Chevrolet Bel Air cars, manufactured during the year 1955 to 1957, are often referred to as the most popular cars in the history of the company. This blue-eyed boy of the late fifties and early sixties still become a part of discussion, whenever someone sits to discuss about the Chevrolet cars. Narrating the glory of the Chevy’55 or Chevy ’57 in a single sentence is not something possible or desirable. If someone is interested about these cars, he needs to delve deep into its history.
Chevys could be identified easily for their unique tail fins. The length and width of the car along with its decrease in wheel size made it easily distinguishable from the other models of Chevrolet. Bumper grille added to these cars also made them one of the most famous cars of that time.
Chevy Bel Air 1955
Chevy Bel Air 1955 is rightly said as a revolutionary car in the history of Chevrolet, which was a production wing of General Motors Co. at that time. Bel Air model offered trendy looks and was much different from the previous large models. 55 Chevy Bel Air sported a “Motoramic” styling and made heads turn for its features like, four barrel carburetors, dual exhausts, cylinder dimensions with short-stroke, independent rocker arms of lightweight, forged steel crankshaft and block casting technique. Lightweight pistons of aluminum also deserve special mention, when describing the features of the car. There is no doubt about the fact the introduction of the new features and complete makeover of the car played a significant role for its claim to fame. At the same time, three masterminds – Edward Cole, Harry Barr and Clare Mackichan also deserve special mention. Chevy 55 will never have been what it is without their influence.
Chevy Bel Air 1957
Chevy Bel Air 1957 once again revived the looks of the Chevrolet 1955 edition cars, which had earned much fame for the car manufacturer. The newly revived Chevy 57 became the favorite car of America soon after its launch. Known for its elegant yet sporty look, the car used a V8 engine. Chevy Bel Air 57 was easily recognized for its heavy chrome bar and golden grille. The rear fins, chrome moldings and side trim panels with anodized aluminum also make this car stand apart from others. The fine detailing of the car is a reason for which this car has won the heart of the Americans.
History Working Behind The Name Chevy Bel Air
Chevrolet Bel Air 1955 or Chevrolet Bel Air 1957, the name had entered every household. The name, “Bel Air” has a deep connection with the car manufacturers. If you are interested to know the origin of the Bel Air name, you will have to look a few steps back into the history of the car manufacturer. Bel Air was originally the name of the Chevrolet hardtops of the deluxe version of cars. Originally used as the nickname for hardtops, it became so adorable among the top executives of the company that they used the name for launching a new series. The name soon became equally loveable among the common men after its launch.
Chevy Bel Air 57 was supposed to hit the market in the year 1954 and was designed sometime in the year 1954. However, the company later decided to put it on hold as its look was extremely bold compared to the cars of those days. Experts toned down the look of the Chevy 57 and released Chevy 55. Both Chevy 55 and Chevy 57 received immense popularity, which is proved by the production numbers of these cars. The chevy truck restoration numbers are through the roof because they are so popular! According to the reports, the total production number of the Bel Air series had hit 800, 968 in the year 1955 and was 720,356 in 1957.
Archive for the ‘Classic Muscle Cars’ Category
Chevy Bel Air 1955 to 1957 – Cars That Created History – Why and Who Named The 1955 To 1957 Chevy Bel Air and History with Production Numbers
Mecum Auctions Sells Bob McDorman’s Personal Collection for $7 Million
Car enthusiasts and lifelong collectors packed the Mecum Auction tent at Bob McDorman Chevrolet in Canal Winchester, Ohio, as McDorman’s personal collection of Corvettes, as well as an array of other Chevrolet models, sold to eager bidders.
The No Reserve Mecum event, which took place Nov. 6, 2010, had total gross sales of million (excluding buyer’s premium). It included nearly 150 superior classic cars, comprising the most complete collection of Corvettes ever offered.
“As a passionate car lover, there is no doubt Bob McDorman’s collection featured some of the rarest, most desired vehicles in the classic car community,” said President Dana Mecum. “We had more than 1,000 registered bidders for this one-day auction, which is an extraordinary turnout, and we were proud to work together with Bob to make this a very successful event.”
McDorman, a Chevrolet dealer for 45 years, plans to use proceeds from the sale to focus on the daily operation of his dealership.
“It was a fantastic auction and I was very pleased,” McDorman stated. “At one point there were more than 1,100 people watching it online via Mecum’s live auction webcast. Mecum did a beautiful job setting everything up and handling the event – it all went so smoothly. It was very professional and the cars and memorabilia brought more than I expected.”
The Mecum McDorman Top 10 sales (all sales reflect hammer prices) were:
1. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Bunkie Knudsen’s (Lot S70) at 0,000
2. 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe previously owned by Florence Knudsen (Lot S73) at 0,000
3. 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Couple Bill Mitchell Experimental Sting Ray XX (Lot S72) at 0,000
4. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 235 CI (Lot S57) at 1,000
5. 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster Serial #2 (Lot S59) at #130,000
6. 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car 346/350 HP (Lot S138) at 2,000
7. 2006 Chevrolet SSR Roadster – the last SSR sold to the public – (Lot S56) at 9,000
8. 2002 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe 427/600 HP (Lot S51) at ,500
9. 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Pace Car Replica 396/375 (Lot S29) at ,000
10. 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 4-Speed (Lot S61) at ,000
Complete auction results are available to Mecum InfoNet members, which is free to join at www.Mecum.com.
The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 23 years, now offering an industry-leading 5,000 collector cars per year. Consignment, bidder and event information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815.568.8888.
Mecum Kissimmee Auction Surpasses $25 Million in Total Sales
Amid a crowd of 29,000 enthusiastic spectators and eager bidders, the Mecum Auction Company sold hundreds of vehicles ranging from high-end classics and muscle cars to exotic late models at the recent Kissimmee Auction, Jan. 28-31, 2010, at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla.
Mecum reports total gross sales (excluding buyer’s premium) for the four-day Kissimmee Auction were .6 million, boasting a 71 percent sell-through rate. The sales leader was a pristine 1966 Riva Super Aquarama Series II Prototype that had a winning bid of 5,000.
“We hosted a packed house at our annual Kissimmee Auction, which grew immensely in both bidder registration and sales this year,” said President Dana Mecum. “Compared to our 2008 Kissimmee event, our gross sales increased more than 60 percent. Mecum continues to bring a wide variety of collectible vehicles – including boats and motorcycles – and vintage memorabilia to enthusiasts worldwide.”
The Top 10 sales from the Kissimmee Auction (all sales figures reflect hammer prices) are:
- 1966 Riva Super Aquarama Series II Prototype (Lot S159) at 5,000
- 1935 Auburn 851 Boattail Speedster (Lot S176.1) at 6,000
- 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible (Lot S133) at 3,000
- 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible (Lot S123) at 0,000
- 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S135) at 0,000
- 1971 Dodge Hemi Charger (Lot F225) at 5,000
- 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (Lot S114) at 0,000
- 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Resto Mod (Lot S243) at 5,000
- 1970 Plymouth Superbird Coupe (Lot S296) at 5,000
- 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible (Lot S95) at 0,000
Complete auction results are available to Mecum InfoNet members, which is free to join at www.Mecum.com. Mecum InfoNet members can log in to see car-by-car results by visiting the Consignments Page.
The next Mecum Auction takes place in Kansas City, Mo. April 9-10, 2010 and will be broadcast live on their popular television series, “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More” on Discovery Communications’ HD Theater. The event is open to the general public and tickets are available at the door for .
The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 23 years, offering an industry-leading 5,000 collector cars per year. Consignment, bidder, event and accommodation information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815.568.8888.
Mecum Announces the Bob McDorman Special Event, November 5-6, 2010
Mecum Auctions announces a special one-time event has been added to its 2010 auction lineup as they prepare to offer The Bob McDorman Collection, Nov. 5-6, 2010, in Canal Winchester, Ohio.
McDorman, a longtime Chevrolet dealer and passionate collector, will sell his personal collection of 150 superior cars at no reserve. Included in the McDorman offering is the most complete assemblage of Corvettes in the world, featuring one Corvette from every model year 1953 to present and 12 serial #1 Corvettes.
“I’ve known Bob on both a personal and a professional level for more than 30 years, having consigned his items at our auctions, found unique vehicles for him to purchase and even bought my own family’s new cars from his dealership,” said President Dana Mecum. “He is one of the finest Corvette collectors in our industry with a fantastic influence over the hobby, and this auction is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for enthusiasts to acquire these high-quality vehicles.”
Among the Corvettes crossing the block are Bunkie Knudsen’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray and the Pink Pearl – a specially built 1964 Corvette Sting Ray ordered by Knudsen for his wife, Florence. Mecum will also auction a 1938 Chevrolet Cabriolet designed by General Motors of France during an overseas styling exercise. Of the two prototype Chevrolet vehicles designed, this car – featuring unique European influences – is the only survivor, making it a truly unique piece.
In addition to the cars, which range from a 1915 Chevrolet to the last SSR produced, there will be hundreds of collectibles, neon signs and automotive parts crossing the auction block. The complete lineup will be available soon at www.Mecum.com. For more information about Bob McDorman, visit www.bobmcdormanchevrolet.com.
The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 23 years, now offering an industry-leading 5,000 collector cars per year. Consignment, bidder and event information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815.568.8888.
Mecum Kansas City Auction Features 750 Vehciles
Mecum Auctions announces it has added a third day of television coverage to its annual Kansas City event, which takes place Dec. 2-4, 2010, at the Kansas City Convention Center/Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo.
Attendees can be part of a live television audience as the auction will be broadcast for three days on Mecum’s TV series, “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More” on Discovery Communications’ HD Theater.
“After the success of last year’s event, we decided to add a third day of TV broadcasting to the Kansas City Auction in order to feature even more outstanding vehicles and the eager buyers we had onsite,” said President Dana Mecum. “From classic muscle cars to neon signs and memorabilia – an ever-growing market among collectors and enthusiasts – everyone’s favorite marque is represented at this event.”
Featuring a record 750 collector cars expected to cross the auction block, the Mecum Kansas City Auction is already highlighted by great consignments, including a rare 1957 Ford Thunderbird F Code Convertible. One of just 212 factory supercharged models produced for 1957, this multiple award-winning “F Bird” features a full nut and bolt frame off restoration. All of the vehicles are conveniently displayed indoors under one roof, making Mecum Kansas City a fun, easy-to-navigate auction for buyers and enthusiasts. Tickets are available at the door for .
The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 23 years, now offering an industry-leading 5,000 collector cars per year. Consignment, bidder, event and accommodation information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815.568.8888.
Schedule:
Mecum Kansas City Auction
Kansas City Convention Center/Bartle Hall
301 W. 13th St.
Kansas City, Mo. 64105
Dec. 2-4, 2010
General Admission:
Preview:
Gates open at 8 a.m. Thursday-Sunday
Vehicle Auction:
Thursday-Saturday at 11 a.m.
Memorabilia Auction:
Thursday-Saturday at 10 a.m.
Excitement Builds for Mecum’s No Reserve Bob McDorman Auction
Excitement continues to grow for the upcoming sale of The Bob McDorman Collection, a special event where Mecum Auctions will offer the final 150 cars from the world’s greatest Chevrolet collector at no reserve on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010.
This once-in-a-lifetime auction will feature Chevrolets produced as early as 1915 and will include the world’s most complete Corvette collection, as well as neon signs, memorabilia and vintage parts all gathered over the years by leading Chevrolet dealer and collector Bob McDorman. Among the cars to be sold are 11 serial #1 Corvettes, Bunkie Knudsen’s 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray and many celebrity cars, such as a 1986 Corvette Coupe previously owned by late-night legend Johnny Carson.
Vehicles and memorabilia will all sell to the highest bidder, so don’t miss this excellent opportunity to add that rare or previously unavailable Corvette to your collection. Interested bidders can register and view the complete auction lineup now at www.Mecum.com.
The Mecum McDorman Auction takes place at Bob McDorman Chevrolet, 5885 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester, OH 43110. Auction previews run Friday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The memorabilia sale begins Saturday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m., with vehicles selling at 12 p.m.
Mecum Auctions Makes Impressive Impact with Successful Warner Collection Boat Sale
It was a significant weekend in the antique boat hobby as Mecum Auctions drew out the who’s who among classic boat collectors for the Warner Collection Auction event, where 126 vintage boats sold for nearly million (excluding buyers’ premiums).
From major boat collectors and dealers to restorers and new hobbyists, bidders came from across the country as well as from overseas to attend the Oct. 16, 2010 auction in Winsted, Minn.
“As we continue to grow our presence in the boating industry, we are learning that this hobby, much like that of the classic car market, is supported by a tight-knit community of enthusiasts,” said Dana Mecum, president of Mecum Auctions, which has served the collector car industry for more than 20 years. “The Warner Collection auction was the most important event to date for the advancement of antique and collectible boats in the history of the hobby. It is a strong indicator of the enthusiasm for boat auctions and we are excited about the prospects of this emerging market.”
The event’s high sale was a 1929 Dingle 30’ Runabout known as the Gerry Lo, a custom designed and built fast triple cockpit runabout that sold for 5,000.
The top 10 auction sales (all sales reflect hammer prices) were:
1. 1929 Dingle 30’ Runabout, Gerry Lo (Lot S69) at 5,000
2. 1932 Chris-Craft 27’ Runabout, Sugar Lady (Lot S28) at 5,000
3. 1929 Chris-Craft 28’ Runabout, Tuxedo Taxi (Lot S39) at 0,000
4. 1996 Gar Wood 33’ Race Boat, Baby Gar IV (Lot S84) at 5,000
5. 1949 Hackercraft 36’ Runabout, Thunderballs (Lot S79) at 0,000
6. 1909 Moore 41’ Enclosed Glass Window Launch, Harriet (Lot S148) at 0,000
7. 1932 Hackercraft 38’ Runabout, V.S.O.P. (Lot S140) at 7,500
8. 1929 Sea Lyon 30’ Runabout, Eclipse (Lot S123) at 5,000
9. 1950 Richardson 32’ Launch, Hamilton No. 4 (Lot S146) at 3,000
10. 1955 Chris-Craft 29’ Sportsman Utility, Uncle Sam (Lot S45) at 0,000
The Warner Collection was started by lifelong collector F. Todd Warner, owner of Mahogany Bay, one of the world’s leading authorities on vintage watercraft. The collection includes wooden boats built from 1903 to 1996.
“I bought my first vintage boat at age 12 – a 1947 Higgins 17’ sport speedster – and from there I caught the bug,” Todd Warner explained. “I am a preservationist first and foremost, and it is important for these boats to be around generations from now. I am grateful to Mecum Auctions for helping me share this collection with such a wide range of enthusiasts because there truly is something for everyone who wants to be involved in the hobby, from duck boats and cabin cruisers to race boats and runabouts.”
The Mecum team delivered the signature entertainment-style auction they have become known for on their popular television series, Mecum Auto Auctions: Muscle Cars & More on Discovery Communications’ HD Theater. In addition to boats, they sold vintage inboard and outboard engines, collectible accessories and hard-to-find parts at the auction.
“There is nothing like the magic of an auction,” shared John Williams, a collector from Kentucky who purchased a 1932 Hacker 28’ runabout at the auction. “This is my 8th wooden boat, and my wife and I plan to use it on Lake Cumberland. I really love this boat and look forward to giving it the professional restoration it deserves.”
Curt Erikson, a 30-year wooden boat collector from Seattle, Ore., shared in the excitement: “This is the most exciting thing the hobby has seen in 20 years,” he said.
Complete auction results are available to Mecum InfoNet members, which is free to join at www.Mecum.com. Mecum Auctions plans to expand their presence in the classic boat industry throughout the coming year, offering the rarest, most sought-after Riva at the upcoming Mecum Kissimmee Auction Jan. 26-30, 2011.
The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 23 years, now offering an industry-leading 5,000 collector cars per year. Consignment, bidder and event information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815.568.8888.
