1955 Chevy BelAir

Here are 10 lesser-known facts about the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air:

1. “Shoebox Chevy” Nickname: The 1955 Bel Air, along with the 1956 and 1957 models, earned the nickname “Shoebox Chevy” due to its boxy, modernized styling, which was a significant departure from previous rounded Chevy designs.

2. First Year for the Small-Block V8: The 1955 Bel Air introduced Chevrolet’s first small-block V8 engine, a 265-cubic-inch powerhouse that became one of the most influential engines in automotive history. It paved the way for decades of Chevy V8 engines.

3. Affordable Luxury: Known for its sleek and upscale appearance, the 1955 Bel Air was designed to look more expensive than it actually was. It offered luxury touches that were previously available only on higher-end vehicles.

4. New Chassis Design: This model featured an all-new chassis with a more modern design, including an open “A” frame and new suspension for improved handling and ride comfort.

5. “Motoramic” Styling: Chevrolet’s advertising highlighted the “Motoramic” styling of the 1955 Bel Air, emphasizing its all-new, dynamic look inspired by aircraft design. The Bel Air’s wraparound windshield was a standout feature of this style.

6. Popularity in Drag Racing: Thanks to its lightweight design and powerful V8 engine, the 1955 Bel Air became a favorite among drag racers and remains an iconic model in hot rodding and custom car culture.

7. Power Glide Transmission: Chevrolet offered an improved two-speed automatic transmission called the Power Glide, which was popular for its smooth performance and ease of use, making the car more appealing to a broader audience.

8. Four-Model Lineup: The 1955 Bel Air came in four different body styles: the 2-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, convertible, and 2-door station wagon, giving customers a wide variety of options to suit their needs and tastes.

9. Fuel Injection Option: Although not widely known, a fuel-injected version of the small-block V8 was developed for the 1955 Bel Air. However, it didn’t make it into regular production until later years due to cost and technology limitations.

10. Enduring Popularity: The 1955 Bel Air is still one of the most desirable and collectible American cars, with restoration parts readily available. Its design and performance have kept it relevant for car enthusiasts even decades later.

A Chevy Bel Air reportedly collapsed to the ground during a Barrett-Jackson auction. The classic car was sitting on a lift that gave in under its weight. A witness claims the lift was not even anchored.

Car auctions are exciting. They inject adrenaline, unfold dramas, and roll tons of money in quite predictable scenarios. However, unexpected things happen every once in a while. Like this insane fall, for instance.

A 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air dropped off a faulty lift at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Phoenix, Arizona. The frightful event took place on Wednesday, during the setup day.

Someone who witnessed the incident says that the lift involved was a triple-stacker, four-post unit. “They raised it all the way up without having it anchored. The posts gave out due to it being top-heavy,” he explained in a comment on Reddit.

Such lifts are usually bolted to the floor, something that you can’t do at auction events, which means organizers must have used a different solution to secure it. However, the solution turned out to be defective. The lift collapsed over the coffee right next to it. One of their salesmen was seen wearing a cast. “I’m not sure if that happened when the lift fell or from before,” the witness explained.

Another person who was at the scene said that one of the posts went through the tile floor, which made it lose balance and collapse. Luckily, it did not end with a tragedy, and no one was seriously injured because, by the way things looked, it could have been a lot worse.

Photos from the scene started showing up everywhere on social media. They show a Chevy Bel Air that doesn’t look good at all. The front fender on the driver’s side looks like it took one for the team.

It is caved in, exposing the wheel and suspension in all their glory. The front bumper is also bent, and the hood sustained serious deformation. The driver’s door must have suffered some scratches in the process.

One of the photos shows the Chevy sitting on its side with an item on top of the windshield. However, the glass seems intact. There are straps hanging from the lift and the car, but we can’t tell if the Bel Air was actually strapped to the platform that raised it to around 140 inches (3,556 millimeters) above the ground. That is the approximate height of the top platform of triple stackers.

There is no information on wether the owner went on with the auction he was scheduled for or left home furious with his car badly damaged. He will probably take the time to fix those contorted body panels before he decides to auction it off. Such 1955 Bel Airs sell for an average price of around $69,000. The most expensive ever sold was the gold-plated Bel Air replica that someone bought for $395,000 back in May 2024. However, those who rebuilt the car were hoping for more.

Surely, the owner of the classic Chevy has insurance on his precious Bel Air. However, the event organizers are probably going to pay out. Never in the history of car auctions have stackers crashed to the ground, taking cars down with them— at least, not that we know of. We have contacted Barrett-Jackson and will update this feature as soon as we get a reply from them.