VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Buying a 55 or 56 question please.

Hello all,
I am looking at buying a 55 or 56 Bel Air. Without a lot of description they are both in overall nice 2 footer condition, and I know the history, previous owners etc. so either is a safe purchase. The 55 is a 4 door sedan, powerglide and priced below 20k, The 56 is a 2 door hardtop 3 speed and in the mid 20's. I understand the reason why the 2 door is more and that there is more market interest in it, and truthfully it is more eye appealing. The 4 door accomodates passengers better (my aged buddies). But there is always the budget to consider and I would have to stretch it to buy the more expensive 56. There are other 56 cars around for less but condition and history is compromised. I have to consider that someday I or my heirs will need to sell the car and I don't want to take a loss. I'm not looking at "flipping" or selling anytime soon but don't want to take a beating either. I look at the price guides and have to take them with a grain of salt. So it comes down to buying a nice 55 4 door or a nice equal condition 56 2 door for about 8K more. What are your thoughts? Thanks, Mike (518) 248-1105

the 2 door hardtop will always have more demand. It just flows better in the lines, altho 56 is not the demand year of the 3 tri 5....55 and 57 is and those are always more money than a 56.

just way its always been

mike lynch

I agree with you Mike
the hardtop will always have more of a "demand" attached to it,,,,,ive always paid more money for a car if I know it`s history, these cars will most likely out live us, so if we can call ourselves "caretakers" I would rather be a caretaker of something that had been looked after , rather than ignored.
in the west coast for the past few years ALL the tri 5`s have been very popular, but the 56 has taken off.
at 15 my first car was a 55 belair hardtop that I used to wrench on in auto class