Bel Air! The name had a magic ring to it in those years, for Bel Air was a wealthy and gated residential community in the Westside hills of Los Angeles, and thus an appropriate model name for Chevrolet, then seeking to upgrade its image. In 1954 Chevrolet's lead over rival Ford had been a mere 20,000 units. The following year Chevrolet offered a small-block 265 cubic inch V-8 that was to eventually become an icon. Fitted to a Bel Air it produced 162 hp with a 180 hp "Power Pack" option available.
By 1957 the Chevrolet Bel Air had grown fender fins and a wraparound windshield. Sports car/import car enthusiasts like me made derisive remarks about the styling and the Chevy's inadequate handling on curving roads. Looking back, I now offer myself up as a fool. Those Bel Airs had so much glamour that most of the young beauties we'd hoped to attract into the passenger seats of our sporty cars would have preferred a ride in a Chevrolet. Especially a Bel Air convertible. Now much older and only slightly wiser, I look back on those Bel Air years with fondness.
But the magic only lasted 3 years. By 1958, it was just another bloated piece of Detroit iron.
May 4, 2009 @ 5:33 am