Photo: Classic Auto Mall
“The Hot One” as Chevrolet called it back in the day, the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air blended luxury with performance at a relatively affordable price. More to the point, $2,025 back then is equivalent to $19,670 today after factoring in the inflation.
This one-of-a-kind gasser is pretty good value as well at $55k with 8,000 miles on the clock and the kind of engine that would make a grown man go weak in the knees upon laying eyes on it. A small-block 427 is hiding under the hood, featuring a Dart block and rotating assembly in addition to a competition cam and 1.6 roller rockers.
Offered by Classic Auto Mall of Morgantown in Pennsylvania, vehicle identification number B55S195366 is aptly named Jack Runner No. 7 thanks to the whisky-themed decals over the black paintwork. The semi-gloss finish of the body panels is complemented by chrome trimmings, front and rear bumpers, as well as a stainless-steel tank.
The gasser theme carries over to the wheel wells where you’ll find stainless-steel header pipes that form a single cut-off pipe. 15-inch Keystone Classic polished wheels are also featured, along with a jacked-up tubular frame.
Front leaf springs up front, CalTracs bars at the rear, disc brakes on all four corners, and a rust-free undercarriage are worthy of mentioning as well. Based on the VIN, the two-door sedan before your eyes left the St. Louis assembly plant with blue cloth for the seats. The car now presents Zodiac Red vinyl with black piping for the buckets and rear bench, but the dash retains the iconic dual-fan design from the factory.
A plastic center console with cupholders is joined by a good ol’ shifter from Hurst, connected to a four-speed manual transmission modified to take repeated abuse from the torquey powerplant. The BorgWarner T-10 is rocking a hydraulic clutch, and all of the suck-squeeze-bang-blow is sent to a 9.0-inch rear axle from Ford with 3.89 posi gearing.
Strip-slaying gassers took a step back in 1972 when the National Hot Rod Association eliminated these classes. In other words, the 1955 Bel Air we've covered today serves as a kind reminder of a time when drag racing used to be more affordable for the men and women behind the wheel.
Offered by Classic Auto Mall of Morgantown in Pennsylvania, vehicle identification number B55S195366 is aptly named Jack Runner No. 7 thanks to the whisky-themed decals over the black paintwork. The semi-gloss finish of the body panels is complemented by chrome trimmings, front and rear bumpers, as well as a stainless-steel tank.
The gasser theme carries over to the wheel wells where you’ll find stainless-steel header pipes that form a single cut-off pipe. 15-inch Keystone Classic polished wheels are also featured, along with a jacked-up tubular frame.
Front leaf springs up front, CalTracs bars at the rear, disc brakes on all four corners, and a rust-free undercarriage are worthy of mentioning as well. Based on the VIN, the two-door sedan before your eyes left the St. Louis assembly plant with blue cloth for the seats. The car now presents Zodiac Red vinyl with black piping for the buckets and rear bench, but the dash retains the iconic dual-fan design from the factory.
A plastic center console with cupholders is joined by a good ol’ shifter from Hurst, connected to a four-speed manual transmission modified to take repeated abuse from the torquey powerplant. The BorgWarner T-10 is rocking a hydraulic clutch, and all of the suck-squeeze-bang-blow is sent to a 9.0-inch rear axle from Ford with 3.89 posi gearing.
Strip-slaying gassers took a step back in 1972 when the National Hot Rod Association eliminated these classes. In other words, the 1955 Bel Air we've covered today serves as a kind reminder of a time when drag racing used to be more affordable for the men and women behind the wheel.
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