Dressed out in classic red-oxide...
Dressed out in classic red-oxide primer, the bare framerails are ready to accept anything, from an Edelbrock-headed 348 stroker to a GMPP LS9 crate engine. That's the beauty of the '55 Chevy (or any Tri-Five for that matter): There really isn't any wrong way to go. A one-piece fiberglass flip nose would top off this one just right.
Ever wish a car could talk? You know, just a few mumbled words to tell you its story. Here's a '55 Chevy One-Fifty two-door sedan that'd have plenty to say...if only it could. Spotted at Phoenix's Desert Valley Auto Parts (dvap.com) in fall 2008, many miles have passed since this one rolled off the assembly line.
Consider this: Going back to the year 1900, 55 years before this Chevy was built, most Americans were still getting around aboard trains and horse-drawn carriages. The domestic auto industry was active-the first Oldsmobile was built in 1896-but cars were strictly luxurious toys for the rich.
By 1955, the whole deal was flipped upside down and cars were available-and affordable-to just about anybody with a pulse. Best of all, Chevy's 1955 introduction of the 265 small-block brought serious horsepower potential to Main Street, USA. No doubt this ripe One-Fifty was out there swinging.
Groovy Factoids
• In 1911, Louis Chevrolet was a prominent Buick racing driver who dreamed of someday building a car bearing his name. On November 3, 1911, automotive tycoon William C. Durant incorporated the Chevrolet Motor Co. Louis was given the title of consulting engineer but was not a company officer.
• The egg-crate grille used on the all-new '55 Chevy was inspired by the large, open grilles used on Ferrari race cars of the period.
 The stretched rear wheel openings...  The stretched rear wheel openings and long wheel studs tell us this was no granny mobile. Dig the Big O Big Foot 70 bias-ply skins. The rear axle centerline is in the stock location, but that elongated fender cut is an invitation to a few inches of forward wheelbase alteration-a classic Gasser trick to shift more static and dynamic weight rearward for better traction. |  The dusty bucket seats look...  The dusty bucket seats look to have been borrowed from an early '70s Chevy or GMC van. Though the engine and transmission are missing, a clutch pedal is hanging from the dash and a hasty gash was cut into the floor for shift handle access. This thing was a stick car. |  A cobbled rollbar and homemade...  A cobbled rollbar and homemade wheeltubs top off the Gasser vibes. This One-Fifty is ready for a Two-Lane Blacktop makeover. That means an L88, a Muncie M22 rock crusher, and an Olds rearend. |