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The 1961 Chevrolet holds the arguable distinction of being the nicest of the decade - the profile of the top-line Impala hardtop with its 'bubbletop' roofline will make people swoon. But true racers always went for the lighter cars in the lineup and, among Chevrolets, the Bel Air 2-door sedan was the bee's knees.
However, what makes this car even more interesting is that it's equipped with the 409 V8 engine. The Beach Boys may have sung about this engine a year later, but it was its 1961 introduction that built Chevrolet's reputation as a contender in the pre-Pontiac GTO performance sweepstakes. And it was cars like this example that ruled drag stripes early in the decade: No heater or radio - this car is all business! And you can bet that, out of the 142 cars built with the 409 in 1961 (increasing to over 15,000 in 1962!), most were high-zoot Impala hardtops and not this plain-Jane Bel Air.
The 409 was an extension of Chevrolet's 'W' block that debuted in 1958 with 348 cubic-inches. Combine that with the new 4-speed transmission that performance-minded buyers were snapping up and you see how Chevrolet was becoming America's favorite performance car by the close of the 1950s. But, competition from Pontiac, Ford, and Dodge/Plymouth soon relegated the 348 Chevrolet at the drag strip. The advent of the 360 horsepower 409 began a new era that lasted through 1965, when the 'Mark IV' 396 finally replaced it mid-year.
However, what makes this car even more interesting is that it's equipped with the 409 V8 engine. The Beach Boys may have sung about this engine a year later, but it was its 1961 introduction that built Chevrolet's reputation as a contender in the pre-Pontiac GTO performance sweepstakes. And it was cars like this example that ruled drag stripes early in the decade: No heater or radio - this car is all business! And you can bet that, out of the 142 cars built with the 409 in 1961 (increasing to over 15,000 in 1962!), most were high-zoot Impala hardtops and not this plain-Jane Bel Air.
The 409 was an extension of Chevrolet's 'W' block that debuted in 1958 with 348 cubic-inches. Combine that with the new 4-speed transmission that performance-minded buyers were snapping up and you see how Chevrolet was becoming America's favorite performance car by the close of the 1950s. But, competition from Pontiac, Ford, and Dodge/Plymouth soon relegated the 348 Chevrolet at the drag strip. The advent of the 360 horsepower 409 began a new era that lasted through 1965, when the 'Mark IV' 396 finally replaced it mid-year.
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Chevrolet Bel Air
(Data based on Model Year 1961 sales)
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan Chassis#: 11569j147821 Sold for USD$8,250 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan Chassis#: 11569j147821 Sold for USD$7,700 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023 | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top Sold for USD$79,200 2023 Mecum : Glendale | |
1961 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM HARDTOP Chassis#: 11637S224638 Sold for USD$33,000 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Houston | |
1961 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#: 11511K173808 Sold for USD$29,700 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1961 CHEVROLET BEL AIR BUBBLETOP Chassis#: 11537S146603 Sold for USD$88,000 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top Sold for USD$74,800 2022 Mecum : Houston | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sold for USD$16,500 2021 Mecum : Chattanooga | |
1961 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM BUBBLE TOP Chassis#: 11637J168325 Sold for USD$110,000 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Houston | |
1961 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM HARDTOP Chassis#: 11537J129745 Sold for USD$59,400 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Houston | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sold for USD$37,000 2021 GAA : February 2021 | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top Chassis#: 11637S213130 Sold for USD$81,400 2021 Mecum : Rick Treworgys Muscle Car City 2021 | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sold for USD$45,100 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top Sold for USD$45,100 2020 Mecum : Houston | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sold for USD$14,000 2019 GAA : November 2019 | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sold for USD$28,000 2019 GAA : July 2019 | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Flat Top Sold for USD$60,500 2019 Mecum : Phoenix Auction | |
1961 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM HARDTOP Chassis#: 11637S224638 Sold for USD$27,500 2019 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1961 CHEVROLET BEL AIR CUSTOM SEDAN Chassis#: 11511F145719 Sold for USD$25,300 2018 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top Chassis#: 11637L116302 Sold for USD$44,000 2018 Mecum : Monterey |
Chevrolet Bel Airs That Failed To Sell At Auction
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 11537j121567 | 2024 Mecum : Houston | $50,000 | ||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Flat Top Sedan | 11511F215757 | 2021 Mecum : Monterey | $40,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2021 Mecum : Glendale | $30,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2019 Fall Carlisle Auction | ||||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2019 Mecum : Harrisburg | $17,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2019 Auburn Spring : RM Auctions | $20,000 | $25,000 | ||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2018 GAA : November 2018 | $19,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Resto Mod | 2018 Mecum : 2018 Chicago | $17,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2018 Mecum : Hershey | $25,000 | |||
1961 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 409 HARDTOP | 11637J257495 | 2018 Premier Auction Group | $40,000 | ||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2018 Mecum : Kissimmee | $40,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2017 GAA : March | $24,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2017 GAA : March | $25,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2017 Mecum : Kissimmee | $26,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2016 GAA : October | $29,500 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2016 Mecum : Harrisburg | $27,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Door Sedan | 2016 Russo & Steele : Arizona | ||||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe | 2015 Auctions America Auburn Fall | $26,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2015 Mecum : Indianapolis | $50,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2014 Mecum Kissimmee | ||||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air 327/300 HP, Automatic | 2013 Mecum Kansas City | $7,500 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air | 2013 Mecum Auctions Dallas 2013 | $20,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2013 Leake Car Auctions Tulsa Ok | $34,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top 348 CI, Automatic | 2013 Mecum Dan Mecum's 26th Spring Classic | $33,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2013 Mecum Dan Mecum's 26th Spring Classic | $30,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2013 Mecum : Indianapolis | $33,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2013 Mecum : Indianapolis | $30,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top Tri-Power 348 CI, Factory Air | 2013 Mecum Houston, Tx | $42,500 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top | 2013 Mecum Auctions Kissimmee, FL Auction | $36,000 | |||
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Convertible | 2012 Leake San Antonio | $22,500 |
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1966 Chevrolet Malibu Chassis#:136176z108681 Sold for $34,100 2024 Mecum : Glendale |
1961 Chevrolet Bel Air
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