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By Steven
Farber
Chevrolet planed to keep its remarkable reputation for style, more power and more refinements
going strong in 1956. "The Hot One's Even Hotter"! "Loves to go - and looks it!" declared
one 1956 ad campaign. The 1956 Chevrolet was bigger and more important looking. Although
the basic body shell that was new in 1955 remained the same, detail changes were made
to increase the car's already large appeal.
Major styling changes involved the grille, tail lights and side trim. The 1955 Chevrolet
grille was very clean looking and the lattice work effect remained on the '56 but it
was widened, parking lights were enlarged and it was raked slightly in on the bottom.
At the rear, large chrome plated tail light housings were added. Each housed a round
pointed tail light, a rectangular backup lamp and a small reflector. Access to the gas
tank was through the driver side tail light housing. Larger front and rear chrome bumpers
gave the illusion of greater length. Stainless body moldings were redesigned on all three
body styles. The moldings served as a natural division points for two-tone paint jobs
that were very popular on the 1955 and 1956 Chevy.
Chevrolet offered 19 different body styles on the Bel Air, Two-Ten and One-Fifty, three
more than in 1955. A new Bel Air Sport Sedan 4 door hard top, Two-Ten Sport Sedan 4 door
hard top and a Two-Ten Beauville 9 passenger 4 door station wagon were added. The best
seller among the '56 Bel Air's was the four door sedan and Sport Coupe. The 1956 Sport
Coupe 2 door hard top has always been a very popular car among collectors. The Nomad
was back in 1956 and was described as a sport station wagon due to it 2 doors, great
styling and color choices. The 1956 Chevrolet color options were 10 solid colors and
14 two-tone combinations. Popular solid colors were onyx black and matador red, while
india ivory / dusk plum and india ivory / twilight turquoise were popular two-tones.
The new "Super Turbo Fire" V-8 was the existing 1955 Chevy 265 cubic inch with a special
power pack kit consisting of a special intake manifold, higher lift cam, dual exhausts
and a four barrel carburetor. This kit increased the horsepower to 205 which was 14 percent
above the 1955 engine at 180 horsepower. If you wanted more power Chevrolet offered a
2-4 barrel (2-four's) that achieved 225 horsepower. In 1956 Chevy was beginning to win
the horsepower war both on and off the race track.
Accessories were a big hit in 1955 and with the 1956 Chevrolet. For the first time you
could add seat belts. All weather air conditioning was an option at $430.00. Other items
included compass, traffic light viewer and Kool Kooshions.
The 1956 Chevrolet is often overlooked and it shouldn't be! While the 1956 Chevrolet
did bring a number of first, it can not compare with the previous year or the following
one, as the best was yet to come. The 1957 Chevrolet (Part 3)
Steve Farber is an author and auto related web site publisher. Learn more about
the "Hot One's"! GM's Classic 1955
Chevrolet, 1956 Chevrolet
and 1957 Chevrolet
at his three web sites by viewing lots of seldom seen "Vintage Chevy Ad" pictures
of body styles, body colors, interior colors. Plus, engine specifications, prices
and production figures.
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