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05/06/2020 10:16 am
[PICS] A 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air from Australia
I've mentioned more than once that the 1960 Chevy is one of my favourite pieces of styling, and in post #27935 (24 April) I showed the Neo 2 door hardtop plus some other '60 Impalas.
I was just browsing the Trax website this afternoon and I see they are now taking pre-orders for their Select Series resin model of a 1960 full-size Chevy. With model manufacturers tending to favour the flattop, 2 door HT and convertible versions of this car it makes a nice change to see a 4 door sedan - and it's a plain vanilla Bel Air rather than a more predictable Impala.
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Their picture showing the front end gives the odd impression that the bright headlamp bezels are part of the grille surround, rather than being nested inside it, but it is a small, fuzzy photo so it's hard to be sure. The full-size Chevys were imported fully built so there weren't any local styling changes (the Trax website says the real lights had to be changed slightly to neet local regulations but they look like the normal 4 round rear lamps, as opposed to 6 on the Impala).
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Apart from that it looks like a tidy and refreshingly "clean" model which might appeal to some collectors outside Australia, with the usual caveat about Trax shipping charges and thoe dreaded customs duties on top of the AUD$ 170 sticker price.
Also on pre-order is a '58 Dodge Custom Royal in black
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or a rather garish White/Sapphire colour combo
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Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
05/06/2020 11:01 am
The inner tail lamp lenses should be amber. Looks like they might be.
Most sources indicate that Canadian plants supplied knocked down kits to GM Australia for local assembly.
05/06/2020 12:17 pm
Good looking models. The 1:1 '60 Chevy I had was my last car w/o power steering. It was, however, solidly dependable.
06/06/2020 5:38 am
Can you explain further, David? Were amber taillights an Aussie requirement?
American Bel Airs had two red taillights on either side. I don't know if backup lights were available on Bel Airs, and if they were, where they would go. On Impalas, of course, backup lights were the center lights of the trademark three lights per side.
06/06/2020 11:52 am
I don't know specifics. But if you look at Australian Chevrolets on google...
You will see they differed by having an amber lamp on each side in the rear. I'm referring to years between 1959 and 1968. I can only assume that was a governmental requirement.
06/06/2020 2:26 pm
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
07/06/2020 4:53 am
Love that Chevy...