Pick of the Day: 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air

At one time, Chevrolet operated a large assembly plant in Van Nuys, California. This location falls midway between the modern I-405 and I-5 freeways, just northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Today, that piece of land is called “The Plant” shopping center and is home to a Regency theater, a fire station, In-N-Out Burger, and a Home Depot. But between 1947 and 1992, the site marked the birthplace of many significant General Motors models, including today’s feature car.

The Pick of the Day is a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air four-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Toronto, Ontario. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Step back in time with this true American classic automobile that effortlessly combines vintage charm with a touch of modern convenience,” the listing states. “This 1956 Bel Air four-door hardtop is the result of a fantastic restoration that grabs the attention of anyone who sees it.”

It is no mystery that tri-five two-door hardtops are among the most collectible of classic cars, but I find the four-door hardtops equally as attractive. The color combination of this Bel Air is one of the car’s most eye-catching attributes. The official color names are Laurel Green and Crocus Yellow.

Moving to the interior, we see another vivid two-tone color palette with charcoal and yellow materials. There is a Vintage Air A/C system, and the car is shown with power brakes. Lap belts have been added for safety.

Power comes from a rebuilt 265cid V8 paired with a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission. “This Bel Air fires right up and is a fantastic car to drive,” the seller says. “Modern upgrades for convenience include a Vintage Air conditioning that blows cold, seat belts, a brand-new set of Coker wide whitewalls, and upgraded power brakes.”

Included in the listing is a photo of the trim tag, which decodes as follows:

• Style 56-10390: 1956 Bel Air four-door hardtop
• Body VN 6311: Produced in Van Nuys, California as production number 6,311
• Trim 585: Charcoal and yellow cloth and vinyl two-tone interior
• Paint 717 D: Crocus Yellow and Laurel Green two-tone
• Top ACC EZI: Optioned with air conditioning and tinted glass

The Van Nuys facility was razed in 1993, exactly 30 years ago. At one time, it covered 100 acres and was the manufacturing home of the Camaro and Firebird. Over the years, some 6.3 million vehicles rolled off the assembly lines there. I wonder if the people shopping at Home Depot have any clue how many muscle cars were once produced on that same spot of land.

The asking price is $39,999 USD for this Bel Air.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.