Best of Show Automotive
7700 Tyler BoulevardMentor Museum of Speed, Mentor, OH, 44060, US
Phone : 440-350-1480
Email : joseph.carroll@bestofshowautomotive.com 997/1000 Point 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom 350/700R4!

Were you sleeping earlier this month when our 990 point 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air found a new home? We thought that beautiful car would be pretty hard to top, but we like a challenge. We think we've met it with our latest: a 997 point 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air!

The great thing about '55-'57 Chevys is that you can customize them any way you want. On the other hand, the terrible thing about '55-'57 Chevys is that you can customize them any way you want. Truly spectacular shoebox Chevys are much less common than their vast production numbers would suggest, but when they're as well done and beautifully presented like this '55 Bel Air, they're some of the nicest cars to own and drive.

Because Chevrolet was General Motors biggest seller, styling for the all new 1955 was carefully considered. Serious design work on the body style got under way in June of 1952, at the GM Styling Building. Although the '55s were bit less radical than initially envisioned, they were far sleeker and fresher than the unexciting 1953 and 1954 models. Longer, lower, and wider were General Motors' new buzz words, so overall height was slashed by 6 inches on station wagons and up to 3 inches on other models. However, the 1955 Chevrolet was only one inch shorter and narrower. It just looked longer and wider because of the way the rear fenders were made and the fact that the hood was almost level with the front fenders. Hooded headlamps blended into the new flat top front fenders, and functional tail lamps extended out slightly from the rear fenders. From the Ferrari-like egg crate rectangular grille and eagle hood ornament to the stylish wrap around windshield, the 1955 Chevrolet was undeniably a Harley Earl design.

Understated is how I would describe the custom work on this beautiful '55. Sure, the Matador Red paint is a little flashy, but it's a very traditional '50s color, and combined with Shore Line Beige uppers, looks classically elegant on the vintage sheet-metal. The builder kept all the original trim, all of it polished or re-chromed to show-winning condition, perfectly complimenting the flawless bodywork. This is one of those rare customs that simply puts a high polish on the great factory shape and detailing.

Mechanically, this is an all-new car and shows just 1812 miles since it was completed. The engine is a fresh 300 horsepower crate 350, topped by an Edelbrock carburetor, all dressed in authentic Chevy small-block orange paint. The cast iron exhaust manifolds are trick reproductions of period speed gear, which, along with chrome Edelbrock valve covers, make the engine compartment something special. There's a new dual master cylinder for the brakes feeding stainless steel brake lines. Steering is handled by a new 570 steering box, and a 12-volt alternator keeps everything charged. A rebuilt GM 700R4 automatic overdrive transmission with a custom billet aluminum column shifter routes the power to the rear wheels.

Underneath, the 1955 Chevys were all-new. A-arms acting on coil springs wound around hydraulic shock absorbers offered a smooth ride. Leaf springs were 9 inches longer, 2 inches wide and mounted outboard of the main frame. With the wider chassis 6.70 X 15 inch four-ply tubeless tires were used. A modern ball joint front suspension called "Glide Ride" was described as a "spherical joint design".

The car has been upgraded using tubular front control arms with two inch drop spindles up front. There's also a fat front sway bar that allows this car to manage corners vastly better than the engineers could have imagined in 1955. Power disc brakes have been added up front to balance the 300 horsepower engine and make this car as safe to drive as any modern vehicle. It all rolls on a set of Firestone Firehawk radials with brand new chrome Rallye wheels.

Out back, the frame has been modified to relocate the rear leaf springs so that wider 255/60/15 tires on 8-inch wide wheels could be fitted. 2 inch drop blocks have been installed to compliment the dropped spindles up front, giving the car an aggressive hot-rod rake. Power is put to the pavement by an indestructible Ford 9-inch rear end from an early Bronco and capped by drum brakes.

Interior variations were just as extensive as the options and color combinations in 1955, and they were plusher and more expensive, especially in the Bel-Air, than the year before. Instruments were symmetrically arranged directly ahead of the steering wheel in a simple fan shaped cluster that was matched on the right side by the radio speaker housing. An optional radio was mounted between the two fan shaped clusters. Heater and outside air controls were mounted on the dash within easy reach of the driver.

The interior in this '55 is the equal of the incredible paint & body. Instead of going with modern buckets that never look correct, or covering everything in modern leather or tweed, the builder instead chose to go for a largely stock look. Featuring red and white Del Ray upholstery, it combines the best of 1955 with today's technology and comfort. Everything has been restored or upgraded along the way, including a Dakota Digital dashboard that even features a digital clock in front of the passenger. And there's an absolutely beautiful 15-inch steering wheel that mimics the original in design. This car also includes an original 1955 Chevrolet Owner's Manual.

Like all the best customs, it would take hours to see all the custom touches and details that make this car special. But even at first glance, you can tell that it is no ordinary '55. In fact, it won 1st place at the 31st Annual International Auto Show celebrating the 50th anniversary of the '55 Chevys. And, at the Classic Chevy International meet in 2007, it won the Modified Class, scoring a mind-blowing 997 points out of 1000. With thousands of cars in attendance and a focus on '55s, this was the nicest one. The proud new owner of this '55 will be able to pull into ANY show, local or national, confident in the knowledge that he (or she) will have the finest '55 on the grounds.What else can we say that can top that? Call us to put the nicest '55 around in your garage, and start enjoying the drive today.

FACTS & FIGURES Year:1955 Mileage:1813 VIN: Transmission Type:Automatic Type of Vehicle Title:Clear Number of Cylinders:8 Primary Color:Red Interior Color:Red About this auction & Best of Show Automotive

Convinced that collector car values are plummeting? Don't be fooled! While the value of mediocre cars has been steadily sliding with the economy over the past two years, the value of incredible cars has stayed level and, is rising. In times of economic uncertainty, capital flows to the highest quality assets which contain the least amount of risk and the classic car market is no exception. The lesson is simple: buy the very best you can find!

Please note that all sales are binding and final. Our cars are sold "as-is" with no warranty expressed or implied. Please carefully read the terms & conditions of the sale before bidding. Winning this auction does not entitle you to come inspect the car and decide if you want to buy it, but obligates you to complete the purchase! A $1000.00 deposit via PayPal is due within 24 hours of the auction close ... NO EXCEPTIONS.

We do not release our reserve prices, as this would be unfair to the other bidders, so please don't ask!

Note that our cars are on display in our showroom in Mentor, Ohio, in national print advertisements, listed for sale on our website, and listed for sale in multiple, nationally known, online dealer showrooms at all times. Since our cars are for sale in a number of other mediums, we reserve the right to cancel the auction at any time.

Best of Show Automotive sells approximately 40 cars each and every month to collectors worldwide. Each and every one of these cars is listed on Ebay, but only one sale, on average per month, actually occurs on Ebay. Accordingly, if you see a car you like, don't wait! Call us! When you see it disappear, it means that it sold to someone who saw it somewhere else. Lastly, note that we do not change our pricing on any car based on Ebay auction activity. Ebay is a wholesale marketing platform, which we use primarily for marketing purposes.

If you have ZERO feedback on Ebay, please call or email us to request our authority to bid on our vehicles. And, for you con-men and women out there, while you may think it's cute to create a user account and click the Buy It Now on a high dollar car you can't afford, note that we will track you down and we will recoup our costs for fraudulent bidding activity.

This car can be inspected at our 60,000 square foot office complex and showroom facility, operated as the Mentor Museum of Speed, located at 7700 Tyler Boulevard, in Mentor, Ohio, six days per week. Museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily, Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm Saturdays. You may stop in at any time during museum hours to view our collection. If you would like to make a sales appointment (and avoid paying the ten buck admission fee), we would be happy to schedule a personal appointment with you. To do so, contact Joseph Carroll below. For those of you who need to fly in, we can provide transportation to and from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. We can also provide accommodations within walking distance of our facility.

We can transport your new vehicle to you in one of our enclosed car haulers. Cost depends on mileage and location. Our Transportation Manager, Ron Meek, stands ready to help you with your transport needs. For a quote, call Ron at: (440)350-1480. Ron's direct email address is: class="wmatterbold">For those international buyers, note that we've shipped cars to collectors and classic car fans world-wide for years. You can feel confident in our representations, and post-sale service. Our Transportation Manager, Ron Meek, stands ready to help your transport & shipping needs.

A common question we receive is: "do you accept trades"? We do accept trades, but will only consider #1 or #2 condition vehicles. If you would like us to review a trade, please send detailed pictures of the entire car, including the underside. Also send a detailed description which includes all specifications, facts, figures, history and documentation present with the car. Lastly, give us a clear idea of what you are seeking in trade value. Email information on your trade directly to Joseph Carroll. Joe's email address is: class="wmatterbold">Best of Show Automotive, LLC has a valid Ohio Used Car Dealer's License. Our showroom, located at 7700 Tyler Boulevard, in Mentor, Ohio, is open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, with viewing by appointment only Monday through Friday. We 100-140 incredible cars on display, and there's always something new. Feel free to stop in and meet our staff, and, more importantly, see the Greatest Showroom on Earth! Each and every one of our 25 member staff is an absolute car nut and we do this because we love cars!

In addition to our main showroom in Mentor, Ohio, we own two secondary facilities, including a restoration mechanical/assembly facility and a restoration body/paint shop. We perform complete restorations for classic car fans around the globe. Best of Show car have won numerous national weekends and our cars won their classes at both the 2009 Mopar Nationals and 2009 Pontiac Nationals. We own all of our facilities and have a significant investment in our business. We stand behind our work and value long-term relationships with our customers! For information on your restoration project, our Restoration Manager, Tim Wilhelm, can be reached at: (440)354-3279. Tim's direct email address is: class="wmatterbold">Do you want your car customized? New wheels? Air conditioning? We have a full service shop staffed with veterans who have been there and done that …we can give you what you want! For a quote on customizing or add-on products, contact our Inventory Manager, Doug Croxford, at: (440)350-1480. Doug's direct email address is: class="wmatterbold">Check out our feedback from other customers who have purchased cars from us in the past. Here's what some of customers have to say: We pride ourselves on describing our cars accurately, and, our cars really do look better in person than in the pictures! Bid with confidence!

For general information, call us at: (440)350-1480. You can send an email directly to our President, Joseph Carroll, at: Joseph M. Carroll
President/Sales/Purchasing

5782 Heisley Road
Mentor, OH, 44060

Best of Show Automotive, LLC
Phone : (440)350-1480 Fax : (440)350-1638 Mobile : (440)313-8091 /> www.bestofshowautomotive.com Greg Chismar
Transportation Manager

7700 Tyler Boulevard
Mentor, OH, 44060

Best of Show Automotive, LLC
Phone : 440-350-1480 Fax : 440-350-1336 Mobile : 440-840-4081 /> www.bestofshowautomotive.com Tim Wilhelm
Restoration Manager

5782 Heisley Rd.
Mentor, OH, 44060

Best of Show Automotive, LLC
Phone : 440-354-3279 tim.wilhelm@bestofshowautomotive.com
www.bestofshowautomotive.com G. K. Kerr
Vice President of Sales

7700 Tyler Boulevard
Mentor, OH, 44060

Best of Show Automotive, LLC
Phone : 440-350-1480 Fax : 440-350-1336 Mobile : 440-413-5149 george.kerr@bestofshowautomotive.com
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