1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
Engine: V-8
Displacement: 265 Cubic Inches
Horsepower: 188 BHP
Cost New: $2,206
         1955. Disneyland opens, the US begins using atomic power for electricity, Velcro and Legos are invented, and Chevrolet redesigns its lineup. The 1955 Chevrolet is one of the best received and popular vehicles of the decade. It is the first of the Tri-5s, the powerhouse 1955-57 Chevrolets that dominated sales.
         The development of the new 265 V-8 was one of the greatest engines to come out of Detroit. Ed. Cole, the engine's designer, and his team were given the task to create a new motor for Chevrolet. The first V-8 for Chevrolet, the motor drove Chevrolet effortlessly to the front of the sales charts.
         Shedding its old image, Chevrolet released the 1955 with its new "Motoramic" styling. Called "The Hot One," the 1955s had a front end grill inspired by Ferrari, Harley Earl's hallmark belt line "dip," a wrapped windshield along with completely redesigned suspensions and transmissions. This led to a beautiful vehicle that rode as well as it looked.