VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Sungold 1953 Bel Air

I recently purchased an all-original 1953 Bel Air sedan from the second owner, with 67,000 original miles on it. It is painted black with an ivory roof and rear quarter-panel insert. The original color was India Ivory over Sungold, and the Sungold color is still on the splash pan between the grille and the radiator. Legend has it that it was the last 1953 model on the dealer's (H.H. Wiggins Chevrolet, Quarryville, Penna., sales invoice is dated September 19, 1953) lot, and it wouldn't sell because of this unusual color. Finally, the dealership cut the price back quite a bit in an effort to move it and finally found a lady who would buy it - provided they repainted it black over the Sungold yellow shade, which she disliked. I would like to repaint it back to the Sungold shade - is there agreement with me on this out there? Also, would enjoy seeing some pictures of feloow VCCA member swho have a 1953 painted Sungold yellow. Thanks!

I can bvelieve the part about some one not liking the color as we all have different tastes. Actually it was a fairly popular Bel Air color in 1953.
As far as it being the last 1953 in the dealers stock, the 1954's didn't come out until Dec of 1953 so I doubt if the dealer would have considered it destress merchandise as early as September.
If it were mine I would return it to the original color.
The advantage of the black is that it goes in with the gray interior.

Back several years ago when I was restoring the 53 and 54 HardTops, the sun gold and white was the first to sell. Even when I had a Red & White HardTop for sale at the same time, the Sun Gold sold first.

Actually, the interior is two-tone green, which matched the Sungold exterior color well. Not gray - but the interior would have been gray had the car been painted black from the factory.

That's good to know. The more I think about the Sungold color, the more tolerant I get of it. My car also has the "Korean War Chrome" on the headlight retaining rings and the grille. The headlight rings are brown (not rusty or pitted; just brown - possibly the layer of copper showing through?), and the grille is dark gray; almost black - again, no rust or pitting, just not much of the chrome is left on it. I'm tempted to try to find another grille and re-plate it, then keep this one as a souvenier of the "Korean War Chrome." I also like the sound of the valvetrain chatter, both at idle and about 40 MPH.

My 1953 Dealer Albumn and Engineering Manual boyh shows gray for the Sun Gold interior. As I remember they were green. (don't trust my memory on everything) May have been a last minute change.
The Korean chrome had no nickle under the chrome, just copper. Once the clear lacquer coating peeled off the chrome would also come off. This would be for all the emblems, tail light rims, rille, etc. Can cost thousands of $$$ to replate.
If the car has Power Glide the lifters are hydraulic and should be quite. If a stick it has solid lifters and the noise should be with in reason. I would suggest removing the valve cover (either engine) and making sure the oil is getting up to the rocker arms and if a stick, readjusting the valves. The 1953 sticks did have a rather noisey valve train the the facory tried several "cures" to quiet things down.

I was stationed at Pearl Harbor in '52 and '53. I had a friend at PH who bought a new '53 150 2door. The grille rusted almost immediately in the salt air climate especially where scratches appeared. I noticed many new cars that had the same condition. I think the '52s were even worse...I heard he sold the car to another navy guy before leaving Oahu....And I remember 210 Convertibles that the car rental companies had....

I have a 1953 "Saturday Evening Post" advertisement of a 1953 Bel Air sedan (artist's rendering; not a photograph)in Sungold and India Ivory, and the interior in the car looks to be gray. I've seen two 53's in Sungold sold on ebay motors in the past year or so, both had two-tone green interiors, like my car does. So, I tend to agree with your theory. My car is a stick-shift with solid lifters, and it is oiling in the rocker-arm area just fine. The valvetrain noise is within reason, but I would be interested in hearing about those "factory cures" for the valvetrain noise that you mention. Always enjoy reading your very knowledgeable posts!

My first car was a 54 Chevy two door; 2nd car was a 53 Chevy convertible. I am currently concentrating on two 1957 Chevys. I for one would go back to the original color, only if the paint job is done right, then numbers would match for the paint code on the tag; good luck. joeyk3950

I restored a 54 HT with a two-tone green interior that was painted yellow with a dark green metallic roof and side spear. It was a beautiful car that I let someone talk me out of about 10 years ago. I don't know if that combination was available in 53 or not.

Yes that combination was available in 53 and was called Woodland Green over Campus Cream, paint code 513.I'm not sure if the Campus Cream color was as yellow as the 54 color.

I had a 53 Bel Air hardtop in 1954 that was sungold and white inside and out,with all the chrome inside in was a very sharp car.The grille was turning brown[only one year old]Traded it for a new 55 two ten tudor,not nearly as nice.