Customs 53/54 Chevy Bel Air 2 Door Hardtops.

I just let my last '54 hdtp go ... included a 4dr with nice nose & a '53 Pontiac with good glass. All 3 for $2800 ...

 

this one’s for sale local to me , SBC auto looks like a clean build , price is not to bad either considering it’s a turn key complete car

I like it

 

302GMC Looks like it was a deal. The behind the door stainless belt line trim pieces on the Pontiac bring big money by them selves. VANDENPLAS I saw that car and it looks good but to far away. Also it sits like it's 4 wheel drive? It's stance would need immediate attention.

 

Referring to my screenshot? Doesn't seem like a bad deal then if hunting a hardtop

 

I did my first 53 Bel Air Hardtop in 1962 kept it a couple years and moved on. It was built from a solid rust free car. If the past 60+ plus years of car building have taught me anything it's not to start with a rusty base with unknown missing parts and trim. What looks like a good buy many times turns out not to be. Since 1970 I have built a finished hot rod, (mostly 32 Fords) about every year and a half. I try to buy the best possible foundation to start. Admittedly 32 Ford parts are easier to find than 53/54 Chevy Hardtop parts. I'm patient, the right one will come along and if not it wasn't meant to be.

 

I've had this one a few years
Still has a 6 cylinder and 3 speed on the column

 

One bit of advice I'll give if it has to be super complete and clean. Try to get one from a fellow hamb member. Outside the hamb 49-54 Chevy cars of all body styles are shooting up in price. Cars that four years ago when I bought my 53 that were getting laughed at for $9-10k are now actually selling for around $20k. On the other hand parts for them really haven't significantly gone up. Meanwhile I bought my 54 a few months ago from a fellow hamber for the same price range as my 53 was four years ago. And seller didn't seem too concerned about current prices

 

My ideal find would be a light tan body with a dark metallic brown top and insert. Same as my first one.

 

I've told this story before.
My first car. 1967, I was 15-3/4. Bought a near mint 1953 Chevy Bel-Air 2 dr. Ht. for $25 and drove it through my junior year of high school. Bought it off my girlfriend's older brother, (it was their Grandma's car) he had just replaced it with a hot 57 Chevy convert. He had gotten a couple speeding tickets with the 57 and needed some quick $. Funny thing is I only had $20, so I had to give him 5 silver dollars from my coin collection.
My Dad WAS PISSED that I had gone and bought a car without him checking it out first...but after he looked it over good (it had only 28,000 original miles), he thought I was a pretty smart kid after all.

 

1965 ... My first one was $85 from a lot in Modesto. Body & interior like new, engine apart. Bought it, put it together & drove back to San Diego on a 72 hr liberty.

 

302GMC Very nice. A just right CA front dump. I would have been proud to drive it.

 

If that's how 4wd's sat I'd never make it through the snow here. It could use some different front tires and a stance adjustment, but the modern door handles immediately turn me me off from the car anyways.

 

Oh God I totally missed those. Some sheet metal and door poppers would remedy that though....

 

I've never liked shaved handles. A nice stock handle on that car would be clean and nice.

 

210. Sorry, I should've specified... Not what you're after tho, huh

 

Trying to post pics of krylon's '53 when he had it in '62 ...

Looks like I can't .... one of you fellas help ?