1955 Chevrolet
The 1955 Chevrolet is an automobile which was introduced by Chevrolet in Autumn 1954 for the 1955 model year. It is considered a huge turning point for the manufacturer and a major success. It was available in three models: the 150, 210, and Bel Air.
The '55 Chevy was the first successful Chevrolet with an optional V8 engine. Chevrolet had produced an earlier car with a V8 in 1918, which used a 36-horsepower overhead valve 288-cubic-inch V8, but it remained in production for only a year. In 1955, Chevrolet decided to fit its new car with an overhead valve V8 engine design, which was similar to the 1949 Oldsmobile "Rocket 88" V8 engine which was an earlier GM success. Chevy's new 265-cubic-inch overhead valve V8 was designed to be smaller, lighter, and more powerful than previous V8s in the auto industry, and would come to be known as the "Chevy small block".
However, the new small block engine in the '55 Chevy had some early teething issues. Some problems existed with cracked pistons, there was no integrated oil filter, so an external bypass filter was offered as a factory or dealer option. Those who did not order the engine with the "oil filter option" dealt with a high frequency of oil changes. Even with the oil filter option, only part of the oil was actually filtered. This issue was corrected for the next year when a full flow oil filter system was added to the engine.
Additionally, to keep performance and mileage levels high required spark plug and ignition points to be replaced on a regular basis. But other than those issues it was an easy to maintain engine. The small block Chevy V8 became so popular that Chevrolet still sells it today as an over the counter replacement engine or better known as a "crate engine". There have been various changes made to the engine to modernize it since its introduction in 1954 however the basic design of the original 265 remains in place.
Body design
Additionally, Chevrolet drastically changed its body design.The 1955 Chevy had smooth straight panels on the sides and hood. This was a major departure from previous years for Chevrolet. Although Ford introduced what would be the first "shoe box" body design in 1949, GM and Chrysler were slow to catch on, only slowly replacing some of their bubble-like hood and side panels with flatter ones each year, without achieving a full shoebox look by 1954. But in 1955, Chevy designed the entire car with the full shoebox look. Along with the flatter straighter panels, the '55 also had modern cues like wrap-around glass on the windshield, and triangular tail lights that jutted outward. This new look, combined with new power and engineering, made the '55 an instant hit with the buying public and a critical success.
The car's popular "shoe-box" body style and chassis were carried over to 1956, and then carried over to 1957.
The '55, '56 and '57 Chevys are sought after by collectors, enthusiasts and hot rodders, and the three model years are often referred to by the given nickname of the "tri-fives." Collectors will pay a premium for two-door models, and even more for the Bel Air version, especially the two-door hardtop. Today, 1955 Chevy two door hard tops command top dollar.
Options and trim
The 1955 Chevrolet also offered many other firsts for Chevrolet, including changing from a 6-volt to a 12-volt electrical system. The '55 offered new options like air conditioning, power windows, power seats, power steering and power brakes. Other options included automatic light dimmers, door handle protectors, bumper protectors and "wonder-bar" radios. So many new options were available that some referred to the car as "Chevy's little Cadillac." Never before had so many options been offered for a car in the low-price field.The '55's top trim offering was the Bel-Air, which had more chrome than the 150 or 210. The Bel-Air, 210 and 150 model could be bought as a four-door, or could be bought as a two door with a post between the front and rear passenger windows, known as the two-door sedan.
The Bel-Air or 210 model could also be had as a two door with no post between the side windows. This was known as the sport coupe, or better known by collectors as "the two door hardtop". Since this model had no post between the two side windows, it had a shorter roof and longer rear deck than the two door sedan had. Chevy also offered a convertible, with the same shorter roof and longer rear deck as the sport coupe, and it was offered in Bel-Air trim only.
1955 also saw the introduction of the Bel Air Nomad, a sporty two-door station wagon which featured frameless door glass and elongated side windows. The unique roof design of the Nomad came directly from the 1954 Corvette Nomad, a "dream car" designed to be shown at auto shows as a concept sport wagon. Although regarded as one of the most beautiful station wagon designs of Fifties, the Nomad sold poorly, partly due to its price tag as well as its lack of four doors. Also the Nomad's two-piece tailgate design was prone to let excess rainwater leak through to the interior.
The '55 offered a wide array of colors. One solid color, which was standard for the 150, could be had for the 210 or Bel Air...or nineteen different two-tone color combinations were also available.
Along with a standard column-mounted three speed synchro-mesh transmission, the buyer of a '55 Chevy could specify an optional overdrive unit to go with it, or the fully automatic two-speed Powerglide transmission. Although most everything was new in 1955 for Chevrolet, the reliable Powerglide was mostly unchanged from '54.
Models
There were nine different variations of the three models made in 1955, with differences in body, roof type, number of doors, and available equipment, but not all possible combinations were sold.| Name and Description | 150 Series | 210 Series | Bel Air Series |
| 4 Door Sedan: 6-passenger, 7-window sedan with a rear trunk. | X | X | X |
| 2 Door Sedan: 6-passenger, 5-window sedan with a rear trunk. | X | X | X |
| Club Coupe: 6-passenger, 2-door, 5-window coupe with a rear trunk. | X | ||
| Utility Sedan: 3-passenger, 5-window sedan with a rear trunk. | X | ||
| Sport Coupe: 6-passenger, 2-door, 5-window pillarless hardtop coupe with rear trunk. | X | X | |
| Convertible: 5-passenger, 2-door, 5-window coupe with folding top and rear trunk. | X | ||
| Nomad Wagon: 6-passenger, 2-door, 7 window "hardtop" wagon. | X | ||
| 2 Door Station Wagon: 6-passenger, 5-window wagon with drop and lift gates. | X | X | |
| 4 Door Station Wagon: 6-passenger, 7 window wagon with drop and lift gates. | X | X | |
| Sedan Delivery: 2-passenger, 3 window, panel delivery wagon. | X |
Engines
The following engines were available on the 1955 Chevrolet:- OHV Inline 6 cylinder: 235 cubic inch, 123 horsepower
- OHV Inline 6 cylinder: 235 cubic inches, 136 brake horsepower
- OHV V8: 265 cubic inches, 162 brake horsepower
- OHV V8: 265 cubic inches, 180 brake horsepower, also known as the "Power Pack" engine
- OHV V8: 265 cubic inches, 195 brake horsepower, late in the model year, known as the "Super Power Pack"
The 265 was a big success, and was fitted to the majority of Chevrolet cars for decades in various cubic inch displacements. It is commonly referred to as the "Small Block Chevy" motor.
Transmissions
The car contained one of three transmission types, all with the shifter on the column:- 3-speed Synchromesh manual
- 3-speed Synchromesh manual with overdrive
- 2-speed automatic "powerglide."