We have always known that this was going to happen. This spectacular one-off, the result of years of searching for information and months of work around the clock, the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air gold car replica has its fate decided.
Back in 1954, on November 23, General Motors celebrated the 55 millionth car with a huge street party in Flint, Michigan, where the heart of operations of the auto giant was.
A massive crowd came to watch the show that brought orchestras, clowns, and fireworks right in front of their very eyes. And then, the cars paraded, up on floating platforms, each indicating a milestone.
But the one that everyone was waiting for was the 55 millionth car. The one and only Chevrolet Bel Air gold car. It sat on the moving platform, in all its glory, surrounded by piles of colorful flowers, reflecting every beam of light the body captured. The moment it showed up, people could hardly believe their eyes.
General Motors built three cars back then, and only one was shown on the big day of the celebration. But the automaker eventually lost track of them and the star of that day eventually burned to a crisp together with an entire car collection in a yard somewhere in North Carolina.
Photo: Mecum
The owner tried to sell what was left of it. But he asked for a fortune for the windshield arms and blades, for instance. So, the sale has never actually happened. But then, pieces of the original started showing up, some dug out in the yard where the car sat.
However, the Snodgrass Chevy Restoration shop from Melbourne, Florida, wasn't just going to let go of it. They just couldn't. So, they started working on a replica of the gold-plated Chevy Bel Air that General Motors paraded back in November 1954.
Seven months and 1,800 of work later, on January 29, 20024, the team had the car ready just in time for the 71st annual Detroit Autorama. And it looked every inch like the real deal.
The reproduction body and frame were assembled by Real Deal Steel in Sanford, Florida. They had even asked for the help of a historian from Falmouth, Kentucky, Steve Blades, to help them with the details. Finding the exact same trims and colors when all they had were photos in black and white was not exactly a walk in the park.
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Furthermore, the original Chevrolet Bel Air that General Motors paraded in November 1954 was not accompanied by any documentation or sticker. There was zero information about this car because it hasn't even been designed to drive on public roads ever!
It was also Steve who supplied many original parts. For instance, the front coil springs and rear leaf springs, the original rear spiral shocks, and five original riveted 15x5-inch steel wheels are there.
Just about everything on this car is gold-plated as the experts used five and a half gallons of Axalta custom mix "Tribute Gold" paint, which cost $350 a quart. Body panels, wheels, window frames, badges, and wheel hubs, together with all the shiny bits that used to be chrome-plated from inside the cabin.
All the buttons and switches, all the inserts on the steering wheel and dashboard, door latches and strikers, literally everything, went from chrome to gold. They invested around $100,000 just for the chrome plating.
There were over 600 pieces that the team had to turn from chrome or from the original paint into gold. And yes, they did this in the engine bay as well. That engine bay now shelters a V8 good for 265/162 horsepower and mated to a cast iron 1955 two-speed Powerglide transmission and a 3.55 ratio gear differential. That power unit was Chevrolet's first attempt at a V8.
Photo: Mecum
The Chevy was going to tour America for the rest of the year after having already wowed the crowds at several car shows, telling the tale of the original car that made everyone stare in surprise that day in Flint, Michigan, 70 years ago.
Now, the team who worked on it day in and day out for seven whole months has made the decision. The 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air replica will be auctioned off through Mecum. The multiple-award winner, a treasure on wheels, is going under the hammer on May 18 and is tagged as the main attraction of the Indy 2024 event.
Whoever is dreaming of taking it home must know that the physical awards are not included in the sale. Probably the team that worked on it wants to keep them as memorabilia of the motorized work of art that came out of their hands.
We can only hope that whoever buys it will not just store it away from the eyes of the curious to brag about it to only a select few.
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