Eddie, you are correct that the only way to identify it for sure is to see the side. The 210, and even the 150, could be ordered as a two-tone. To the best of my knowledge, the 150 lacked side molding, the 210 had a basic chrome side molding, and the Bel Air the deluxe side molding with the painted insert on the rear quarter, which matched the roof color (if two-tone, as most were).
Cruise-O-Matic: Part Ten
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Thanks Tom! I remember these Chevy’s very well. When my brother and I were very small we had a babysitter every week day while Mom went to work. Her name was Mrs. Hoskins and we called her Nannie and her husband we called PapPaw.
Nannie got a new ‘53 Chevrolet 210 2 dr sedan that was dark metallic green. Since she babysat not only Joe and I, but at least 3 to 4 other kids everyday she had PapPaw take out the backseat so that when all of us kids rode in the car with her we could play around on the floor of the back of the car. Now a days that of course would be verboten! Free range kids in the back of a car without seatbelts would be child neglect. But it didn’t seem to hurt us any, I guess we were just lucky.
Eddie
Nannie got a new ‘53 Chevrolet 210 2 dr sedan that was dark metallic green. Since she babysat not only Joe and I, but at least 3 to 4 other kids everyday she had PapPaw take out the backseat so that when all of us kids rode in the car with her we could play around on the floor of the back of the car. Now a days that of course would be verboten! Free range kids in the back of a car without seatbelts would be child neglect. But it didn’t seem to hurt us any, I guess we were just lucky.
Eddie
I googled the Bel Air again. It looks like most came as two-tone, although some of the pictures with the one tone cars I saw might not be original. I guess we will never be 100% sure. This picture will have to be saved as either/or. Thanks guys,
What a great memory Eddie!
I had to search for a bit, but here’s my mother again now with the 1952 Vauxhall Wyvern.
My Aunt Doris bought a Bel Air brand new, either a '53 or '54. It was a two-tone, with the lower color "Surf Green", and the upper "India Ivory". She kept it until 1964.
Back then, many people ordered their cars from the factory, and the choices were nearly limitless. Evidently the customer specified a color code for upper, lower, and insert. One '53 Chevrolet ad showed a car with an all red body, with the trim insert in ivory. Another code specified the interior color.
Back then, many people ordered their cars from the factory, and the choices were nearly limitless. Evidently the customer specified a color code for upper, lower, and insert. One '53 Chevrolet ad showed a car with an all red body, with the trim insert in ivory. Another code specified the interior color.
Tom
Is this Surf Green?
Is this Surf Green?
Louis, that is "Surf Green". Looks almost like the one my aunt had, except hers had a chrome grille assembly, instead of painted as in the picture.
Yes Tom, I noticed that too. Must have happened in some kind of restoration. Perhaps they weren’t able to purchase the right part and just painted damaged parts.
Here’s another one in blue. I wondered if those red wheels were original.
Here’s another one in blue. I wondered if those red wheels were original.
Louis,
The light blue ‘53 Belair in post#98 was one of the most popular colors here in Northern Calif. in the early 50’s.
My little brother Joe and I used to go on walks everyday all over our neighborhood. Once on a Sunday morning in ‘55 when I was 4 1/2 and Joe was 3 we were on one of those walks and about a block from home. We decided that we would see if we could hail a ride home, like my Mom used to sometimes hail a cab when we were downtown without the car. We had no idea that there was money involved, just that Mom would stand at the sidewalk and hold her hand out and a car would stop and pick us up and take us home.
So little Joey and I stood at the corner of the busy street that we lived on, about a block away from home, and I held my hand out to flag a car down for a ride home. Right away a light blue and white ‘53 Chevy Belair pulled up with a lady driving the car. She had on a blue suit, hat and white gloves and she opened the passenger side door. We asked her to drive us to 445 Dimm St., our home address, just like Mom did when we were downtown. The lady said get in. She asked us if our mother knew where we were? I said sure, she knew that we had gone for a walk.
Well this nice lady drove down the block and pulled up in front of our house. Then she said please go get your mother, which I did. Mom came out to this lady’s ‘53 Belair and the lady told her that we were hitchhiking and did she know that we were doing this? Mom said, no and she’d make sure that this didn’t happen again. When we got into the house she told us that we were never to do this again and that we we lucky that this nice lady had picked us up instead of some bad person that may have kidnapped us.
To this day there are still a few ‘53 light blue and white Belair’s right here in town and every time I see one of them on the road I think of little Joey and Eddie’s big adventure in ‘55.
Eddie
The light blue ‘53 Belair in post#98 was one of the most popular colors here in Northern Calif. in the early 50’s.
My little brother Joe and I used to go on walks everyday all over our neighborhood. Once on a Sunday morning in ‘55 when I was 4 1/2 and Joe was 3 we were on one of those walks and about a block from home. We decided that we would see if we could hail a ride home, like my Mom used to sometimes hail a cab when we were downtown without the car. We had no idea that there was money involved, just that Mom would stand at the sidewalk and hold her hand out and a car would stop and pick us up and take us home.
So little Joey and I stood at the corner of the busy street that we lived on, about a block away from home, and I held my hand out to flag a car down for a ride home. Right away a light blue and white ‘53 Chevy Belair pulled up with a lady driving the car. She had on a blue suit, hat and white gloves and she opened the passenger side door. We asked her to drive us to 445 Dimm St., our home address, just like Mom did when we were downtown. The lady said get in. She asked us if our mother knew where we were? I said sure, she knew that we had gone for a walk.
Well this nice lady drove down the block and pulled up in front of our house. Then she said please go get your mother, which I did. Mom came out to this lady’s ‘53 Belair and the lady told her that we were hitchhiking and did she know that we were doing this? Mom said, no and she’d make sure that this didn’t happen again. When we got into the house she told us that we were never to do this again and that we we lucky that this nice lady had picked us up instead of some bad person that may have kidnapped us.
To this day there are still a few ‘53 light blue and white Belair’s right here in town and every time I see one of them on the road I think of little Joey and Eddie’s big adventure in ‘55.
Eddie
Wow Eddie, such a touching story. No wonder you think back at that every time you see a light blue one.
The car in the picture was for sale recently. In another life I would have seriously considered to buy it.
The car in the picture was for sale recently. In another life I would have seriously considered to buy it.
Good story, Eddie - glad it wasn't a kidnapper driving the Chevy!
A lady that lived a couple streets over from me had an old Bel Air that was "Woodland Green". This was when I was about 10 or 11 years old, and I didn't know her at that time. One time when I was riding my bike, she was going very slowly, and she said something out the window. I was just sure she was trying to kidnap me, and told my parents when I got home. The next day my mom was telling one of the neighbors about it, describing the person and car. She said that sounds like the car Millie B. (another neighbors sister-in-law's sister) has. So as my parents knew her, and that she would not kidnap me or anyone else, they took me over to her house. She told me she was sorry she had frightened me, she was just being cautious around children on bikes. She was really a very nice lady.
The light blue on the car above is "Horizon Blue".
Link is to original advertising pictures for '53 Chevrolets.
https://www.1953chevrolet.com/1953_Models.htm
A lady that lived a couple streets over from me had an old Bel Air that was "Woodland Green". This was when I was about 10 or 11 years old, and I didn't know her at that time. One time when I was riding my bike, she was going very slowly, and she said something out the window. I was just sure she was trying to kidnap me, and told my parents when I got home. The next day my mom was telling one of the neighbors about it, describing the person and car. She said that sounds like the car Millie B. (another neighbors sister-in-law's sister) has. So as my parents knew her, and that she would not kidnap me or anyone else, they took me over to her house. She told me she was sorry she had frightened me, she was just being cautious around children on bikes. She was really a very nice lady.
The light blue on the car above is "Horizon Blue".
Link is to original advertising pictures for '53 Chevrolets.
https://www.1953chevrolet.com/1953_Models.htm
Thanks Tom for another of my favourite classic cars.
That Horizon Blue is a lovely colour, no wonder it was so popular.
And thank you for the link to that awesome brochure!
That Horizon Blue is a lovely colour, no wonder it was so popular.
And thank you for the link to that awesome brochure!
Wyvern
Louis
You might enjoy this video of a beautifully restored Vauhall Wyvern similar to the one your mother is pictured with. I very much doubt it would have had those carpets (or any carpet come to that) when new. This was a brand new model for the 1952 year.
Louis
You might enjoy this video of a beautifully restored Vauhall Wyvern similar to the one your mother is pictured with. I very much doubt it would have had those carpets (or any carpet come to that) when new. This was a brand new model for the 1952 year.
frigidaireguy
Well-known member
1953 CHEVROLET - 210
We had a '53 Chevrolet 4-Door Sedan - Powerglide transmission and power steering
It was the solid light green color. We kept it until 1962 when we got a 4-Door Impala - With NO A/C.
Bob
We had a '53 Chevrolet 4-Door Sedan - Powerglide transmission and power steering
It was the solid light green color. We kept it until 1962 when we got a 4-Door Impala - With NO A/C.
Bob
Hi Bob,
I assume the1953 didn’t have A/C either?
I assume the1953 didn’t have A/C either?
frigidaireguy
Well-known member
YOU ARE CORRECT - A/C WAS NOT OFFERED IN CHEVROLET UNTIL 1954 - THAT UNIT WAS POSITIONED ON THE FLOOR - BUILT-IN AIR WAS OFFERED IN 1955
BOB
BOB
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