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1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Comes Out of Long-Term Storage, Gets First Wash in 17 Years

Built in almost five million units over three years, the Chevrolet Tri-Five is anything but rare. And this is both good and bad news for Tri-Five enthusiasts.
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find 9 photos
Photo: Hubie's Garage/YouTube
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find1955 Chevrolet Bel Air barn find
The good news is that there are still plenty of them out there to be purchased at reasonable prices. On the flip side, a large number of Tri-Fives are currently rotting away in junkyards, damaged beyond salvation. A sad sight no matter if you're into Bel Airs and Nomads or the more mundane 210 and 150.

With so many Tri-Five damned to rust away, I can't help but get excited whenever I see an example come out of long-term storage still in one piece. This 1955 Bel Air two-door sedan is one of those cars. And it's been locked for about 14 years.

Granted, it's not a highly desirable Sport Coupe model or the rare Nomad wagon, but these two-door sedans are just as cool as far as styling goes. Especially if they're finished in red and white, arguably one of the coolest color combos for a 1955 Tri-Five.

Granted, this two-door sedan is rather dirty after three years on the front lawn and 14 more years in a garage, but its first cleaning in 17 years unveils a solid paint job that will shine again with a bit of detailing and buffing. Yes, it has quite a few battle scars, but that's not surprising given its past.

You see, YouTube's "Hubie's Garage" has had this Bel Air since 1983, and he used it as a drag car and "family hot rod" until he parked it in 2005. That's more than 20 years of family trips and quarter-mile runs, activities that will always leave marks.

But the good news is that this Bel Air is almost back in action. I'm pretty sure it's not road-worthy just yet, but leaving the garage after 17 years is a great first step toward revival. And hopefully, it will hit car shows and drag strips sooner than later. And I also hope it has a potent V8 under the hood.

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About the author: Ciprian Florea
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Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
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