Photo: MS Classic Cars
The Chevrolet Bel Air is one of the most successful cars in the golden era of American carmaking. Not only because it lasted on the market for more than three decades and was made in large numbers, but also because the collectors of today go really nuts about it.
There are many Bel Airs from different ages and in different configurations making the rounds at American auction events, but I'm willing to bet you won't find one more special than this 1962 example anywhere at the moment.
The car is a Bel Air from the fifth generation, but a special one in the sense that it's one of just 5,950 examples made that year with a bubble top. And it's also the result of a frame-on restoration that had it look just as shiny as it probably did back when it was a newborn.
Flaunting a white body that makes it look royal and perfectly contrasts the two-tone red interior more than visible through the generous glasswork of the bubble top, the Bel Air comes with a slightly prouder stance thanks to the raised front end and the 5-spoke custom wheels it rides on. At the front they come in Pro-Trac tires, while the rear is dressed in Mickey Thompsons.
The car moves along under the power of a rebuilt 409ci engine (unclear if it's native to this example, but Chevy did offer it for the Bel Air) tied to a 4-speed manual transmission. The powerplant has all the right gear in place, including dual Carter 4-barrel carburetors and a dual exhaust system.
Inside, the Bel Air is a rare beauty, with the red everything (the seats, the floor, the door panels, the dashboard) perfectly complemented by fine details like Stewart Warner gauges, headliner, and chrome detailing here and there.
Normally this rare and impressive 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air is listed by a Massachusetts-based dealer of exquisite such machines called MS Classic Cars. It is still listed there, sadly with no price sticker attached, but it will also go under the hammer at the end of the month.
Auction house Barrett-Jackson has it listed for the New Orleans event scheduled for the last few days of September. It will go with no reserve, meaning an estimate on it is impossible to get from the seller.
There are a number of other Bel Air bubble tops for sale at the moment though, some of them in close form to our star here, and from them we can get a general idea of how valuable this one is.
Depending on condition and a series of other factors, people expect anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 for one. We'll keep an eye out for this Bel Air and report back as soon as we learn on what side of the aisle it falls.
The car is a Bel Air from the fifth generation, but a special one in the sense that it's one of just 5,950 examples made that year with a bubble top. And it's also the result of a frame-on restoration that had it look just as shiny as it probably did back when it was a newborn.
Flaunting a white body that makes it look royal and perfectly contrasts the two-tone red interior more than visible through the generous glasswork of the bubble top, the Bel Air comes with a slightly prouder stance thanks to the raised front end and the 5-spoke custom wheels it rides on. At the front they come in Pro-Trac tires, while the rear is dressed in Mickey Thompsons.
The car moves along under the power of a rebuilt 409ci engine (unclear if it's native to this example, but Chevy did offer it for the Bel Air) tied to a 4-speed manual transmission. The powerplant has all the right gear in place, including dual Carter 4-barrel carburetors and a dual exhaust system.
Inside, the Bel Air is a rare beauty, with the red everything (the seats, the floor, the door panels, the dashboard) perfectly complemented by fine details like Stewart Warner gauges, headliner, and chrome detailing here and there.
Normally this rare and impressive 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air is listed by a Massachusetts-based dealer of exquisite such machines called MS Classic Cars. It is still listed there, sadly with no price sticker attached, but it will also go under the hammer at the end of the month.
Auction house Barrett-Jackson has it listed for the New Orleans event scheduled for the last few days of September. It will go with no reserve, meaning an estimate on it is impossible to get from the seller.
There are a number of other Bel Air bubble tops for sale at the moment though, some of them in close form to our star here, and from them we can get a general idea of how valuable this one is.
Depending on condition and a series of other factors, people expect anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 for one. We'll keep an eye out for this Bel Air and report back as soon as we learn on what side of the aisle it falls.
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