Tri-Five
| One-fifty | 143,013 |
|---|---|
| Two-ten | 831,971 |
| Bel Air | 800,968 |
| Nomad | 0? |
| Total | 0? |
| Engine |
235 cu in inline-six (3.9 L) 265 cu in V8 (4.3 L) |
In automobile parlance, Tri-Five refers to the 1955, 1956 and 1957 Chevrolet automobiles, in particular, the Bel Air, 150, 210 and Nomad. Revolutionary in their day, they spawned a cult following that exists in clubs, website and even entire businesses that exclusively cater to the enthusiasts of the Tri Five automobiles. All featured a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. They remain some of the most popular years for collectors and hot rodders.
One of the most influential elements of the Tri-Five was the recent development of their newest 265 cid (4,340 cc) V8 engine, which was first offered in 1955. It was an overhead valve high compression, short stroke design that remained in production in various forms for decades. The base V8 had a two-barrel carburetor and was rated at 162 horsepower (121 kW), and the "Power Pack" option featured a four-barrel carburetor and other upgrades yielding 180 brake horsepower (130 kW). Later, a "Super Power Pack" option added high compression and a further 15 brake horsepower (11 kW).
1955-1957 were watershed years for Chevrolet, who spent a million dollars in 1956 alone for retooling, in order to make their less expensive Bel Air models look more like a Cadillac, culminating in 1957 with their most extravagant tailfins and Cadillac inspired bumper guards.
The 1955, Americans purchased 7.1 million new automobiles, including 1.7 million Chevrolets, giving the company fully 44% of the low-price market and surpassing Ford in total unit sales by 250,000. The Bel Air was an instant hit with consumers, with Base One-Fifty models starting under $1600 and featuring a six cylinder engine. The introduction of the new optional 170 horsepower Chevrolet 265cid V8, coupled with the Powerglide automatic transmission quickly earned the model the nickname "The Hot One". In the first year of production, the oil filter was considered an option, although not having it led to significantly shorter engine life.
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