Customs 53/54 Chevy Bel Air 2 Door Hardtops.

Wonder what the production numbers were the 53/54 Chevy Bel Air 2 door hardtops. They are a scarce item as a complete car and if they're missing any exterior trim it's almost impossible to find.

 

I've never seen any production numbers on them. They were a bit spendy compared to the 210 two door sedan my grandparents bought new in 54. There is a nice mild custom about four hours from me that is for sale. I saw it in a show about 12 years ago and it is probably a 20 year old build.

 

https://www.nationalchevyassoc.com/wp-content/uploads/NCA_Catalog2022_Combined.pdf
Around Page 12

https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/models/production.htm

There's that, was trying to find a pdf of original documentation but couldn't. All the Chevy sites have the same info though.

Side note for anyone that is interested did find a pdf of 1929-54 master parts listing.
https://www.rcamoto.com.br/autosantigos/pdf_zip/1929 - 1954 Chevy Master Parts Catalog.pdf

 

The GM heritage center archives doesn't have anything on production numbers that i have found
https://www.gm.com/content/dam/comp...information-kits/chevrolet/1954-Chevrolet.pdf

Still 66,378 is pretty good numbers for original production.

 

Finally got up the courage to go up the hill today to an old junk yard where a 53 hardtop identical to mine with the light tan body and dark brown metallic top and insert has been sitting in the same spot since 1972. Fortunately the owner who's in his 90's must have been asleep or he'd have ran me off. Wish I could post pictures but?

 

Mr48cehevy: Thanks. Great information. I assume the 53 numbers might have been similar? More than I thought.

 

There were actually 33,650 more 53's built than 53's with 99,028 vs 66378. Probably by mid year folks were hearing about the changes for 55 and deciding to wait.

 

The survival rate of 53/54 hardtops wasn't very good. Good ones are hard to find.

 

Just thinking. Where's the best source for reproduction grilles, bumpers, head and taillight rims and reproduced items like floor pans, other sheet metal. I been looking at a Morrison chassis for a few years in case I'd find a starter car. I'm afraid I might end up living in the garage if I started a project like that. Already got five early hot rods in the museum, I'm in the middle of another 32 roadster and a 32 rpu body on the lift. I won't live forever. Better forget the 53.

 

Guy on my Facebook built a show car out of a 54 bel air two door sedan. He used all EMS sheet metal

 

As for grills etc there's not really a good source. Reason I raid marketplace and eBay for parts so much. Speedway does sell nice 54 tail light bezels. They're what are on my 53

 

When I had my 49 I liked bobs classic chevys. Don't know what they have now days or the quality it's been around 10 years or more.

 

With a total 53/54 2 door hardtop production number of 179451 thousand you'd think a good one wouldn't be so hard to find?

 

Anyone have 53/54 Bel Air hardtop in their back yard? There have been a couple in the HAMB for sale section but they're not my cup of tea

 

I keep looking?

 

I've got a whole car's worth of 54 Chevy 2 door sedan stainless trim. Mint condition. I'm not using it. I took it all off because of its weight. I'm not ever going to use it and feel like it's too hard to get shipped anywhere even if someone does want it. I'll probably biff it in my next dumpster run

 

Hello,

The 54 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop was my first introduction to making a plain jane sedan into one of the first customs that was created for our high school cruising and uses. My friend was one of the oldest and first one to get a car for his 16th B.D. but, as nice as the stock appearing car was, it just needed things we saw from our visits to the local Long Beach car shows that were held close by in the municipal auditorium near the Pike.

Our parents were not the young rebels that started with their own hot rods. They were more like young kids with ideas of work and family. Cars were just something to start and go to work. Different era, different outlook on life. I think that may have given us an opportunity to be a little creative as we started our long journey with cars in general.

Even though our high school class was pretty large for being in 1959-62, the oldest guy in our class was the first guy to have his own car. It was a 54 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop. He had the opportunity to drive anywhere and he did. But, his car had a selective clientele riding with him. Luckily, we became friends and we were both on the varsity football team. It took another year for most of us to get our cars, but that first year introduction to high school was a prestige thing being able to cruise around in a cool car. Not a hot rod, just a cool car.

The original version actually looked like this one that is currently for sale:

What a coincidence to see one that is so close after all of these years, going back to 1959 fall semester of high school.

Here are a couple of other ones still for sale:


For my wife and me, the cost is relative due to the fact that if it is a car we really like and want, then cost is no object. Wait, there are those that say “phooey… get it as cheap as possible and work from there.” That is fine, but for most of us, even in our 30s, family, came first and cars came in second. If only for daily transportation. So, for what is deemed a “want,” the cost has to be met to secure what you want. Now, that gives anyone a starting point, while being able to drive around, enjoying old hot rods and cruisers.

Jnaki

Here is an excerpt from another post:

One of my friends from high school had a stock 54 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop. He was the first guy to get a license, so he was the “go to guy” for rides and cruising. After all of us got our licenses and cars, he wanted to change his stock look to more of a mild custom.
It looked like this car.
While it was still stock, chrome rims were added, along with the standard accessories. But after he got it painted that greenish blue color, the interior looked out of place. So, a trip to South of the Border late at night/early morning to TJ was made to get the full, white tuck and roll. The complete job, included the headliner, door panels, the rear package tray and the trunk. An all day adventure on its own.
(not the exact Bel Air, but the color was a close match…)

The stance was a low stock rake, but at times with 4 teenagers inside, it was a very low cruiser, close to being stopped by the local police or CHP at times.

Finally, his car became a very cool cruiser, with no intentions of competing with our hot rod/drag racing cars. He kept the stock 6, but added chrome stuff to it. The stance was lower in front and it gave the Bel Air some attitude. He also got new mufflers for a better sound. It was a nice custom car for daily driving to high school and the local drive-in cruises.

He asked if he should have flames painted on the car…the answer was no. We all agreed it would ruin his new paint job. But we did outline with tape, several scallops (3) along the side of the hardtop fender and door. It looked strange.

The problem was the front fender crease and the rear pop out fender. Those kept the design limited. Either it had to go above or below the fender crease, but it looked funny with the crease running alongside of the white tape. The rear bulb fender called for its own scallops, but he thought that it was too much for the side of the car.

The final result was that my friend left the greenish blue paint, no scallops, and put on a zillion miles of fun cruising. His Bel Air was a "go everywhere" driver that looked custom. We even took out the rear seat back and put in our early 10 ft. surfboards. He was a good athlete and surfer, too. Daily drives, plus many other uses for this old 54 Bel Air hardtop fit the bill. My friend's car was one of the only semi-custom cruisers on our campus. But, it went everywhere, all of the time.

Some of the stories for this Chevy Bel Air were just classic, from making it into a surf vehicle or watching the slowest drag race in our high school history. It was a daily driver and the transformation to a mild custom car. No SBC motor for him, but we had talked about a custom SBC install with another friend with a hot, 57 Chevy Bel Air. The 54 Chevy remained the only car that went a few steps farther into the mild custom trend. Full white tuck and roll upholstery, paint, chrome rims, exhaust pipes, lowering, and custom knobs were part of his modifications.
Friday Art
Even with surfboards stuck in the trunk and rear seat area, it was very low and possibly illegal. Each of the boards weighed approximately 45-50 lbs.

The most fun event was a drag race between a stock 51 Pontiac Sedan and this 54 Bel Air. Each car was loaded with 4 teenagers and it had to be the slowest drag race in history. We were all “scooting in our seats back and forth” to get the cars to go faster, while laughing all the way down Cherry Avenue Drags location. Talk about time standing still…Ha!

 

Bel Air or 210???

 

If the hardtop has missing vent and side glass parts it’s gonna get tough. Some odd ball pieces in there. Be careful with a project

 

There's a 54 hardtop on fb marketplace up in Russelville, AR. $,1500. Tried to post the link but kept getting an error msg from marketplace. Also, a 53 in Ft Worth, Tx with no chassis for $900. Either one is just a road trip away.

 

Saw the $1500 hardtop in AR. Tough start for a project. After over 60 years of doing cars I've learned to buy the best and walk by the rest. I've became very fussy.

 

I mean....most probably would have walked away from my 54 210 two door sedan. In fact seller said they did and was offering it as a parts donor for a two door conversion on my 53. But it was solid with title with a bunch of parts and cheap so I didn't even haggle lol

 

This the Arkansas hardtop you're talking about? Aside from the missing parts it's nicer than my 53 was when I got it. I have some of what that car is missing

 

The missing parts are the problem. Very hard to find.

 

Main hardtop specific parts missing is the rear beltline trim right? Or did I miss some other specific parts?

 

everything above the beltline including the windshield is hardtop specific not sure about the rear window.

inside window moldings, back seat and rear interior panels as well.

 

They’re out there but most have been made into lowriders.

 

I was meaning the hardtop specific parts missing on this particular one. Looks like most of the specific trim is there. I see at least one interior garnish moulding. Interior panels are easy enough to make

 

Helped my friend put a '54 together; started with a pretty complete car and other than sourcing a pair of quarters from the southwest, we found the most of the other stuff we needed at National Chev.

Car lived in Texas for a few years with his kid, and just moved up a new owner in Iowa this spring.

 

That's the one. Ad says that what isn't pictured is in the trunk. Trim, grille, etc.