Photo: Smittys Parts & Stuff/eBay
Introduced in 1955, the Tri-Five was a very big deal for Chevrolet. A significant evolution over its predecessor, the Tri-Five was not only beautiful, but it also hit showrooms with Chevrolet's first V8 engine in decades. And it sold like hotcakes, moving nearly 1.8 million units in 1955.
While the entry-level 150 wasn't all that popular, with 143,013 examples delivered, the mid-range 210 found 831,971 homes. Sales of the range-topping Bel Air were just as impressive at 800,968 cars. The nameplate remained popular through 1957, with total sales coming in at nearly five million vehicles.
With so many vehicles out there, it's not surprising that the market is flooded with all sorts of Tri-Five rigs, ranging from junkyard projects to fully restored units. The Tri-Five is also a popular restomod, while many cars have been converted into dragsters. The 1955 One-Fifty you see here may not be eligible for proper NHRA competition, but it's among the most powerful of its kind.
Although it's finished in black, and there's not a lot of chrome trim to talk about, this Tri-Five is no sleeper. The gasser-style wheels, the air filter popping through the hood, and the visible headers hint at a highly modified rig with massive burnout and quarter-mile capability. But you won't get the full picture until you look under the hood because this 150 hides a monstrous 565-cubic-inch (9.3-liter) big-block V8.
The crate motor includes a long list of high-performance features. It has an Aeromotive fuel system, custom pistons, and Brodix heads. The compression ratio is an impressive 14:1 ratio, which means it needs 112-octane fuel to run. The massive lump spins the rear wheels through a six-speed Tremec manual.
How much oomph can it muster? Well, the seller claims the big-block is good for 924 horsepower and 767 pound-feet of torque. That's obviously way more than any stock Tri-Five from the era, regardless of trim and powertrain. Heck, that's a bigger punch than the modern Dodge Challenger Demon. The latter delivered 840 horsepower on 100-octane fuel upon introduction. And it's not far behind the 1,025-horsepower Demon 170 either.
The cabin retains some of the traditional Chevy Tri-Five gear, but it also features bucket seats, a roll bar, and other equipment necessary for high-speed straight-line action. On the flip side, it's not a real gasser or a vehicle that would pass the safety inspection of a serious drag racing competition. But even so, it's a cool build that would turn a lot of heads at the local cars and coffee.
If it's something you'd park in your driveway, the 150 was driven only "a couple of times" since completion, and it's looking for a new owner from Trabuco Canyon, California. The asking price is $48,000, with the option to make an offer.
With so many vehicles out there, it's not surprising that the market is flooded with all sorts of Tri-Five rigs, ranging from junkyard projects to fully restored units. The Tri-Five is also a popular restomod, while many cars have been converted into dragsters. The 1955 One-Fifty you see here may not be eligible for proper NHRA competition, but it's among the most powerful of its kind.
Although it's finished in black, and there's not a lot of chrome trim to talk about, this Tri-Five is no sleeper. The gasser-style wheels, the air filter popping through the hood, and the visible headers hint at a highly modified rig with massive burnout and quarter-mile capability. But you won't get the full picture until you look under the hood because this 150 hides a monstrous 565-cubic-inch (9.3-liter) big-block V8.
The crate motor includes a long list of high-performance features. It has an Aeromotive fuel system, custom pistons, and Brodix heads. The compression ratio is an impressive 14:1 ratio, which means it needs 112-octane fuel to run. The massive lump spins the rear wheels through a six-speed Tremec manual.
How much oomph can it muster? Well, the seller claims the big-block is good for 924 horsepower and 767 pound-feet of torque. That's obviously way more than any stock Tri-Five from the era, regardless of trim and powertrain. Heck, that's a bigger punch than the modern Dodge Challenger Demon. The latter delivered 840 horsepower on 100-octane fuel upon introduction. And it's not far behind the 1,025-horsepower Demon 170 either.
The cabin retains some of the traditional Chevy Tri-Five gear, but it also features bucket seats, a roll bar, and other equipment necessary for high-speed straight-line action. On the flip side, it's not a real gasser or a vehicle that would pass the safety inspection of a serious drag racing competition. But even so, it's a cool build that would turn a lot of heads at the local cars and coffee.
If it's something you'd park in your driveway, the 150 was driven only "a couple of times" since completion, and it's looking for a new owner from Trabuco Canyon, California. The asking price is $48,000, with the option to make an offer.
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