Featured History What is the most popular 3 Chevys of the Hamb era?

The split window 63 Stingray was the one I fell in love with as soon as I saw the first one. Of the 63 to 67 Vettes, 63 is my first choice and then 67 L88 would be my 2nd choice! The "goofy window divider" was just part of the styling that attracted me to it, and makes it unique!

 

I'm a 61 to 63 X frame car guy. I prefer a 61 sport coupe over a 62. 63 needs to be a Impala.
Seems of late the only cars I have been working on are 62 X frame cars.

 

Anthony, I had a friend in Philly that bought a brand new 1963 split window and when the the 1964 showed up in the show room he thought it was the cats ass so he removed the glass,cit the dividing split bar out and ordered the new one piece rear glass and made it look like a 1964.

He kept the car until a few years ago, he found out trying to make his car look like a 1964 cost him in the long run, the buyer told him if the car was correct it would be worth about 12 grand more.

 

I thought some one would say:
1955
1956
1957
Carry on, I work a night shift , I’ve an excuse.

 

Yep. Several 63s had this happen. Then it became cool when the $$$$$$ part was factored in

 

The $$$s don’t really matter if you have what you want, just about any hacking, chopping or modifying will cause a value loss. This is true unless the mods are done by a reputable shop or person and even then may cause a loss of bucks. I’d take a 63 with the split window removed any day. Now if the value of those modified 63s would go down to 12k I’d have one lol
Dan

 

Just thought it was odd that something sought after now was shunned (by some) when the non split window came out.

 

My three would be the 56 Nomad, 56 Vette, and 38 coupe. .

 

I did!!!!

My first response would be to the effect there were no bad ones.
If it is singularly 55, 56, 57 top three.
Group wise- tri 5s, Xframes, corvettes
my personal preference- 56 sedan, 63 split window, 65 V/8 Chevy II

 

My list.
Cars - 1951,1955,1961
Trucks - 1950 AD era, 1955, 1958

 

I'm in for the bubble back as well but my favorites are the '49-'54 AD pickups. The absolute best was the Dream Truck when it was returned from Winfields shop and before they gaudied it out. The chop and section were just perfect. Best of all time. If I'm ever rich I'd love to build one the way they should have left it, (In my opinion only!). Around here '54,s are at a premium.

 

60 coupe,59 el Camino and chopped 54 for me!

 

There are not many Chevys in the HAMB era that I don´t like. The ones I like the least are the 64 Impala, because it´s a bit too edgy for my taste, at least compared to the 61-63s, I still owned a 64 and I liked it, but a 61 would be my favourite, then 62 and 63... but on the other hand ,a plane jane 64 Biscayne sedan with poverty caps , a wild small or big block and 4speed would be cool as hell though. The other one would not need is a 57 BelAir with all the stock trim as a sports coupe, a 57 would have to be a 2dr sedan plane jane sleeper or a fully dressed and lowered BelAir 4dr hardtop bomba.
But I´m a Chevy guy, so no wonder I like them
I still have the 55,56 and 62, the others are gone unfortunately. The 61 keeps coming back occasionaly for a little TLC, as it belongs to a very good friend of mine now, and the Suburban belonged to my wife and went to another friend of ours... sad but sometimes things need to go to make room for future projects

 

Not enough choices, & a tough question to answer.

 

Double Trouble ..

 

1941 coupe, 1933 coupe 3 window, 1940 sedan, 53 - 54 Hardtops.
In the 50's 55, 56, 57's were for rich guys who had a job, nice now but kind of "Mom bought it for you" back in the 50's

 

55 56 57 61 62 63

 

Some of my favorite years of Bow-Tie car's.

 

1st 56 150 with 2nd day 1962 327 4 speed
2nd 61 bubble top-Super Sport 409 4 speed Impala
3rd 63 Super Sport 327 4 speed Impala

 

For me I'd like to have a 1954 Bel Air, a 1955 First Series Pick Up and a 1956 Nomad.

 

Hello,

Since I grew up as a teenager in the time period of 1957 to 1963, our whole high school group drove those Chevy sedans mentioned. It was all based on cost and there were plenty of used cars to go about selecting one. At least no one else had to remain an “individual.” With a huge high school class of students, there were some other Chevy sedans, but for us, the choices started in a 53 Chevy Bel Air, 55,56 and a clean 57 bel air hardtop. And the lineup ended up with my 58 black Impala as the one that stood out.

Then a new 61 Biscayne 409 and finally a 63 Bel Air Hardtop rolled into the scene. The 409 ruled the roost without anyone racing against it for the full quarter mile. Ownership was based on available cash and the lack thereof. So, we usually got the hand me downs or low cost used cars we piled our extra cash into the modifications. Mostly custom accessories and a few with go fast race parts.

Jnaki

I had visions of owning a 1959 348/335 hp, 4 speed El Camino with 4:56 Positraction gears as a daily driver. But, since my brother had his 58 Impala, already set up, but, resting during his drag racing recovery mode, I made good use of it, until the Impala became mine.

This black 59 El Camino was one of the fastest and quickest 348 powered Chevys at Lion’s Dragstrip during our drag racing days. Actually, he usually won his class over all makes and top go fast models from other manufacturers of the time.


I knew how fast this 335 h.p. 348 1959 El Camino was. Just watching the way it handles the 1957 supercharged Ford sedan is amazing. What one year and 55 additional horsepower can do. The way the 59 El Camino just straightened out and within 50 feet caught up and passed the 57 Ford like it was a 6 cylinder motor from another class for power.

The ability of the additional 55 h.p. is/was amazing. Luckily, by 1959, those 335 hp 348 motors were in a different class. So, we, in A/Stock still were battling it out as normal.


We raced the black 57 supercharged Ford in our A/Stock class eliminations many times. We won 8 out of 10 races. But, it was a chore to catch up and if my brother or when I was driving, did not get off of the line quick enough, it was close all the way to the end.


In a stock car class, supposedly all accepted legal motors and cars are evenly matched. Horsepower vs horsepower vs engine, etc. So, most of the time, there was very close racing, as it should be with equal power to race. There were specific protests if the stakes were big and one guy stood out by a long shot. If a protest was had, the stock motor had to be torn down to get measured, etc. there were not too many protests as we were all about equal and it got down to who was quicker at the starting line take off. YRMV


NOTE:

So, add a 61 409 Chevy sedan to the most significant Chevy and the first 427 powered 63 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop to the list of top 3 Chevy sedans of all time. For our own history, the most significant improvement was the 55 more horsepower 335 hp/348 motor and 4 speed to change the course of drag racing Chevy cars. Then the big power 409 came on the scene and changed the course of stock car drag racing and superiority on the street performance adventures. YRMV

 

Depends on how you want to define popular............

1. The most desirable to the general population because of styling and or performance (not decided by cash value)

I'd say the answer is either 55 or 57 Chevy cars.

1. (also)The most desirable decided because they are the most available and reasonably priced (and they look kinda neat)

I'd say the 49-55 Chevy trucks. ( Many consider 55-57 trucks but there aren't as many of them available)

3. I'd say Camaro but they weren't available in 65, so I'd say Corvette 62 and earlier Popular but unaffordable to the average hot rodder. So, by default I'll say the 55-57 Chevy Trucks............


I'd say that for the most part the 49-55 Chevy pickup is the overall biggest number of vehicles still sought after and examples that are being built or running.

 

37 probably tops my list. I have had several coupes, sedans and truck versions. I also have a love of the 58's that I have owed and of the Tri-5's, the 56 would be my choice.

 

my current ride 55' series 2 PU (we are the same age)
my first ride 62' impala
my old purple 57' which I wish I still had!