Garage, Galley & Hangar
GG&H
Technical Owner's Manual
Chevrolet Bel AirFIG. 1
CHEVROLET
Chevrolet Bel Air
The 1955 Two-Door Hardtop: A Complete Owner's Reference
REV 1.0 · 136 PP
AMERICAN CLASSIC
GARAGE, GALLEY & HANGAR
9 chapters · 32-term glossary · 164-entry index
American Classic · Chevrolet

Chevrolet Bel Air

Chevrolet's landmark 1955: the year the small-block V8 arrived and the Tri-Five was born. An honest owner's reference to the pillarless two-door hardtop, the glamour body of the line, covering its history, the exact service data for the 235 six and 265 V8, the rust and mechanical trouble spots a buyer must check, and the deep parts-and-club network that still supports these cars today.

Hardcover $129 · digital book $29
Customize it to my vessel · $260 →Read a free sample →

The digital edition is ready to read the moment you buy. The hardcover is printed to order and ships in about two weeks.

A sample of what's inside

Specifications

Engine235 "Blue Flame" six / 265 "Turbo-Fire" V8
Wheelbase115 in
Body2-door hardtop (Sport Coupe, pillarless)
Curb weight~3,300 lb
Used market~$25,000-70,000 (V8, condition-driven)

Known issues, covered honestly

  • Rust in the floors, trunk, lower quarters, rockers, and the cowl and windshield leaks that feed them, where to look and what a fix costs
  • The pillarless hardtop's body flex and door and glass alignment
  • The 265 V8's lack of a standard oil filter in 1955 and the engine wear it causes
  • Single-circuit drum brakes and worn front-end steering, the safety items to check first

…and the full survey guide, service schedules, systems, and parts sourcing in the complete volume.

Custom Edition

Make it your boat.

We fold in your year, your engine, your electronics and refits, your hull number, and your vessel name and your own boat's photo on the cover. The book stops describing the boat that left the factory and starts describing the one in your slip.

$260
personalized to your vessel