1955 Gold Chevrolet Bel Air | GM’s 50 Millionth Car Tribute at Mecum Auctions

The Classic Auto team had the pleasure of surveying a truly one-of-a-kind beauty: a replica of General Motors’ 1955 Gold Chevrolet Bel Air. This remarkable and faithful recreation celebrates and brings to life GM’s lost piece of motor history. 

In 1954, GM created three opulent units to celebrate their 50 millionth car manufactured. Sadly, all three of these vehicles are now lost. Car lovers only had a single day to appreciate one of GM’s golden masterpieces. 

For the first time in 70 years, motorheads can behold GM’s 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Gold. Although the car is not one of the original units, it’s an exact replica, allowing the public to finally see the historic Gold Chevrolet. 

We were fortunate enough to speak with one of the replica’s creators at Dana Mecum’s 37th Original Spring Classic at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Let’s explore this lavish dream car and briefly unpack its history. 

Historical Background of the 1955 Gold Chevrolet Bel Air

1954 marked an important production milestone for General Motors, as the automotive manufacturer drew close to creating its 50 millionth car. The company smartly used this achievement as a marketing opportunity. GM created 5,000 Chevrolet Bel Airs with luxurious-looking gold paint. They then sent these units to the 5,000 best GM dealerships in America.  

On top of this promotion, GM produced three truly golden Chevrolets, the third of which was GM’s 50 millionth car. They built this 50 millionth vehicle on November 23rd, 1954. The luxurious Bel Air sport coupe featured over 100 parts plated in 24-karat gold as well as more than 100 gold-plated fasteners. The car was powered by a 265 V8 engine with a Powerglide automatic transmission and a 3.55 rear axle. 

General Motors displayed this breathtaking vehicle at their Golden CARnival event. The event featured a bustling parade in Downtown Flint, Michigan. Almost 200,000 people saw the exquisite 1955 Gold Chevrolet Bel Air that day. Ironically, GM featured the car on a parade float rather than having it driven. 

Sadly, the public never saw the Gold Chevrolet again, nor did they ever have the chance to see the car’s interior or undercarriage. One of the three Gold Chevrolets produced by GM was lost in a garage fire, and the two other units, one of which was the 50 millionth, disappeared after the parade. The stunning Gold Chevrolet has largely faded from public memory, only now to be brought back to life by a stunning recreation. 

The Tribute 1955 Gold Chevrolet Bel Air

The breathtaking 1955 Gold Chevrolet Bel Air is largely the brainchild of Steve Blades, a motorhead dedicated to his craft. He helped create the vehicle in collaboration with Real Deal Steel and Snodgrass Chevy Restoration. 

Much of the work that went into crafting this recreation was researching the car. Steve spent over 3,000 hours researching to ensure the vehicle was an exact replica of the original 1955 Gold Chevrolet, utilizing photos and information from the General Motors archives and other sources. With the help of GM and car lovers with photos, Steve was able to determine the exact details of the Gold Chevrolet. He also contributed code-matching vehicle parts. From there, Joe Whitaker of Real Deal Steel supplied the car’s body and frame, while Snodgrass Chevy Restoration constructed the car. 

This eye-catching vehicle is a completely new creation rather than a restoration of an existing Chevrolet. Steve and the others didn’t want to repurpose a 1955 Chevy sport coupe. Instead, they crafted the 1955 Gold Chevrolet Bel Air from scratch, making sure they recreated every subtle detail of the original. 

They painted the homage as exact as possible and adorned the vehicle with authentic gold-plated parts where appropriate. Everything on the tribute vehicle that was gold plated was also gold plated on the original GM. Ultimately, the group took six months to build the car. 

The group wanted to convey the effect of GM’s original 1955 Gold Chevrolet that graced the public’s view during the Golden CARnival parade. They aimed to impress and wow motor enthusiasts and the general public alike. It’s safe to say they accomplished their goal with this awe-inspiring homage to automotive history. 

Specifications

This exceptional replica of the Chevrolet’s dreamy golden vehicle features a host of original parts. Like the original, it’s powered by a 265 V8, with the engine block dating back to September 1954. It also features a Powerglide automatic transmission and a 3.55 rear axle. 

The car also includes many date-coded parts, such as its front shocks, drive line, steering column, and heater. Most of its stainless steel components are also authentic GM parts. 

Interior

This tribute 1955 Gold Chevrolet also boasts a true interior, including the same door panels, seats, and dashboard as the original. Ciadella Interiors of Arizona equipped the ride with this stunning interior, and it’s truly remarkable. It even features the same fabric that GM used for their Gold Chevrolet. What makes the recreation’s interior all the more impressive is that parade attendees didn’t get the opportunity to view the 1955 Gold Chevrolet’s cabin. This is the first time car lovers can see what the Gold Chevrolet’s interior looked like. 

Like the interior, the public was never able to view the Gold Chevrolet’s underside. Fortunately, Steve Blade and his collaborators didn’t skimp on authenticity when working on the car’s undercarriage. The car’s underside is slick-sanded and painted gold, complementing the vehicle’s pristine top. 

Exterior

When viewers see the car’s spectacular golden details, they may think it’s merely anodized or spray gold. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The car’s bumpers, wheel covers, grille, attaching hardware, and stainless trim on the interior and exterior boast 24-karat gold plating. San Diego Gold Plating did the gold installation; the gold plating alone cost $100,000. 

This dream of a vehicle truly needs to be seen to be fully appreciated, and now, for the first time, people can view the 1955 Gold Chevrolet in all of its glory, including the car’s underside, interior, and back. This is the closest car we have to the original, making it an important beacon of automotive history. 

The tribute 1955 Gold Chevrolet Bel Air sold at Dana Mecum’s 37th Original Spring Classic for $434,500. 

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