The 1955 Chevrolet (also known as the ’55 Chevy) is a car that was debuted by Chevrolet in autumn 1954 for the 1955 model year. It is regarded as a significant turning point for the manufacturer and a tremendous success. The 150, 210, and Bel Air were the three types available.
The 1955 Chevrolet was the first successful Chevrolet with a V8 engine option. Chevrolet had previously manufactured a car with a V8 in 1918 (Chevrolet Series D), which featured a 36-horsepower overhead valve 288-cubic-inch V8, but it only lasted a year.
In 1955, Chevrolet opted to equip their new automobile with an overhead valve V8 engine design comparable to the 1949 Oldsmobile “Rocket 88” V8 engine, which had been a GM success previously. Chevrolet’s new 265-cubic-inch overhead valve V8 was meant to be smaller, lighter, and more powerful than prior V8s in the car industry, earning it the moniker “Chevy small block.”
The new small block engine in the 1955 Chevrolet, on the other hand, had some teething problems. There were several issues with broken pistons, and because there was no inbuilt oil filter, an external bypass filter was available as a factory or dealer option. Those who did not buy the engine with the “oil filter option” had to replace their oil frequently.