The ’57 Bel Air by Chevrolet is certainly more sought after by collectors, but I’m a fan of all three classic designs. To a completely untrained eye they look quite similar. Most Chevy fans (and classic car enthusiasts in general) can quickly spot the difference between all three years of the Bel Air.
This is a beautiful 1955 Bel Air.
You’ll notice that the ’55 has the completely horizontal trim on the back quarter panel seperating the upper and lower quarter panel (unlike the upward slant of the ’57 Bel Air fin). And, the profile of the rear end is pretty square and drops almost straight down from the tail light to the bumper.
Here’s a good shot of the rear end of this ’55.
For the 1956 Bel Air model, a couple things were changed that can easily distinguish it from the others. Here’s a 1956 Bel Air:
On this ’56 Bel Air, you’ll notice that the fender trim piece isn’t horizontal. It’s curved down towards the lower bumper. Here’s another look at the ’56:
You can also notice that on the ’56, the trim piece that runs down along the side of the body is much thicker than the previous style, and it is wide enough to allow for a little strip of paint inbetween the chrome. Among some other differences between the two cars is the grill and hood emblem, front turn markers, and front bumper.
In 1957, the design of the Bel Air got tweaked a little more. Here’s a 57 Bel Air:
As you can see, the ’57 has a different side trim than does the ’56 and ’55. The trim on the ’57 is a single chorme piece that runs the side of the car, and fans out to the rear end without covering the top of the rear fenders.
And, unlike the 55′ and 56′ models, the tail fins on the ’57 model have a sharper angle coming back to the tail lights and bumper, creating a much more distinct fin.
And as you can see, the grill is different from the two previous designs as well.
So – even with these somewhat subtle differences, the 1957 Bel Air has been a much more desired car for classic car enthusiasts and collectors. It would be hard to argue that the ’57 looks dramatically better, so why do people seem to like it more? Did they produce fewer of them making them more rare?
Is the 1957 Bel Air better than the other Tri-fives? Let us know in the comments.
76 Comments
Ed Raymond
I’m a bit prejudice….i like the 55….but do think the 58 impala was an awesom set of wheels.
Richard Boettger
In the first place neither of those 57’s are true BelAir’s. In fact my guess is they started life as a lowly 210 which I personally prefer over the trimmier Bel Air. Or perhaps these two cars were culled from the even lowlier 150 series. They have some BelAir style trim on them, but the most important piece, the one that usually gives it all away is missing on both. The trim at the roofline.Now with that said, I used to own a 57. It was my first car, one I had wanted for years before, so I AM a 57 lover. But I like all three year for different reasons. From an appearance only standpoint, they are in order, the 57, the 56 and finally the 55’s.As far as I’m concerned the 58 was a bogus replacement for any of these cars. I hated it then and am still not fond of the bodystyle.
John Calia
The differences in appearance are fairly obvious to any car nut (and who would read this other than a car nut?). I was hoping you would summarize he mechanical differences. That would be interesting!
Salvatore Gigante
ok
Richard Boettger
I agree!! The ’55 was a far step ahead at the time and as someone suggested the first factory hot rod and a far cry from the styling before it. But the 57 was the first to have to FI 283. The mechanical and body spec differences would have been more useful… especially since you (the author) don’t seem to know the difference between a 210 and a Bel Air.A little more research might have been in order here.