This new look, combined with new power and engineering, made the 1955 an instant hit with the buying public and a critical success. Along with the flatter straighter panels, the 1955 also had modern cues like wrap-around glass on the windshield, and triangular tail lights that jutted outward. But in 1955, Chevrolet designed the entire car with the full shoebox look. Although Ford introduced what would be the first "shoe box" body design in 1949, GM and Chrysler were slow to catch on, only slowly replacing some of their bubble-like hood and side panels with flatter ones each year, without achieving a full shoebox look by 1954. This was a major departure from previous years for Chevrolet. The 1955 Chevrolet had smooth straight panels on the sides and hood. There have been various changes made to the engine to modernize it since its introduction in 1954 however the basic design of the original 265 remains in place.Īdditionally, Chevrolet drastically changed its body design. The small block Chevrolet V8 became so popular that Chevrolet still sells it today as an over the counter replacement engine or better known as a "crate engine". But other than those issues it was an easy to maintain engine. This issue was corrected for the next year when a full flow oil filter system was added to the engine.Īdditionally, to keep performance and mileage levels high required spark plug and ignition points to be replaced on a regular basis. Even with the oil filter option, only part of the oil was actually filtered (the oil going through the thermostat). Those who did not order the engine with the "oil filter option" dealt with a high frequency of oil changes. Some problems existed with cracked pistons, there was no integrated oil filter, so an external bypass filter was offered as a factory or dealer option. However, the new small block engine in the 1955 Chevrolet had some early teething issues. Chevrolet's new 265-cubic-inch overhead valve V8 was designed to be smaller, lighter, and more powerful than previous V8s in the auto industry, and would come to be known as the "Chevy small block". In 1955, Chevrolet decided to fit its new car with an overhead valve V8 engine design, which was similar to the 1949 Oldsmobile "Rocket 88" V8 engine which was an earlier GM success. Chevrolet had produced an earlier car with a V8 in 1918 ( Chevrolet Series D), which used a 36-horsepower overhead valve 288-cubic-inch V8, but it remained in production for only a year. The 1955 Chevrolet was the first successful Chevrolet with an optional V8 engine. It was available in three models: the 150, 210, and Bel Air. It is considered a huge turning point for the manufacturer and a major success. The 1955 Chevrolet (sometimes referred to as ' 55 Chevy) is an automobile which was introduced by Chevrolet in Autumn 1954 for the 1955 model year.
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