Шевроле Бель Эйр: Американдық толық көлемді автомобиль тарихы

American full size automobile

The Chevrolet Bel Air is a full size car produced by Chevrolet for the 1950–1981 model years. Initially, only the two door hardtops in the Chevrolet model range were designated with the Bel Air name from 1950 to 1952. With the 1953 model year, the Bel Air name was changed from a designation for a unique body shape to a premium level of trim applied across a number of body styles. The Bel Air continued with various other trim level designations, and it had gone from a mid level trim car to a budget fleet sedan when U. S. production ceased in 1975. Production continued in Canada, for its home market only, through the 1981 model year.

From 1954 through 1969, GM Canada produced a unique Bel Air based Pontiac marketed as the Laurentian. While body panels resembled contemporary U. S. Pontiacs, the Canadian Pontiac Laurentian had the chassis, power train, wheelbase, even the interior (except for the instrument panel), of the Chevrolet Bel Air. These models were exported in SKD kit form in factory right hand drive to right hand drive markets, such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and locally assembled under the Pontiac marque. All RHD export ceased after 1968 at the behest of GM in the United States.

While the last Bel Air 2 door sedan was available in the United States in 1969, Chevrolet introduced a Canadian market only two door hardtop, the Bel Air Sport Coupe, from 1970 to 1975. Based on the Impala Sport Coupe, this new model featured Bel Air trim at a lower price than the Impala. Each year through 1975, this model's body followed the design of the contemporary Impala Sport Coupe. The 4 door sedan and station wagon continued in production, identical to the U. S. models. For 1976, the Canadian Bel Air Coupe featured the same body as the Impala Custom Coupe, with the large fixed rear quarter window and frameless front door glass. Unlike the United States, all 1976 Canadian full size Chevys (including the Bel Air) came with steel belted radial tires and an electric rear window defroster as standard equipment. Although the last Bel Air was produced in 1975 in the U. S., the Canadian big Chevy lineup continued to include the Bel Air for 1976 and beyond in two door, four door and station wagon body styles. The U. S. 1976 Impala line included an "S" model line, consisting of a 4 door sedan, to function as the Bel Air's replacement.

In Canada, Chevrolet retained the Bel Air as its lowest priced full size car through the 1981 model year. For 1977, Canadian Bel Airs received the same downsizing as their Impala/Caprice counterparts in the U. S. Body styles offered during this period were a four door sedan, two door coupe and station wagon. Reflecting the smaller size of these downsized big cars was a lineup of generally smaller engines for improved fuel economy with Chevy's 250 cubic inch six cylinder reinstated as standard power in sedans for the first time since 1973, with the 305 V8 available as an option in sedans and standard on wagons. The 350 V8, available in both models, was now the top option as the larger 400 small block and 454 big block V8s were no longer available. Standard equipment on Bel Airs during this period included small hubcaps, cloth and vinyl upholstery in sedans or all vinyl in wagons, cigarette lighter, ashtray, automatic dome light for front doors, full carpeting, Astro Ventilation, Delco Freedom battery, variable ratio power steering, power front disc brakes and Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission. Unlike most previous model years and body styles where only two taillights were used per side, the Bel Air shared the Impala's rear end triple taillight setup. The 1980 Bel Air along with other full size Chevrolets, was revised with all new exterior sheet metal, which helped improve aerodynamics and thus fuel economy; the car was also fitted with a new grille, identical to that of the higher priced Impala; the rear end triple taillight setup also continued to be shared with the Impala. Also that year, the engine lineup was revised with the inline six replaced by a new 3.8 liter or 229 cubic inch V6 based on the small block V8 as the base engine in sedans. The new base V8 (standard on wagons, optional on sedans) was a smaller 267 cubic inch small block with two barrel carburetor, while the 305 small block (optional on all models) got a increase to thanks to the change from a two barrel to four barrel carburetor. The 350 V8 was now restricted to police option vehicles. Another new option for 1980 81 was the Oldsmobile built 350 Diesel. With a dramatic downturn in full size car sales, the Bel Air was dropped after the 1981 model year, as were a number of other low trim full size cars in the Canadian market including the Pontiac Laurentian, Mercury Marquis Meteor, and the Ford LTD Custom 500.

In 2002, a concept Bel Air convertible was shown at the North American International Auto Show. It features a few styling and design cues from the best remembered tri five (1955–57) models, such as the chrome windshield frame, traffic light viewfinder, and a gas filler cap behind the tail light, similar to 1956–1957 Chevy's gas cap behind the chrome trim on the back of the tail fin, but more reminiscent of the 1948–1958 Cadillac gas cap tail light. It also features the same body on frame hydroforming technology (used in the frame rails of the Corvette and GM's midsize sport utility vehicles) and a sheet metal body, on a wheelbase, and a track. Suspension is short long arm up front and Hotchkiss drive in the rear. It rides on five spoke aluminum wheels with red line tires and anti lock discs all round. The elegant, yet simple interior features a twin element instrument panel, column mounted gearshift and bench seats covered in soft high tech fabrics colored red to match the exterior that are cleverly designed to slide forward for easier backseat entry. It also served as a showcase for their new turbocharged inline five cylinder concept engine based on the L52 (Vortec 3500), straight 5 truck engine. According to a September 2002 GM press release, the all aluminum 3.5 L (211 cu in) 20 valve DOHC engine, with a bore of , and a stroke of , that delivers up to and of torque, mated to a Hydra Matic 4L60 E electronically controlled four speed automatic. A virtual "turbo boost" button on the steering wheel activates the powertrain control module to trigger a more aggressive spark and fueling calibration for maximum horsepower. It also led the 13th Annual Stater Brothers Route 66 Rendezvous as the official vehicle in September 2002. General Motors has shown no interest in producing the car. In 2006, it was spotted stripped down in a GM parking lot.

During the 1960s, Bel Air sedans were available in export markets such as Australia, where they featured right hand drive. Due to Australian regulations requiring amber rear turn signal lamps, these Bel Air sedans featured Impala style triple taillights during the 1960s. The center lamp was the amber turn signal lamp and the innermost lights were backup lamps. Most of these RHD Bel Airs used a 1961 Pontiac instrument panel.