West Coast Classics are proud to present a superb and stunning example of this 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 4 Door Sports Sedan (Hardtop) 265 Power Pack V8 in its original 'Matador Red and Dune Beige' (color code 7150) on a very straight body and with its original and matching 'Red and Taupe/Beige pattern cloth and imitation leather' (trim code 583) interior with a 265 V8 engine and with power steering, power brakes, and factory air conditioning and which was recently acquired from its long term southern California owner.
CHASSIS:
Frame Type: Double Drop Box Girder
Front Suspension: Independent with Coil Springs
Brakes Front/Rear: Pivot Pedal Power Brakes - Bendix Treadle Vac
Rear Suspension: Longitudinal, Semi elliptic leaf springs, Compression shackles
Steering Box/Column: 23.3 to 1 Power Steering
Wheels, Front/Rear: 5" Steel disc, ball bearings
Tires, Front/Rear: 6.70x15" Firestone White Walls 4-Ply Tubeless
Other Features: 40 amp low cut in Generator, Oil filter, Hood light, Delco Tar Top Long Life Battery
DRIVETRAIN:
Engine: 265 cu in Super Turbo Fire V8 Factory 205 HP Power Pack
Induction: Rochester 4 Barrel Downdraft
Ignition: 12 volt all weather
Exhaust: Special factory dual exhaust with tips
Radiator: Factory free flow ribbed cellular
Transmission: Cast iron Powerglide automatic
Shifter: Column selector lever
Rear axle: 3.55 to 1 Hypoid
BODY:
Material: Fused Uni-Steel Body by Fisher
Modifications: Factory stock
Grille: Forward Jutting Carwide Lattice
Lights Front/Rear: Aimed 50/40 Watt T3 Sealed beam / Tail, Brake & Backup
Mirrors: Dual Outside, Non Glare inside, Vanity makeup
Paint Type/Color: Acrylic Enamel Dune Beige - Matador Red
Painter: Show Car Restorations - John Mangiapane
Chrome & Polish: Astro Plating / G.E. Antique Creations
Parts Source: American Auto & Truck Dismantlers
INTERIOR:
Upholstery/Color: Birchbark Pattern & Vinyl - Red & Beige
Upholsterer: Cars - Show Car
Seats: S Wire Springs, Seat Belts
Instruments: Electrically operated engine temp & gas gauges
Sound: 7 Tube Pushbutton with Rear Seat Speaker
Air Conditioning: Factory All Weather by Frigidaire
Steering Wheel: 18" Dia Three Spoke Full Circle Horn Ring
Wiring: Junction Block for all Accessory Fuses
Other features: Electric clock, Courtesy lights, Cigarette Lighter, Fender guards, E-Z Eye Tinted Safety Glass, License frame, Windshield Washers, Dual Electric Wipers, Traffic Light viewer, Accessory Guards, Tissue Holder.
This 1956 Bel Air 4-Door Sport Sedan Hardtop assembled by Fisher Body features its original Red and Beige/Taupe interior theme and a two-tone paint configuration.
Style 56-1039D:
56 = Model year 1956
1039D :
Bel Air Series, 4-Door Sport Sedan (Hardtop) (6-passenger capacity)
Trim 583:
Interior trim code corresponding to a Red and Taupe/Beige pattern cloth and imitation leather layout (frequently tied to specific Red/Beige exterior combinations like Matador Red and Dune Beige).
Paint 7150:
715 = Two-tone exterior paint code for Matador Red and Dune Beige
0 (or suffix letter variant like D) indicates the specific upper/lower two-tone body paint break layout.
Body 9477:
Fisher Body unit production number for this specific hardtop configuration at the assembly plant (not a sequential vehicle VIN, but a plant-specific body serial count)
VIN Breakdown: VC56L052700
V: V8 Engine. This indicates the car left the factory equipped with a 265 cubic-inch V8 engine.
This 1956 Chevrolet cowl/trim tag decodes to a 1956 Bel Air 4-Door Hardtop assembled by Fisher Body, featuring a red and beige/taupe interior theme and a two-tone paint configuration.
One of the USA's most recognized classic cars ever, the top-of-the-line Bel Air series, introduced for the 1953 model year, replaced the Styleline DeLuxe series. It was to become the most desirable Chevrolet model of the 1950's, offering a balance of style and luxury appointments unavailable in the base 150 & 210 series and offered in a wide range of body styles, including a convertible, Sport Coupe hardtop, two- and four-door sedans and four-door station wagons.
As the American public began to prefer posh to economy, the Bel Air began to outsell the lesser series, including both 150 and 210 models. As a partial answer to this, Chevrolet re-introduced the Two-Ten Sport Coupe hardtop in the middle of the 1955 model year, and also added a four-door Two-Ten hardtop Sport Sedan for 1956. Neither achieved the sales of their Bel Air counterparts, however, even though they were only about $100 cheaper than the Bel Airs, which provided some more luxury and premium exterior trim.
Today, the Bel Air series of Chevrolets from 1953 to 1957 are considered the most desirable models for collectors and well maintained and preserved models such as this particular example have the ultimate appeal. Indeed there's no better example of GM's styling and engineering prowess in the fifties than these Chevrolet's.
The Chevrolet Bel Air was introduced as a sporting 2 door Hardtop Coupe powered by a 6 cylinder engine and using a smooth Powerglide transmission. The Bel Air range was expanded in 1953 to sedans and a very desirable convertible and by 1954, a station wagon, the Nomad was added to the range of models. By 1955 a comprehensive restyling arrived at its definitive classic shape and the Bel Air was the flagship model of the entire Chevrolet division.
This particular 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 4 Door Sports Sedan Hardtop example must be one of the finest examples anywhere with one repaint in its original factory colors and with no rust or signs of any accidents and an original 265 V8 engine - a wonderful example of America's favorite 1950's classic car and a wonderful driver for any American classic car enthusiast!
