Hot Rods The 55 Chevy 210 two door sedan

I seem to remember that it was Delray(cheapest) ,150 ,then 210, Belair lowest price to highest. So how can it be a 210 Delray?


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The Delray designation for the cheaper model didn't happen until 1958.

 

150 was the cheapest. Delray was an option on the 210.

 

13:1 454 solid roller cam, Brodix heads, 1300cfm dominator, TH400 with brake, 6000rpm stall, 4.56 gears, Slapper bars...

 

I had a feeling it was something big!

 

Here's my 55. I bought it in 1977, at age 14. Paid $800 for it with my paper route money. Installed the .080 over 283 and Muncie 4 speed at that time. Drove it all through High School, then parked it for the next 15 years. By the way, it was an all black car from the factory and was built on Memorial Day, (Monday, May 30), 1955 in Tarrytown New York.....The same day that the 1955 Indy 500 was run.

The first photo is from about 1972, when it lived in Somers Point New Jersey.

The next two are from my first time at the drag strip, (Havana ILL.), in 1984 and the engine as it was then.

The last two are from The Melt Down Drags, a few years ago, and the engine as it is now. It's the same 1960 283, that I installed in 1977, but is now bored out .120 to 301.

Here's a video link to last year's Glory Days Drag Meet in Byron ILL.

Glory Days 2020 John Clothier vs Chuck Clothier - YouTube

 

By the way, if anyone wants to research the build day of their 55 Chevy, here's a link to a daily production chart. It covers all US assembly plants for the entire production year.

55 Chev daily vins by plant.pdf (trifive.com)

 

My 55 was built in Flint on June 10, 1955. One week before my wife was born. She says I have 2 classics.

 

https://55classicchevy.com/1955-chevy-factory-photos

 

Living the dream, man. Outstanding cars!!

 

Bump!

 

Just out.

 

Gosh!
I normally reserve that sentiment at the sight of a beautiful woman!
Congrats on the cover @alfin32

 

Here's my shitbox, I mean shoebox.

 

I'm late to this party, but maaaan that is the coolest 56 I've ever seen.

 

Thanks, @firemangordy

Hello,

In talking with another friend from our old high school, the question was asked about this 1955 Chevy two door sedan that was driven to school every day by this tall, lanky kid we all knew. The tall thin kid was a year or two older, but gravitated toward us because we had a bunch of Chevy sedans in all levels of custom or hot rod treatments going on in our builds.

His green 55 Chevy was far beyond all of our cars as there was a lot of local So Cal money spend on the paint, upholstery, wheels and other accessories. No TJ upholstery or paint job for him. It was pure So Cal artists and shops. It was one of the only custom 55 Chevy two door post sedans that had a full custom treatment, a nice shiny green paint, white tuck and roll, chrome rims, a custom floor shift lever, and tons of accessories.

Our expert photoshop @themoose did one of his immaculate artworks. @firemangordy is to be congratulated as his version was the closest 55 two door post built to almost exact standards as our friend's custom Chevy Sedan from 1959-61.

There are two green versions, as my old mind knows the 55 Chevy, has ridden in it many times and stands out as a pure daily street driven custom car. But, at this stage of recollection, it could have been a Candy Green with white tuck and roll. The stock 265 Chevy motor had the chrome accessories that was typical of the hot rod/custom cars of the time period.

It was not a drag racing sedan with a huge, powerful motor, but one that was made for cruising. And, cruising to and from school, around the local Bixby Knolls playground for all local teens is/was a great memory.

Our friend valued the pristine 1955 Chevy and made sure that he got the first or first spot within the three prime parking spots in front of our Long Beach High School. That way, someone is always looking outside of the windows of the school at his car, so theft or damages were not happening.

The odd thing was, he lived in Palos Verdes Estates and drove all the way to Long Beach Poly H.S. There had to be some strong political ties or some fancy address changes in permanent residency. In the same class, there was also a kid that had the 54 white/red Corvette that also lived outside of our normal Bixby Knolls, Westside and Central Long Beach areas that fed into the high school boundaries. There was “Something going on and we don’t know what it is…”

Jnaki

As we were in the correct housing boundaries, the closest hot rod sedan was my friend’s black and white 55 Chevy two door post sedan.
similar
It was more of a hot rod look, than a full custom car look. But his was used for daily driving to school and work. But, we all tried to get those valuable first three parking spots as a means of some security. One other main reason for the prime parking spot(s) was that every cute girl in school and a lot of our friends walked by from their farther away, parking spots.

They all had to walk by our cars parked in those prime first three or four spots, to get to the main school entrance. It was camaraderie at its finest, including teenage boys’ bantering about hot rods and surfing… even with those girls that we knew, too.

That green 1955 custom Chevy was one of a kind and we all would have wanted our Chevy sedans to look like that cool custom/daily driver. Then, some funky idea of a Salmon Pink 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery rolled up in the number 1 parking space and freaked everyone out. What the %$@# is that? HA!

 

The ‘55 Chevy is the GM guys’ ‘32 Ford. It is the absolute quintessential Chevrolet hot rod above all others. Nothing else GM comes even remotely close . . . .

 

George Poteets' 55, I have never seen this car before, I haven't bought a car magazine in fifteen years.

 

Saw this one at the Midway Drags last month.

 

^Always liked the Grump lump!

 

Roger that!
I put one one my 57 in 1970, I think, could have been 71.

 

Just a little something for a bump.

 

^Notice all the cars look lowered, and you don't see leaf springs & exhaust pipes.

 

I've noticed that in many GM sales brochures over the years.

 

Lonnie Gilbertson's, I did the chassis and cage, along with talking him into the Buick trim.

 

Marty
It would be cool if you could post some build photos of Lonnies 55 on this thread.

 

I understand shitbox but can’t see the 49-51 Ford. Is it behind the 55 in the photo?