Projects Jose Betancourt's 1955 Chevy 2 Door Post BelAir

This project belonged to a friend of mine who unfortunately p***ed recently. He bought it for 500 bucks after it had been sitting under a tree for decades with a broken windshield. Originally a true BelAir, single tone Glacier Blue, V8/PG car, the motor was locked up so he tossed it and replaced it with a 305/th350. I was helping him with the project and installed some of his wishlist items like the power steering unit and aftermarket column. He had the seats recovered in a non original cloth pattern and I believe the upholsterer still has what is left of the original door panels.
Now that the car is mine I have undone some of the work as I knew my vision wasn't the same has his. I was going back and forth on my vision until I went to a neighbor's estate auction where about 8 cars were being sold including a 55 Nomad that appeared to be a mild custom stuck in the 60s. When I laid eyes on the car I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my '55 and that is build a 60's custom that is a driver. I say this because from what I've seen guys built customs at home they drove often as seen in 60's photos and this is what I intend to do myself. I won't be shaving doors, or swap sheetmetal from another model car but I do plan on chrome, a cool color change, and custom traditional interior. If you must know that Nomad only sold for 10k.

Here is my vision which is based on the nomad, a purple '55 see last photo/ and other cars I've seen from the era. Please reply to this thread with your photos of '55 traditional customs. Thank You!

• The car will have a 60s styling with a few modern updates
• The car will have a 4 speed and small block with dual quads
• Manual disk/drum brakes (1" bore corvette MS)
• Original manual steering (I'm selling the 600 series box if anyone is interested NEW)
• Original gl*** OR Original Tinted gl***
• Chrome interior garnish, steering column, ash tray, glove box, kick panel vents, parking brake handle, heater box
• Chrome reverse wheels and white walls (Thick or thin line everyone?)
• Stock Ride height OR Slightly lowered
• Seatbelts added
• 60's Stewart Warner gauges, perhaps Twin Blue
• Wagon rear bumper, perhaps 1pc California front bumper
• Possibly Underdash AC unit 60's or 60's appearing (does anyone know what units are pictured? Seems some fit better than others. (see photos)

What are your thoughts on the badges/emblems? Should I remove them and leave all the "BelAir" specific trim?

I'd also like to try my hand at painting with this car, at the moment I'm researching single stage paints. I want to avoid the use of clear if I can. I figure If I can get the dash/interior done I can always paint the jambs and exterior later. I'm thinking the color could be this version of Glacier Blue Metallic (see photo of wagon) including the dash the same color with a 60s custom White tuck & roll OR diamond tuck interior. I'm also thinking 3 spoke chrome/ blue steering wheel.
This is a long term project I am in no rush to complete and I'm trying to do everything I can out of my garage.
So far I've got the car into the garage, and gutted the interior to prep for floor pan repairs while of course taking plenty of photos and bagging/tagging. Your participation/ideas/parts donations in my build thread is greatly appreciated! My instagram handle is @josebetancourt831

Thank You!
Jose

 

It’s a shame that you don’t like patina as your 55 looks perfect. The heaviest rust can be neutralized then the finish can be protected with a variety of top coats. The rest of your plans sound great too. The main thing would be to get it drivable and enjoy it along the way.

 

Glad you have the car, and I'm sorry you lost a friend. Removing the upper paint divider is a popular thing to do on a custom '55. It visually lengthens the car. Are you going to put vintage gauges in the dash holes or fill them in?

 

That is exactly what I intend to do I should have clarified that when I meant by "long term" project. For now I'm patching the rusted out section of floor and reinforcements and going to use ospho to neutralize surface rust elsewhere before epoxy prime etc.

 

Thank you for the tip. I'm going to fill them in for now as they weren't cut equally. I'd also like to reinstall the lighter. I may install SW Twin Blue gauges in the dash but I'd like to relocate the holes if so.

 

I like your vision for the car.
That Nomad was a good deal....I would have brought it home.

 

I never realized how many 55s had gauges put into the dash, I guess I just never paid attention till recently.

 

Not a '55, but similar theme.

Shaved hood and trunk. Removed the fender louvers and trim below the door. Painted the 1/4 insert body color along with the "Belair" script. Interior is original except for bucket seats and floor shifter. Drop spindles with disc/drum brakes.

If I was going to use that smaller diameter steering wheel, I would keep the PS. I use an original wheel with out PS. As for the chrome plating, the dash pieces and garnish should be fine, but the heater box is not going to look as nice. Just not a good stamping. You might polish the raw steel to see how it looks before spending the money for chrome.

 

I agree I think I can manage shaving the hood and decklid Thank You!

Thank You for your input! I am selling that steering wheel and going with a larger more period wheel. And thank you for your tip on the heater box!

Fantastic photos everyone thank you for your input keep them coming!

 

@firemangordy


Hello,

This 55 Chevy two door is one of the nicest builds in all of So Cal. IMHO... It is the epitome of the late 50s, early 60s style that was so prevalent during those times. Fireman Gordy on the HAMB, has done an incredible job of capturing the true look of a So Cal cruiser during our actual teenage hot rod scene. Chrome rims, lowered rake, white tuck and roll upholstery and a cool looking paint make those memories for me as a teenager, come to life when I see this car in photos or up close.

Even if you kept the color you have on the Chevy wagon, the addition of American Racing 5 spokes would make any hot rod/cruiser a step above the rest. It instantly would give it some credibility as a cool cruiser. Add those to a lowered rake station wagon or even with normal height, it is worth it for the installation.

If my wife and I owned a Chevy two door station wagon as our daily cruiser, it would look like this local So Cal 56 Chevy wagon… instant cl*** and styling… YRMV

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/picture-thread-air-conditioning-vents-and-controls.1318730/page-3#post-15307618

Here is a story I wrote on custom A/C venting and installation. It is a part of transitioning from a non A/C car to custom approach to 55-57 Chevy empty dashboards for better direction in air flow.

Over the years, the car designers became efficiency folks and moved the built in vents at face level for direct flow to the driver and p***engers. Of course, the motors and vents also help move the flow into the cabin easier and with more power. Cooling for the rear seat folks is guaranteed, but if more flow is needed for some larger station wagons and vans, extra venting and outlets are available
But, what if someone made a custom approach to using what was there in most older Chevy sedan dash boards.

The surrounding shapes are perfect for full flow directly into the driver and p***enger areas. The gauges could still be in the main pod, but the surrounding frame would be hiding flowing vents for cooling. On the p***enger side, the open holes provide venting from the stock approach and if a flowing venting system were on the back, direct air comes right to the p***enger area. It seems like in the 55-57
Chevy cars, the same idea could work for best efficiency and location.

Certainly not on the "close to the floor" or below the dash. YRMV

 

5 an 6’s hoods are a bigger job to shave. They have a raised base for the hood bird.

 

Glad you ended up with your buddy's car, sorry to hear about his p***ing. I like your plans for it, and it seems like a great starting point. California hot rodders were asleep at the wheel to let that Nomad go for $10K, that was dirt cheap.

Until you're ready to paint it, body mods are kinda out for now anyway, unless you want to do primer spots (which could be kinda cool, too) but I really love the purple/lavender example you have posted, and it's very simple. If I ever end up painting my '57 I'd do it very similar. Small bits shaved but nothing too dramatic (it looks so custom but it still even has the door handles on it) and the chrome steel wheels are perfect for the 60's look.

 

Here is one from a car show last night for inspiration. Not a custom, just a nice 55

 

Thank you all for your input I appreciate it a lot! Some great ideas and photos!

I'm a bit conflicted as I plan the build as the BelAir trim, especially around the side windows, doesn't look good on a Custom. In fact I almost wish I started with a 210 (No I'm not trading anyone). How do I clean up the look (in addition to shaving the hood and decklid) and remove just enough trim to make it "clean" yet not take away from the fact it was born a BelAir?
I'm thinking of changing removing the side window/door trim and swapping for 210 yet keeping the BelAir trim on the front fenders. Like the Purple car I posted as an example with added fender spears?

OR going all in and making my car like said Purple car removing most BelAir only trim BUT keep all the interior BelAir only items like the dash trim, Script on the p***enger side speaker grill etc so it remains a "custom" but with enough originality of the BelAir.

 

On my 53 bel air I'm going to keep beltline trim up.