Putting your money into a really good, running and driving Tri-Chevy is about as safe a motoring investment as you can make

Most ’50s American cars will get you noticed, but few have the style or cachet of the 1955-’57 Chevrolet, known as the Tri-Chevy. While many of its rivals were big, they weren’t necessarily all that clever, but the Chevrolet was a car that had brains as well as beauty. Compared with what had gone before, the Tri-Chevys were cutting-edge thanks to much sleeker bodyshells, greater levels of comfort and refinement, plus the option to specify a whole raft of extras from power steering to air conditioning. Kingpins gave way to steering knuckles while there was also a compact and powerful V8 available in all models – the legendary small-block V8.

More than half a century after the last examples were made, the Tri-Chevy still makes sense: it’s easy to maintain, relatively cheap to rebuild, plentiful and surprisingly usable – if somewhat big and thirsty.

Although the Tri-Chevy line may seem impossible to fathom, it’s really very straightforward. There was a major restyle each year, with three trim levels offered throughout production. The least expensive was the 150, the 210 sat in the middle, and at the top was the iconic Bel Air. However, with up to 19 body styles available, there’s an astonishing array of derivatives to choose from – it’s no wonder Chevrolet sold more than 1.5 million in the first year of production.

Stewart Homan runs Surrey-based Dream Cars, which sells more of these cars in the UK than anyone else. He comments: ‘The Tri-Chevy is one of the most sought-after American classics. Like early Corvettes and Mustangs, it’s an icon that will always be in demand. As a result, you can buy one and then sell it on without taking a big financial hit if you decide it’s not for you.

‘Tri-Chevys can be bought from just £6500, although you’d get only a six-cylinder 1956 sedan for that. Most buyers want a Bel Air, while the 1957 is the most popular year, and it has to be a V8 engine. The convertible is the most valuable body style. Combine all these in a mint-condition car and you could easily spend £40,000. One of the ultra-rare fuel-injected cars, with sympathetic upgrades such as disc brakes, power steering and newer engine and gearbox, can fetch more than half as much again.’

According to Stewart, placing values on these cars isn’t that straightforward, because it’s often a case of the right buyer being in the market at the right time. While completely original cars are often the most valuable, heavily modified examples can also fetch a lot of money. Upgrades that make the car more usable or reliable aren’t generally frowned upon if done properly, but there’s a lot of rubbish out there because it’s easy to buy some new trim and dress up a car that’s barely roadworthy.

If you’re nervous about the ownership proposition, Steve Chidler reckons you’ve got nothing to worry about.

He owns a 1957 210 two-door sedan with a 350cu-in engine and Hydramatic transmission. Says Steve: ‘On a run you should be able to manage about 10mpg, but these cars aren’t generally used frequently, so the fuel consumption doesn’t make a lot of difference. You quickly get used to the left-hand drive, but garaging them can be an issue: these cars are nearly 17 feet long and over six feet wide.’