| "body"> | | | | changed Chevy since WWII. |
| A nation of drivers were home bound starting in 1942 | | | | The 1955 Chevrolet had 3 different models, Bel Air, |
| with the beginning of the United States involvement in | | | | Two-Ten and One-Fifty, and 16 new body styles! The |
| WWII. Automobile production was halted that year as | | | | Bel Air Convertible, Sport Coupe 2 door hard top, 4 |
| manufacturers geared up to make airplane, trucks and | | | | door sedan, 2 door sedan, Beauville 4 door station and |
| tanks and what ever else was needed for the war | | | | the Nomad 2 door station wagon. The mid level |
| effort. It wasn't until the 1950s that the big three auto | | | | Two-Ten Sport Coupe 2 door hard top, Delray Club |
| makers, GM, Ford and Chrysler began to reinvent the | | | | Coupe 2 door, 4 door sedan, 2 door sedan, |
| automobile. The 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953 and 1954 | | | | Townsman 4 door station wagon and the Handyman |
| Chevrolets received only modest facelifts and were | | | | 2 door station wagon. The lower cost models were |
| called dull but dependable. However, in 1955, 1956 and | | | | the One-Fifty 4 door sedan, 2 door sedan, 2 door utility |
| 1957 appearance and engineering was changed | | | | sedan and the Handyman 2 door station wagon. Even |
| radically by Chevrolet. Who was responsible for the | | | | more appealing body colors were available in 1955, |
| new Chevy's? Chuck Jordon, Harley Earl and | | | | with 14 solid color options and 21 new two-tone |
| especially Edward Nicholas Cole, Chevrolet's Chief | | | | combinations. |
| Engineer. | | | | The new 1955 Chevrolet offered a V-8 engine for the |
| In May of 1952 General Motors, Chevrolet stylist and | | | | first time in 35 years. It was named the 265 cubic inch |
| Ed Cole began a three year run on what the old car | | | | "Turbo-Fire" V-8 which delivered 162 horsepower with |
| collectors 50 years later would call the best of the | | | | a 2 barrel carburetor and 180 horsepower with a 4 |
| 1950s Classic Cars. The first Chevrolet produced | | | | barrel carburetor. Also available was Chevrolet's old |
| during this new era of low price dream cars, was the | | | | reliable 235 cubic inch six cylinder that developed 123 |
| 1955 Chevrolet. It was introduced as the "Hot One". A | | | | horsepower. Transmissions included a 3-speed |
| national love affair was about to began. | | | | standard, 3-speed with overdrive and the Powerglide. |
| Chevrolet shed its dull old image in 1955, replacing it | | | | The new Chevrolet's were smoother, lower and longer |
| with all new "Motoramic" styling. "Don't argue with this | | | | looking. A grand total of 1,704,667 1955 Chevy's were |
| baby" warned one Chevrolet ad in 1955. Chevy did | | | | produced, setting a production record in 1955. In |
| have a lot to boast about that year and it knew it. | | | | response to this large demand only one question |
| Completely redesigned, with lots of styling, accessories, | | | | remained. What would Chevy do for an encore? The |
| and a powerful new V-8 it was generally the most | | | | answer was the 1956 Chevrolet (Part 2). |