V8 three speed. and a 55 bel air two door hard top red/ivory, 350 CI 300HP turbo 400 auto with 370 rear gears. this one was quick.

[@Carstuff111]

The 1955 Chevrolet cars are still my favorite of the tri-5's. In '56 I am not a fan of the rectangular turn signals and full width grill, and while I do love the '57s, the '55s are my favorites.

[@RichardMichel-m3g]

Adam, Love your channel!!! Keep it up.

[@malcolmapplet4313]

The Salmon/Ivory drop top is chefs kiss

[@maxr4448]

My favorite is the '56!

[@michaelpfaff6009]

Great video!! I did not know that the term "2 door sedan" was used in 1955. Maybe you could do a "backyard" chat and explain a 2 door sedan vs a 4 door Coupe. These terms seem to be used loosely these days. To me a Coupe is simply a 2 door car and a sedan is simply a 4 door car. Not anymore.

[@OldRustySteele]

Traditionally, a car without a B-Pillar was called a hardtop and one with a B-Pillar was a sedan. This was true for both 4-door cars and 2-door cars. So you had 4-door sedans and 2-door sedans, as well as 4-door hardtops and 2-door hardtops. Due to rollover safety standards, there are almost no pillarless hardtops remaining. (Mercedes Benz had a pillarless S-Class 2 door hardtop a few years ago, and that’s the last hardtop I can recall). Some of the 2 door cars, particularly those with smaller wheelbases and less back seat room and smaller rear side windows were called coupes. It wasn’t until recently when carmakers offered lower roofed 4-door cars that they called coupes. However, I still disagree that any 4-door car is a coupe! To me, a coupe can only be a 2-door car. BTW, I don’t know why the rollover standards for cars with roofs are stricter than convertibles. I have a convertible, and there are no pillars, roll bars or anything protective in case of a rollover. I also don’t understand why the EPA allows less fuel economy for light trucks and SUV’s than regular cars. But that’s the Federal Government for you!

[@michaelpfaff6009]

@@OldRustySteele I'm with you. A 4 door car is not a coupe!!!!!!

[@philiptaylor174]

Yup. Most beautiful american car ever. And to think i was 3 days old when the 55 was introduced to the public. So soo we will both be 70. I think i will do a 1/16 scale belair convertible this winter. Red and cream.

It is difficult to fathom just how affordable these great cars were, back then.

[@michaelsullivan2361]

Great video! While I’ve always been more of a 60’s car guy, the 50’s era cars have grown on me over the years. In my opinion, 1956 was “peak 50’s” for styling. Both the Chevys and the Fords for that year were beautifully designed. A perfect combination of style and restraint!

[@samiam5557]

'55 is my favorite of the trio. I did not know the "Milk Jug" factoid.....very interesting indeed.

[@peterruddick1952]

My first car, a '55 BelAir hdtp V8 P'glide in 1964, Cashmere blue white top, $275. It burned oil... an oil filter was actually optional in '55, it lacked one ! But that was fine by me... my bro had a HO 283 at home, and it enabled me to put a hot engine into the car w/o my parent's objection...

[@DavidBugea]

Of the Tri-Fives, the ‘55 is my favorite, followed by the ‘57 and the ‘56, in that order. To my eyes the ‘55 has the cleanest styling of the three model years. I did not know about the milk container design mandate. I would’ve thought it was designed that way for salesmen’s sample cases!