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Golden 1955

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have what I think is a pretty cool find I picked up a 55 Chevy a few months back and had the chance to start looking at the car it's a project

as I was looking around the car I noticed several layers of paint on the firewall

I saw remnants of what was a gold color paint I've never seen that color on a tri-five before so I looked at the trim tag

Trim number is 511
Paint number is 689

It has the gold paint on the dashboard and around the edges of the trunk of course has been repainted a few times over the years but looking at that and the trim and paint codes I think this is one of the approximately 5,000 golden anniversary 55 4 door sedans
 
#2 ·
Welcome!

That's a pretty nice find – especially if you want to get it back to the way it once was ... 100% original.

I have heard that a number of these were repainted standard colours and put back into dealership circulation back in the day. So less than 5000 actually hit the roads.
 
#5 ·
It is not correct that 5000 were made. The number was smaller. Only one per dealership and that number was less than the 5000

Even so, they are fewer now. This doesn't equate to being more valuable however. It is still a 4 dr and the value of them is increasing as more are getting restored and fixed up.

Good luck with the project.

Ever around Seymour, stop in, I talk only Chevrolet in my shop.....most of the time. All my contact information is listed below the photo of my 998 point 55 restored convertible.

Mikey
 
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#6 · (Edited)
https://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91538

https://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92157

As I noted in these earlier threads, 689 isn't documented in any of the standard places, but is very much a real paint code. In plain English, that means nobody knows how to mix the color for you, as it isn't on any of the standard paint charts.

As I recall, the closest thing I found was the gold used in 1958 and 1962. My best guess for a close match:

1958 Chevy Anniversary Gold Metallic GM paint code 918A or 986B, D, or E. That cross references to PPG 21526.

1962 Chevy Anniversary Gold. That cross references to PPG 22157.

You can get a small sample mixed up at a PPG paint store and see which looks closer. I thought the '58 was closer on the car I saw, but you may think otherwise.

It would be great to see one of these cars restored to original.
 
#7 ·
Gold looks nice:


"Painted in its original special color of 689-Anniversary Gold, one of only 5,000 painted in this color to commemorate Chevrolets fifty millionth car."

Plenty of sources say 5000 were built. In a previous thread David Y says: "As far as how many were produced, I think 5000 is rather high, 500 seems more reasonable." Either way I would not know ... but 5000 does sound high, given how few are left.
 
#8 ·
I had this 50 Million brochure on file, if anyone is interested in taking a look at it:
 

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#9 ·
#11 ·
All originals in my files......

Mikey
 

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#12 ·
AND ... it was GM (General Motors - all divisions) 50 Millionth cars, not just Chevrolet!~ They knew the 50 Million mark was going to be achieved during the 1955 model year, so GM brass selected a Chevy 2-dr Hardtop to BE that 50 Millionth car (Chevy was always their highest volume division)...

For the OP: I think you should *restore* the car to it's original colors and interior (as it's coded)... :)
 
#13 ·
#15 ·
Go for the Gold

I absolutely agree with the team here.
You are in the perfect spot to revive a very Special 55 Chevy.
An Original 55 Golden More Door would surely be a Prize to Possess!
Do a bit more research to make sure it is the "One Of" status that makes it a worthy treasure and We Are Here to help you achieve your Goal.
I am a sucker for the Rare.
Please consider the Chance you have in front of you!
I would Love to see it as she once was.
Your Project, Your Choice.
Chief :bowtier:
 
#16 ·
I had a look at one here in Melbourne, it was not gold though but a very similar story, this was repainted white/blue but the cowl tag gave up what it was, like Mikey said another 4 door, but I do believe they stand out in the original gold color :anim_25: with the restore :tu
 
#17 · (Edited)
As I said in my earlier post (and threads), I have seen one in person. Not only that, I crawled all over it with a fine-toothed comb, as I was actually tempted to buy it.

The good news about the gold cars is - other than the paint color, they're very ordinary 4 door '55 Bel Airs. There's no weird trim parts to chase down or anything like that.

One could argue that it's really just another 4 door '55. I disagree. It may not be worth substantially more than other 4 doors, but it is a unique piece of GM history. Let me say that again - a unique piece of history.

Chief makes a good point. Like many others here, I've been messing with these cars long enough to know what I'm talking about. So, take a close look at the photos I took of the one I looked at. It was the real deal. That paint code 689 is the key.

I can say with certainty - if you show up at a car show with a nicely restored Anniversary Gold '55, you can rest assured you won't be parked next to an identical one!

Had I bought the one I looked at, I would have made up a sign explaining what it actually was, and collected some memorabilia as well. That would make it easier to explain to show attendees what they're actually looking at.

(Of course, if I bought a right hand drive tri-five out of Australia, I'd do the same thing with a sign and documentation. Not that that'll ever happen - but John's been keeping me posted when a nice one comes along.)
 
#18 ·
angs1957 said:
I had a look at one here in Melbourne, it was not gold though but a very similar story, this was repainted white/blue but the cowl tag gave up what it was, like Mikey said another 4 door, but I do believe they stand out in the original gold color :anim_25: with the restore :tu
Click to expand...
I've heard that some of these cars were repainted in a different color by the dealer if they were having trouble selling the one they had in inventory.

After all - the dealers were in business to move inventory. If someone wanted their gold '55, great. If it sat around too long, then do what it takes to sell it.
 
#19 · (Edited)
The interior material was also different than other '55 BelAirs, as it used a 'gold toned cloth... I doubt you will find the original material used, even in reproduction (due to the small numbers and demand), but if you get some good photographs of the original material, one should be able to find some 'similar' material, and Ciadella will make the seat covers for you. Gina might even know of a 'close' material to use??

PS. I *might* be wrong about the unique gold cloth interior (it's been 40+ yrs since I saw one of these). My 1955 Trim combination chart (from the Hot One) shows 511 interior as being: Dark brown pattern cloth - beige imitation leather. Maybe Gina has this in reproduction???
 
#20 · (Edited)
BamaNomad said:
The interior material was also different than other '55 BelAirs, as it used a 'gold toned cloth... I doubt you will find the original material used, even in reproduction (due to the small numbers and demand), but if you get some good photographs of the original material, one should be able to find some 'similar' material, and Ciadella will make the seat covers for you. Gina might even know of a 'close' material to use??

PS. I *might* be wrong about the unique gold cloth interior (it's been 40+ yrs since I saw one of these). My 1955 Trim combination chart (from the Hot One) shows 511 interior as being: Dark brown pattern cloth - beige imitation leather. Maybe Gina has this in reproduction???
Click to expand...
No - it's the standard brown interior #511. See my photo of the cowl tag at https://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91538&page=3
 
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