1953 Chevrolet Bel Air Series 2400C

Chevrolet introduced the 'Bel Air' name in 1950 for its 'hardtop convertible' body style on the Deluxe Series. It became its own unique line by 1953, setting it apart from the lesser 150 and 210 models. It wore a slightly redesigned body with additional chrome trim, rear fender skirts, and a chrome gravel shield. There were double windshield pillar moldings, exposed bright metal roof bows, Bel Air script, and a Chevrolet crest. Just like its Special 150 and Deluxe 210 siblings, its wheelbase measured 115 inches and had an overall length of 195.5 inches. Power was supplied by a 235.5 cubic-inch Blue Flame inline-six-cylinder engine with a cast iron block, overhead valves, 7.5:1 compression, a Rochester one-barrel carburetor, four main bearings, and delivered 108 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. With the Powerglide transmission, output rose to 115 bhp at 3,600 RPM.

The interior housed an all-new dashboard boasting four gauges and an electric clock. Two-tone cloth and leatherette upholstery made for a comfortable driving experience, while the Bel Air's chrome interior highlights added upscale elegance.

Body styles included a two-door sedan priced at $1,620, a four-door sedan at $1,875, a sport coupe at $2,050, and a convertible at $2,175. The most popular was the four-door sedan with 246,284 units built, followed by 144,401 of the two-door sedan, 99,047 of the sport coupe, and 24,047 of the convertible. The combined 513,779 units built accounted for approximately 39 percent of Chevrolet's U.S. automobile production.

The all-new Bel Air was Chevrolet's crown jewel, with advertisements declaring it to be: 'Startingly New! Wonderfully Different!' In truth, it was neither, but it was a better-equipped version of the standard lower-priced series. The new Fisher Unitsteel body offered more luggage and passenger capacity, and the stylish one-piece curved windshield was also new, along with a vertical-bar grille, Blue Flame inline-six, and new 'velvet-Pressure Jumbo-Durm' brakes. Power steering was a new addition to the options list, along with ignition-key starting.

The Tri-Five editions may be the best known of the Be Airs, but it was the 1953 models that got their start as an independent series.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2022