In 1950 Chevrolet launched a new hardtop version of the Chevrolet Deluxe Styleline cars, although the hardtop concept was slow to sell. By 1953 the 'Bel Air' name was strong enough to apply to the premium models, marketed as a '2400' (or '240') above the 150 and 210 ranges, and available in 4 body styles. 1953 cars had single pane wraparound windscreens in place of split-screens. This body was only a re-skin of the earlier Chevrolet 1949-52 body, but the new metalwork, windows and c-pillar, all by Carl Renner , made it look brand new. A new toothed grille, between edge-mounted turn lamps distinguished the 1954 models.
aa Chevrolet Bel Air 1954 4-door sedan badge
Chevrolet Bel Air 4-door sedan 1954 - badge on rear doors
aa Chevrolet BelAir 1954 2-door sedan badgew
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 2-door sedan - badge on rear wing
ac Chevrolet BelAir 1953 4-door sedan head
Chevrolet BelAir 1953 4-door sedan. Standard engine for the BelAir was the 3,859cc (236) 'Blue Flame' Six. The 1953 grille had 3 teeth, for 1954 it was 7 teeth, and often the later grille was swapped on earlier cars
Chevrolet BelAir 1953 4-door sedan front
Chevrolet BelAir 1953 4-door sedan, built on a 115-inch wheelbase, this was the new GM A-body. The lower One-Fifty and Two-Ten models offered shorter cabin Club Coupe and Business Coupe versions, as well as 2-door sedans and 4-door sedans.
Chevrolet BelAir 1953 4-door sedan rearb
Chevrolet BelAir 1953 4-door sedan. The 4-door sedan was one of four body styles available on the BelAir for 1953, including 2-door and 4-door sedan, Sport Coupe and Townsman Station Wagon.
Chevrolet BelAir 1953 4-door sedan side
Chevrolet BelAir 1953 4-door sedan. Built on a 115-inch wheelbase, the GM A-body was shared with the lowly Chevrolet One-Fifty and Two-Ten, but also with the Pontiac Chieftain on 122-inches.
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 2-door sedan front
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 2-door sedan. The BelAir was the top trim level for Chevrolet, sold above the 210 Series and the lowly 150. A 235 'Blue Flame' 3,859cc inline six cylinder 136bhp engine was offered, but the Corvette got an even more powerful version.
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 2-door sedan rear
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 2-door sedan. A 2-door coupe was also marketed, and that had a cantilevered c-pillar and no b-pillar
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 2-door sedan side
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 2-door sedan. Chevrolet had introduced a new bodyshell in 1949, and although the panels were refreshed for 1953 the car was essentially the same 115-inch model underneath. As well as this 2-door sedan there was also a 2-door coupe (with cantivered crear c-pillar), 4-door sedan, convertible and Station Wagon.
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 4-door sedan front
Chevrolet Bel Air 1954 4-door sedan. Carl Renner , under the direction of Harley Earl had given the Chevy cars a reskin in 1953, and the 1954 cars were given new toothed grilles between edge-mounted turn lamps.
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 4-door sedan rear
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 4-door sedan. The style is similar to the British Vauxhall E-series Cresta, reputedly also designed under Harley Earl
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 4-door sedan side
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 4-door sedan. Bel Airs came in this 6-person 4-door saloon, 2-door saloon, 2-door sport coupe and convertible. The Carl Renner reskin made a big difference to the Chevrolet 1949-52 body.
w Chevrolet BelAir 1954 4-door sedan wheel
w_Chevrolet BelAir 1954 4-door sedan. Rear wheel
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 Sport Coupe frontm
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 Sport Coupe. Powered by the 3,859cc (235) 'Blue Flame' 136bhp 6-cylinder engine with hydraulic lifters. (The car on the left is a BMW 502 V8 1961, powered by 2,580cc V8. The body design dates back to 1951)
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 Sport Coupe rear
Chevrolet BelAir 1954 Sport Coupe. Built on a 115-inch wheelbase, the pillarless hardtop was in vogue for 1954
Pontiac Chieftain 1951 2-door Sedan. The 2-door sedan was one of a range of 'notchback' (booted) bodies supplied as part of the Chieftain range (and shared with the Chevrolet Styleline); there were also fastback 2-door and 4-door sedans marketed as 'Streamliner'.
Vauxhall Cresta 1956. Vauxhall launched the 'Cresta' as an upmarket version of the E-series Vauxhall Velox for the 1955 model year, and for 1956 it was updated with larger front and rear screens and a new grille.