Projects 55 Chevy Bel Air Resurrection

It's decent. I don't know what the front seats are out of, but they're comfy. Dash was originally teal, its been painted black. Again the body took the worst of it, protected everything else.

I've got new glass for the clock, just have to drop it in. I also have all the parts for the horn, just showed up. Again just need to assemble.

 

Interior is begging for a 58 Impala steering wheel

 

That would be cool!

My uncle had a very 80's GT wheel on it that didnt really fit the car, its also easier to drive with this original wheel.

 

One look I always loved in a tri five is a 58 wheel. Looks both like its custom and like it's supposed to be there

 

I like what you're doing with the car except those hideous headlights, regula old halogen bulbs would've looked great or these in LED if you just got to have LED
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...kZUHBDqqHLmrJXZ0DqTwSCb6CmdvEoHQaApa7EALw_wcB

 

I'm not a fan of "patina "although I know there are a lot of people that are. I think there is some sort of a line between what is patina and what is a car with completely destroyed paint. If that was mine (which it is not) I would want to repaint like your uncle had it. Nice 55, good luck with it.

 

I got faith you'll do yer Uncle proud

 

The seats appear to be 62 Impala. It will help to identify them if you post a more complete photo of them.

 

I'm thinking Chevy II or Tempest seats because of the shape but no chrome.
Are you located in Oregon?

 

I know, I said above I don't care for them either, I agree with you. I needed something so I could safely drive in the dark as the original ones were shot. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a set of Holley Retro Brights on the secondary market.

 

Detroit. I'll have to take a better photo of them so you guys can help me I.D. them.

 

I'm coming around to painting it this winter, because you're right. There's patina and then there's.... this. I'll have 4 months of winter to work on it, I should be able to get it whipped into decent enough shape to put a decent garage paint job on it.

Appreciate it.

 

Wonderbar! Got one in mine.

 

Dig the car except the headlights.

Keep going man! Killer car!

 

I believe you are correct. Looking at the photos again, you can see the passenger seat trim is pointed at the top. 62 Impala seat trim does not go over the top like 63 and up but stops on the side and is squared off.

 

Agree real patina is the real deal

 

Got an original '55 wheel reassembled today. The car originally had a teal dash that was painted black, with some of it showing through, so its cool that it matches.

 

I'm working on the younger bro to this car...50 ocho... spray ez of f on that 55 and all that primer will wash off

 

64 era impala seats???

 

Seats are 62-65 midsize GM with the spears on the side of the backrest. Impala 62-65 and all full size passenger GM had the chrome all the way up the side and over the top of the backrest.

 

Those sure look like it, thank you! My apologies for not getting better photos of them, I've been busy stripping old paint and primer.

 

I've started stripping the drivers side. There's patina, and then there's destroyed paint and well I put this in the category of the latter. It was primer over patina/destroyed paint basically. Still looks rough, because it is, but I got 90% of the heavy crap off.

It needs new floors, new inner and outer rockers, and the rear drivers quarter has some mud. Outside of that its fairly solid. I figured I should start stripping the metal so once that is done I can paint it. It will never be a show car, that's outside of my skill level and budget. But I feel like with enough time and elbow grease I can put a decent hot rod paint job on it.

 

If the inside seat trim is painted, not chromed AND if the inside trim doesn't cover the seat back hinge (like the outside trim does... They are probably like mine. They are out of a Corvair. I thought my seats were from an A body GM also, but found out when I disassembled them to recover them that the 64 Chevelle seat covers I bought wouldn't fit. The seat is actually a couple inches wider than the A body seats.

 

Some early Nova SS's used the wider base GM bucket like the full size car but also did not have the chrome band over the top.

 

Easiest thing to fix is a tumbler in the trunk lock hole.

 

Sweet car, and awesome that you've put in the time and money to get it on the road and enjoy it.

Many comments here just make me shake my head. It's your car, don't put stock into what others think about the wheels, paint, etc. Do it as you want and enjoy it. It has a killer look to it already!

If you want to paint it, paint it. If you don't, don't. Bringing this 55 Hardtop back from the dead in your uncle's memory is so cool!

 

I gotta say, the lowering makes a ton of difference. Looking good JSxtreme. And separately, the photography is on point!

 

Having done a down and gritty paint job on my 53 bel air id recommend that when you prime it hit it with epoxy primer. That stuff will actually semi protect the metal until paint. As opposed to normal primer that'll absorb moisture

 

Already done, thanks.

Thank you! Some of the comments baffle me too. It was a long way off from running this Spring, now it is running and I've been logging a lot of miles on it. How fast am I supposed to have it up to everyone's standards? In a week? lol

I appreciate the kind words!

Thank you for all the help!


One more from the weekend.

 

The car is looking great!