Part of the first-generation Bel Air, the 1953 model introduced the first substantial facelift, with Chevrolet claiming the car was “entirely new through and through.”
The GM brand was now using plenty of chrome on the car, including inside, where the company installed a steering wheel with a new design that also featured a chrome horn ring for additional bling.
Power on the first Bel Air series came from a choice of two six-cylinder units, namely the 215.5ci (3.5-liter) unit that made 92 horsepower (also known as Thriftmaster), and the 235ci (3.9-liter) Blue Flame. The engines could be mated to either a 3-speed manual transmission offered as standard or an optional 2-speed automatic unit.
The 1953 Bel Air was available as a two-door and four-door sedan, which eventually became the most popular versions for this model year; convertible and hardtop coupe body styles were also available.
What we have here is a 4-door sedan that’s as original as it gets, as the Craigslist seller says the car has never been molested or modified in any way. It has indeed received a bunch of repairs, such as new brakes, but nothing has been altered in an attempt to keep the car as original as possible.
The unit under the hood is still the six-cylinder unit installed by Chevrolet, and this time it’s paired with a Powerglide automatic transmission. The car still runs and drives, and the odometer indicates just 82,000 miles (132,000 km), obviously all original.
As for what’s original on this Bel Air, the list is pretty long and includes the AM radio, the paint, the grille, the dash, the heater, and all the controls. There’s only a little rust on the body, we’re told, but the good news is the car comes without any holes in the floors or the trunk.
So how much is such an unmolested page of automotive history books actually worth? The seller says they’re willing to part with the car for $8,995, but will consider other offers as well.