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Advanced age members,How much did your 1st tri-five cost?

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#42 ·
I bought my first 55, a 2 door Bel Air sedan, for $25 in 1969. 265 and PG, one of the heads was off the engine and it was frozen up. The usual rust in the trunk doglegs and one front fender eyebrow but otherwise rust free. I put a 327 in it, along with switching to a manual trans. Took about a year to get it running, later on a painted it, put on a few hot rod parts, and a 4 speed. Drove it about 2-3 years, then converted it to a bracket racer. I sold it in 74 or 75 less engine and trans for $400 to make room for a 67 Camaro race car. I wouldn't have sold it then but I didn't have a place to store it.

I learned a whole lot about these cars with that one because nearly everthing was broken and repaired or replaced at some point along the way.
 
#43 ·
1st

My first trifive was a 57 2dr hdtp that I gave $800 for. I never actually drove that car. Had to sell because of hard times, while raising 3 girls.
Later, in 1982 bought my 55 2dr sedan for $3200. Wish I could buy
4-5 more at that price:sign0020: Dwight
 
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#44 ·
My first trifive was a 57 210 two door sedan 6 cyl three speed. Put a used 283 in it from a boneyard and a Hurst mystery shifter. Couple months later painted it red. Traded a 52 Buick 2 door sedan in on it and gave 300.00 difference (at $25.00 per week).
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I traded it for a 60 Impala 2 door hardtop 283 w/3speed. Ended up trading it for a 55 ragtop and I got 500.00 in the trade. Back then you couldn't give away a convertible. In fact it wouldn't start one morning and I beat all the glass out with a bumper jack and drug it to the local scrap yard.
 
#46 ·
$50.00 It was a gypsy red and shoreline beige beauty. 6cyl. auto. I bought it from a friend of my father who had saved it for his daughter, but it having been her family car for 10 years she didn't want it. This was in 1965. That car is the reason I love 55 chevys today.
 
#47 ·
Not advanced age but,

My grandfather bought me my 57 when i was 14 for $1,500 in 1991. It was a shell of a car with no front end, no drive train. Then a year later I bought a 4 door with a drive train and a front end for $1,000. Pieced together the car I have today, with my fathers help.
 
#50 · (Edited)
Bought my first in 1976, a Handyman 57 2dr 150 wgn driver w a six/stick for a C note. I had it a month b4 I planted it in an oak tree crotch off a banked curve at the end of a marked 1/4 on the first run out in the country after putting in a built 350. I still carry a scar from my split gourd that night. Last time I drank b4 or while racing :rolleyes: and near the end of my street racing days, got smart soon after. It ran like a raped nun, but handle or stop? NOOOOOOO.Who thought about that stuff fresh from overseas and 21 YO?
 
#51 ·
I bought my first and only '55 in 1973 for $600.00, 283 with 4 speed, BelAir post car. Got it home, couldn't get into the trunk, had to crawl through the back seat and there were boxes in the trunk, thought it might be garabage, but it was an Elderbock intake and a set of long tube Hooker headers, all brand new. Still have the car, always been a driver and show it some now. But have invested my kids inheritance in it. Oh, well, still love the car and the grandkids really love it, call it PaPaws Five-Five. Been here 37 years now. Charles :wavey:
 
#52 ·
I bought my first tri five in '64 for $250. It was a 150 two door post with 6 cylinder and three speed.
That old car burned so much oil that I had to carry a gallon can of oil in the trunk if I was going to much farther than just the local area. I can still remember the rod bearings knocking when I began to run low on oil!
That old six never did quit but I finally pulled it out and replaced it with a 265 from a wrecked '55.
 
#53 ·
My '57 was my first car and I got it from my Grandma in '74 when it got a bit big for her to drive (she had to sit on a pillow to see out!). I got it for a very good price [if you know what I mean.]

I had a $50 parts car and a '57 Pontiac for about $150.:deal:
 
#54 ·
oldfart said:
This should be an interesting post & make the younger crowd say "Darn" under their breath.:sign0020:
In 1965 I was paying $10.a week for room & board.The job I had paid about $40.a week.
I bought an aqua & ivory 55 Chevy convertible for $100.The guy I bought it from let me pay it off at $25. a week.On the 4th week I drove it home.
It had a 6 cylinder & 3 on the tree.Back then 55s,6s & 7s were everywhere. I kept it for a while & eventually sold it for $175. & was so happy w/myself for the "big" profit I made.If I only knew.:rolleyes:

The picture is NOT the car I had.It was close to whats pictured.
Click to expand...
I paid $300 in 1963 for a 1956 Bel Air 2 door sedan black and ivory with a 265 and a powerglide. I traded the '56 in 1965 for a 1960 Impala 4 door hardtop. I never did like that '60 Impala. I still miss that first '56. It took me until 2007 to get another '56 Chevy. This one I'm keeping forever!!
 
#55 ·
FIRST '55 CHEVY

I bought my first '55 2dr H/T, which I still own, in July 1959 for $750. It was a two tone Ivory/Black, but the paint code says it is all Black. I have asked others who have similar painted cars and find the same thing. May have been a Dealer option??? This car has gone through a daily driver, drag racer, and now restored to original with a modern drive train. I have owned many '55s over the years, even towing one '55 with another. I now own two and enjoy every time I get into one and drive down the road with the wind in my hair! Well, maybe just the wind! Keep those Trifives rolling!
 
#56 ·
I bought my first tri-five in 1966 for $50. It was a `57 210 4-door, Dusky Rose & Ivory, 283, 3 on the tree. Drove it just under one year until I totalled it. For the next 29 years I did Camaro's, GTO's and Corvettes. I didn't even know I was in the market for another tri-five until we saw our current wagon with a "For Sale" sign in the window sitting in a driveway. Bought it that day for $7500 and probably over-spent since it needed everything replaced! But I still love it and will probably keep this one a long time (unless a `61 Impala or `67 Nova suddenly comes along).
:stupid:
 
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#57 ·
Bought my 55 for $85.00 the last day of school my sophomore year 1966 and drove it till march 1968.Sold it for $100.00 then bought it back in 1970 for $75.00 and made a drag car out of it and raced it till 1972.Has been parked since then,but is on the road back to the strip I hope spring of 2010.It is the 55 SD in my avatar.On a side note I had been driving my gradpaws 1957 International Travelall till I got my 55,last year the widow of the guy that had bought the IHC called me and gave me the old truck.That is my next project after I get my 55 running,it will make a nice tow unit.
 
#58 ·
$150.00 in july, 1972. And no..... it did not look like this back then.
It had been used as a parts car. Half the non-original engine was in the trunk the first time I saw the car.
Image


$100.00 in august, 1975. Pretty much the way she sets in the photo.
(photo taken on our 30th ann together) :)
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$150.00 in january, 1980. People called it junk and laughed at it.
For a better idea of what the car looked like that then visit my cardomain page www.cardomain/id/rj_lyn)
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Paid $1,000 for the windowed Delivery in october, 1981.
Image


There was also a (real) BelAir 2-door Sedan in october, 1974 for $40 and drove it home.
A BelAir 2-door Hardtop for $25 in 1978, no engine/trans/or interior to speak of.
And another one-owner 210 4-door Sedan in summer of 1985 for $125.00.
 
#60 ·
I bought my 55 in Allendale S,C. in 1984 while on a hunting trip. We Stopped at a bar for some refreshment and I could not help but see the headers under the 55 sitting out front. When I went into this fine establishment I was introduced to the guy shooting pool at THE pool table. He wanted 1,800.00 for the car.
This is a gypsy red and shoreline beige HT with a 327 and 4 speed.
I didn't have the coin and he gave me his phone number if I wanted to see if I could work it out. This was in October. I called him back in Feb. and he still had it but wanted 2,000.00. I said I would think about it. He called two days later and wanted to know if 200.00 was keeping from buying the car and I said yes. He said come get it for 1800.00. I took my wife up to see the car the following sat. and had to meet at the bar since I didn't know where he lived.

Here he came down US 301 downshifting the 4 speed. My wife looked at me and said buy that sucka. I can still see the image, man was that thing cool.
 
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