Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

The 1956 Bel Air

received a face-lift with a more conventional full-width grille, pleasing those customers who didn't favor the Ferrari-inspired '55 front end. Distinctive two-tone bodyside treatments and graceful front and rear wheel openings completed the "speedline" restyling. Single housings incorporated the taillight, stoplight, and backup light, and the left one held the gas filler - an idea popularized on Cadillacs. Among the seven Bel Air models was a new Sport Sedan, a pillarless four-door hardtop that looked handsome with all the windows rolled down and allowed easy entry into the back seat. Production exceeded 103,000, compared to 128,000 two-door hardtops. Shapely two-door Nomad wagons topped the price chart, but now carried the same interior and rear-wheel sheetmetal as other Bel Airs, lacking the original's unique trim. Only 7,886 were built. The least costly Bel Air, was the two-door sedan. Seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, and a padded dashboard were available,[10] and full-size cars could even get the hot Corvette 225-horsepower engine. In 1956 sales material was an optional rain-sensing automatic top,[12] which was first seen on the first on the 1951 LaSabre concept car. However, it is believed that it was never installed on a car.