Vintage 1950s Cars

1955 Chevrolet

The 1955 Chevrolet (sometimes referred to as '55 Chevy) 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 1955 model was the first successful Chevrolet with an optional V8 engine. Chevrolet had produced an earlier car with a V8 in 1918 (Chevrolet Series D) 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. The new V8 was designed to be smaller, lighter, and more powerful than previous V8s in the auto industry.

          The new "small block" in the '55 Chevy had its problems, however. It had no oil filter, and the factory could only add one externally.  Those who did not order the engine with the "oil filter option" had dirty oil in a short amount of time. This was corrected the next year. The new small block V8 had an easy maintenance, and it had a built-in ability to be upgraded. The small block Chevy V8 became so popular that Chevrolet still sells a version of it today. Although there have been various changes made to the motor to modernize it, the basic design of the original 265 remains.

          Chevrolet offered a wide array of colors for 1955. 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. Most popular colors:  solid was Harvest gold, two tone was Sea Mint Green/Neptune Green. Although most everything was new in 1955 for Chevrolet, the reliable Powerglide transmission was mostly unchanged from '54.