The fusion of classic style and modern performance is a common theme seen throughout the collector-car industry. The Pick of the Day is a 1956 Chevrolet 210 Sport Coupe listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Lake Kiowa, Texas.
“Beautifully restored in Jet Black with gleaming chrome and stainless,” the listing begins. “Only 100 miles since restoration.”
The listing for the car classifies it as a 210, but the description calls it a Bel Air. This is a topic worthy of discussion: We see cases frequently in the collector-car market where a restomod-style restoration involves changing a car’s trim or badging. We see people chop doors off of four-door sedans and call them coupes or make convertibles out of hardtops. It’s up to a buyer to do his or her due diligence to understand exactly how a vehicle is titled. It’s also important to note that some custom cars end up with reassigned VINs which means they could be subject to additional inspections and scrutiny upon registration.
All that being said, whether it’s a 150, a 210, a Bel Air, or a full custom, this sleek black custom is a head-turner. It comes complete with 1950s flair like chrome brightwork, sweeping side trim, and a dual exhaust system. The cabin has been modernized with bucket seats, a center console, a touchscreen audio system, and replacement gauges.
An advertisement for the 1956 Chevrolet said, “Loves to go… and looks it!” At the time, Chevrolet was proud of its record-setting run up Pikes Peak in Colorado which took place on September 9, 1955 (would you believe, just over 70 years ago!). The hill-climb car had been camouflaged since 1956 models weren’t set to debut publicly until November. The 1956 Chevrolet went on to become a sales home run: Chevrolet sold over 1.5 million cars that year, among them, a wide range of models including the 150, the 210, and the Bel Air – with sedan, coupe, convertible, and station wagon variants among them.
In lieu of its original power train, power for this coupe comes from a crate-sourced V8 with a four-barrel carburetor. The transmission is a floor-shifted Muncie four-speed manual. So aside from looking great, it’s a car designed around maximum driver engagement. “Runs strong, shifts clean, and turns heads everywhere,” the seller says.
If you’ve been looking for a show-ready, turn-key Tri-Five, it’s time to make a move.
The asking price is $70,000 or best offer.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
