Chevrolet Bel-Air

Chevrolet Bel Air
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
Overview
Manufacturer	Chevrolet (General Motors)
Production	1949–1980
Model years	1950–1981
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Chevrolet Deluxe
Successor	Chevrolet Impala in 1975

First generation
1951 Chevrolet Bel Air
Overview
Production	1949–1954
Assembly	South Gate, California, (South Gate Assembly) Tarrytown, New York, (North Tarrytown Assembly) Lakewood Heights, Georgia, (Lakewood Assembly) Flint, Michigan, (Flint Assembly) St. Louis, Missouri, (St. Louis Assembly) Oakland, California, (Oakland Assembly) Norwood, Ohio, (Norwood Assembly)
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop 2-door coupe (1953–54) 4-door sedan (1953–54) 2-door convertible (1953–54) 4-door station wagon (1954)
Platform	GM A Body
Powertrain
Engine	215.5 cu in (3.5 L) "Thriftmaster" 1-bbl. valve-in-head 92 hp I6 235.5 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6
Transmission	3-speed manual 2-speed powerglide auto.
Dimensions
Wheelbase	115"
Length	197.5"(1950–1952); 15"(1954)
Curb weight	3,345

Second generation
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible
Overview
Production	1954–1957
Model years	1955–1957
Assembly	Caracas, Venezuela Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Flint, Michigan, (Flint Assembly) Arlington, Texas, (Arlington Assembly) South Gate, California, (South Gate Assembly) Baltimore, Maryland, (Baltimore Assembly)
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	2-door hardtop 4-door hardtop (1956–57) 4-door sedan 2-door convertible 2-door Station wagon 4-door station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Platform	GM A Body
Related	Chevrolet 210 Chevrolet 150 Chevrolet Nomad
Powertrain
Engine	215.5 cu in (3.5 L) I6 235.5 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6 265 cu in (4.3 L) V8 283 cu in (4.6 L) V8 (1957)
Transmission	3-speed manual 2-speed Powerglide auto. 3-speed Turboglide auto.
Dimensions
Wheelbase	115"
Length	195.6"

Third generation
1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Coupe
Overview
Production	1957–1958
Model years	1958
Assembly	Arlington, Texas, United States Flint, Michigan, (Flint Assembly) South Gate, California, (South Gate Assembly) Baltimore, Maryland, (Baltimore Assembly) Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door hardtop 4-door sedan 4-door hardtop 2-door convertible
Platform	GM B platform
Related	1958 Chevrolet Delray 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne 1958 Chevrolet Impala 1958 Chevrolet Yeoman 1958 Chevrolet Brookwood 1958 Chevrolet Nomad
Powertrain
Engine	235.5 cu in (3.9 L) 145 hp Blue Flame I6 283 cu in (4.6 L) V8 348 cu in (5.7 L) 250–315 hp V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 2-speed Powerglide auto.
Dimensions
Wheelbase	117.5"
Length	209.1"
Height	57.1"

Fourth generation
1959 Chevrolet Bel Air 4-Door Sedan
Overview
Production	1958–1960
Model years	1959–1960
Assembly	Arlington, Texas, United States Flint, Michigan, (Flint Assembly) South Gate, California, (South Gate Assembly) Baltimore, Maryland, (Baltimore Assembly) Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door hardtop (1960) 4-door sedan 4-door hardtop
Platform	GM B platform
Related	1959–1960 Chevrolet Biscayne 1959–1960 Chevrolet Impala 1959–1960 Chevrolet Brookwood 1959–1960 Chevrolet Parkwood 1959–1960 Chevrolet Kingswood 1959–1960 Chevrolet Nomad 1959–1960 Chevrolet El Camino
Powertrain
Engine	235.5 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6 283 cu in (4.6 L) V8 348 cu in (5.7 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 2-speed Powerglide auto.
Dimensions
Wheelbase	119"
Length	210.9"

Fifth generation
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan
Overview
Production	1960–1964
Model years	1961–1964
Assembly	Arlington, Texas, United States Flint, Michigan, (Flint Assembly) South Gate, California, (South Gate Assembly) Baltimore, Maryland, (Baltimore Assembly) Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door Hardtop (1961–62) 4-door sedan 4-door wagon (1962–64) 4-door Hardtop (61)
Platform	GM B platform
Related	Chevrolet Biscayne Chevrolet Impala
Powertrain
Engine	235.5 cu in (3.9 L) I6 230 cu in (3.8 L) I6 (1963–64) 283 cu in (4.6 L) V8 348 cu in (5.7 L) V8 (61) 327 cu in (5.4 L) V8 (1962–64) 409 cu in (6.7 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 2-speed Powerglide auto.

Sixth generation
1965 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-door Sedan
Overview
Production	1964–1970
Model years	1965–1970
Assembly	Arlington, Texas Flint, Michigan, (Flint Assembly) Doraville, Georgia, (Doraville Assembly) South Gate, California, (South Gate Assembly) United States Baltimore, Maryland, (Baltimore Assembly) United States Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe (1965–69) 4-door sedan 4-door wagon (1965–69)
Platform	GM B platform
Related	Chevrolet Biscayne Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Caprice
Powertrain
Engine	230 cu in (3.8 L) I6 (1965–66) 250 cu in (4.1 L) I6 (1965–70) 283 cu in (4.6 L) V8 (1965–67) 327 cu in (5.4 L) V8 (1965–67) 307 cu in (5.0 L) V8 (1968) 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 (1969–70) 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 (1969–70) 409 cu in (6.7 L) V8 (1965) 396 cu in (6.5 L) V8 (1965–70) 427 cu in (7.0 L) V8 (1966–70)
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 2-speed Powerglide auto. 3-speed Turbo Hydramatic auto.

Seventh generation
1971 Chevrolet Bel Air Police Sedan
Overview
Production	1970–1975
Model years	1971–1975
Assembly	Arlington, Texas Flint, Michigan, (Flint Assembly) South Gate, California, (South Gate Assembly) United States Baltimore, Maryland, (Baltimore Assembly) United States Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door coupe 4-door wagon
Platform	B-body
Related	Chevrolet Biscayne Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Caprice
Powertrain
Engine	350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 454 cu in (7.4 L) V8 250 cu in (4.1 L) I6
Transmission	3-speed manual (standard, 1971–73 on six-cylinder cars) 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic auto. (optional 1971–73 on six-cylinder cars; standard on V-8 powered cars from mid-1971 on)

2002 Bel Air Concept
2002 Chevrolet Bel Air Concept
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door convertible
Powertrain
Engine	3.5 L (214 cu in) L52 I5
Transmission	4-speed 4L60-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	111 in (2,819 mm)
Length	191 in (4,851 mm)

The Chevrolet Bel Air was a full-size car produced by Chevrolet for the 1950–1981 model years. Initially only the two door hardtops in the Chevrolet model range were designated with the Bel Air name from 1950 to 1952, as distinct from the Styleline and Fleetline models for the remainder of the range. With the 1953 model year the Bel Air name was changed from a designation for a unique body shape to a premium level of trim applied across a number of body styles. The Bel Air continued with various other trim level designations until US production ceased in 1975. Production continued in Canada, for its home market only, through the 1981 model year.

For 1950, Chevrolet came up with a revolutionary style that would set a pattern for decades. The Bel Air Hardtop was styled as a convertible with a non-detachable solid roof. Models like this had been around since the 1920s, including early Chevrolets, with no degree of success. But the newly revised idea, sweeping the GM line from Chevrolet to Cadillac, had finally found its era. First year production reached only 76,662 as buyers cautiously tested the revised concept. The car cost $1,741 and weighed 3,225 lb (1,463 kg). Front suspension was independent, named "knee-action".

The first Bel Airs of this era shared only their front sheet metal ahead of the A pillar with the rest of the range. The windshield, doors, glass, and trunk were common with the Styline DeLuxe Convertible Coupe, however the roof, rear quarters and rear windows (3) were unique. The chassis and mechanicals were common with the rest of the passenger car range, and the overall appearance was the same as the rest of the range, except that the roof line was lower and the unique three piece rear window gave it a longer and more balanced look. The first Bel Airs were only available with the "DeLuxe" premium trim level and specification.

Apart from the usual annual grille and trim changes, the 1951–1952 Bel Air differed from the earlier 1950 model with introduction of the higher and squarer rear guards that were across the whole range.

In 1953 Chevrolet renamed its series, and the Bel Air name was applied to the premium model range. Two lower series, the 150 and 210, also emerged (as successors to the Special and Deluxe series, respectively). The 1953 Chevrolet was advertised as "Entirely new through and through," due to the restyled body panels, front and rear ends. However, essentially these Chevrolets had similar frame and mechanicals to the 1949–1952 cars.