1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

01

Artifact Overview

Drop the top, and cruise like a movie star! It sounds like fun. But movie stars live in sunny California -- most of us don't. Convertibles may draw people into showrooms, but sedans take them home. In 1956, only about 2.6 percent of Chevy customers drove home in ragtops. Despite that fact, the carefree appeal of 1950s convertibles has made them a symbol of that era.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Automobile

Date Made

1956

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America

Object ID

83.94.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Montgomery L. Young.

Material

Metal
Vinyl
Rubber (Material)
Glass (Material)
Nylon
Chromium

Color

Turquoise (Color)
Ivory (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 59.1 in
Width: 74 in
Length: 194.5 in
Wheelbase: 115 in
Weight: 3320 lbs

Inscriptions

Trunk: D.B. GRAY / HULL, ILL Right and left sides near rear: Bel Air

Specifications

Make & Model: 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible
Maker: General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Michigan
Engine: V-8, overhead valves, 265 cubic inches
Transmission: 2-speed automatic
Height: 59 inches
Wheelbase: 115 inches
Width: 74 inches
Overall length: 197.5 inches
Weight: 3320 pounds
Horsepower: 205 at 4600 revolutions per minutes
Pounds per horsepower: 14.8
Price: $2,538
Average 1956 wage: $4,342 per year
Time you'd work to buy this car: about 7-1/2 months