Photo: eBay seller portugeepride
It's hard not to like a classic Bel Air, especially if you're a Chevrolet fan, though I understand that most people interested in a full-size car from the GM brand picked an Impala.
It made sense. The Impala was the full-size model with all the bells and whistles, but we shouldn't forget that the Bel Air was the one bringing home the bacon during the '50s. The Impala launched in 1958, and the Bel Air was the model picked to make it famous. It debuted as a Bel Air hardtop and convertible before gaining series status a year later.
While the Bel Air and the Impala embraced separate paths, they continued to share the full-size platforms, engines, and styling, with only the most exquisite options becoming exclusive to the latter.
This is the reason why a Bel Air launched in the '60s is still a fantastic car. It should undoubtedly retain its original magic despite many people turning them into Impala clones or low riders.
The 1961 Bel Air in these pictures received a restoration approximately 20 years ago. The owner converted it into a low rider, though you can tell that almost the entire restoration package was lost, possibly as the Bel Air was eventually abandoned.
However, it's still one of the most solid Bel Air projects I've seen lately. The metal exhibits only minor problems, and the floors are in great shape. It's all thanks to the previous restoration, though it's unclear if it included the installation of new floors or patches.
The next owner will probably spend more time with mechanical fixes than resolving metal problems. The car comes with a six-cylinder engine (I know, I know, most of you are tempted to walk away at this point, but the straight-six makes this Bel Air a daily driver candidate), and seller portugeepride says it's no longer running. They managed to get it to turn over freely, but it didn't run. The engine only starts and runs for a few seconds, then stalls out. The car has a new battery, starter, spark plugs, wires, and other miscellaneous parts, so the next owner must complete the overhaul.
Everything seems to suggest that saving this Bel Air won't require an overwhelming amount of work, especially considering the solid metal condition. The owner is willing to let the car go for only $5,000, which looks like a fair expectation for a car that can still be saved but comes with a six-cylinder engine and is unlikely to be mostly original.
If you want to this Bel Air in person, you must travel to Seekonk, Massachusetts, and you'll need a trailer to take it home, given the non-working engine. You still have 13 days to decide if this will be your next project.
While the Bel Air and the Impala embraced separate paths, they continued to share the full-size platforms, engines, and styling, with only the most exquisite options becoming exclusive to the latter.
This is the reason why a Bel Air launched in the '60s is still a fantastic car. It should undoubtedly retain its original magic despite many people turning them into Impala clones or low riders.
The 1961 Bel Air in these pictures received a restoration approximately 20 years ago. The owner converted it into a low rider, though you can tell that almost the entire restoration package was lost, possibly as the Bel Air was eventually abandoned.
However, it's still one of the most solid Bel Air projects I've seen lately. The metal exhibits only minor problems, and the floors are in great shape. It's all thanks to the previous restoration, though it's unclear if it included the installation of new floors or patches.
The next owner will probably spend more time with mechanical fixes than resolving metal problems. The car comes with a six-cylinder engine (I know, I know, most of you are tempted to walk away at this point, but the straight-six makes this Bel Air a daily driver candidate), and seller portugeepride says it's no longer running. They managed to get it to turn over freely, but it didn't run. The engine only starts and runs for a few seconds, then stalls out. The car has a new battery, starter, spark plugs, wires, and other miscellaneous parts, so the next owner must complete the overhaul.
Everything seems to suggest that saving this Bel Air won't require an overwhelming amount of work, especially considering the solid metal condition. The owner is willing to let the car go for only $5,000, which looks like a fair expectation for a car that can still be saved but comes with a six-cylinder engine and is unlikely to be mostly original.
If you want to this Bel Air in person, you must travel to Seekonk, Massachusetts, and you'll need a trailer to take it home, given the non-working engine. You still have 13 days to decide if this will be your next project.
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