All Chevy Tri-Five Classics - The History

These new Chevrolet models, spanning across the 150, 210, Bel Air and Nomad, with their new "shoebox" body styling and an all-new chassis, are most famous for the introduction of the revolutionary Small-Block V8 engine in 1955, which quickly became a favorite of hot-rodders and cemented Chevrolet's performance image. While all three years share a common foundation and feature a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, each year possesses distinct styling and design traits, progressing from the clean look of the '55 to the refined full-width grill of the '56, and culminating in the dramatic tailfins and extensive chrome trim of the highly-sought-after '57 Chevy, often referred to as a "Baby Cadillac."