Chevrolet Bel Air 6th gen Origin
Chevrolet introduced the 6th generation in its line of Bel Airs in 1965. It had a different style than its previous generation, with a wheelbase that was increased to 5420 mm (213.3 inches). The general features of the wheelbase were not altered, but the new models came with a new grille having a lower extension under the bumper in a V shape. The 6th gen Bel Airs were characterized by round rear lights and curved window glasses. The prominent GM B platform was retained in the new models, and the available body styles included a 2-door and 4-door sedan and a 4-door wagon.
Unlike the preceding 5th gen Chevrolet Bel Air series, the interior design of the 6th gen models was entirely different. The new models also retained the standard 283 cu inches engine with 195 hp capability. Some of the features of the 1965 6th gen models were the stainless-steel belt, a signature for identification on the rear fenders, rocker molding, and a glove compartment. The Bel Air 9-seater wagons came with a light and power tailgate, a feature separating them from the Biscayne.
Chevrolet Bel Air 6th gen Overview
The predecessor of the 6th gen Bel Air was the 5th-generation model. In the second year of the 6th gen series, the automobiles got a new facelift, including features like a revised grille, forward-thrusting, and blunted front fenders. The Bel Airs also included double rectangular lamps with built-in backup lamps. The standard engine for the 1966 model year was the 250 cu inches with 155 hp capability, but the 427 cu inches V8 with around 425 hp capability was introduced. The 1967 model year came with a new body for the Bel Airs with bulging rear fenders as a distinguishing feature. The 2-door and 4-door sedans and the 6 and 9-seater wagons were retained. The rear lights were now triple rather than dual as in the previous year, while the standard engines were retained.
The 1968 models weren’t much different from the previous year’s models, although the wheelbase was stretched to 5450 mm (214.7 inches). They also came with a new grille design, and although not seen before on the previous Bel Airs, rear lights were mounted on the car bumpers. The cars also featured shoulder belts and side marker lights.
A new engine variant of 307 cu inches V8 was introduced in addition to the standard 250 cu inches V8. The 1969 models, retained the 1965 interior, rooflines, and chassis but had a different length, new body lines and fenders, and new back and front end. The wheelbase of cars was stretched to 5590 mm (219.9 inches), while the wagons had a new wheelbase of 217.7 inches.
The 1969 model year was the last year the 2-door sedan Bel Airs were produced and the name of station wagons in the Bel Air series was changed to Townsman, marking the recommencement of separate nameplates on Chevrolet’s station wagons. Chevrolet also brought back the 3-speed transmission, 4-speed transmission, the 3-speed Turbo Hydramatic automatic, and the 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmissions in 1969.
Chevrolet Bel Air 6th gen Production
There were only minor alterations to the 6th gen Chevrolet Bel Air series for the 1970 model year. The only notable change was the redesign of the front end. The 250 cu inches engine remained a standard engine in 1970 while the standard V8 engine was the 350 cu inches option with a 250 hp capability. Other engine variants of the 350 cu inches V8 were able to produce 265 hp, 300 hp, and 350 hp, respectively, with the top engine being a 454 cu inches V8 having 345 hp capability. The 7th-gen Bel Airs succeeded the 6th-gen Bel Air series.
The interiors of the 1966 6th gen Bel Airs were characterized by vinyl and cloth trims on sedans, while the wagons only featured vinyl interiors. The 307 cu inches V8 engine, introduced in 1968, powered the Bel Airs to run at a top speed capability of 105 mph at cruising speed. The standard 250 cu inches V8 powered the 1968 models to achieve 90 mph at cruising speed. The total assembled units of the 1965 models were around 379,200.
Chevrolet Bel Air 6th gen Price
At the start of this video, I mentioned that we would be looking at all the major details of the 6th gen Chevrolet Bel Airs. So, let’s find out how much these classic cars are sold.
The 6th gen of Bel Airs were not particularly expensive cars. The 1965 Chevrolet Bel Air, for instance, was initially offered between $2400 and $3000. Currently, the 1965 models range between $6,600 and $10,010. The current price range for the 1966 models is between $17,400 and $22,900. The current average selling price of the 1967 Bel Air models is $25,581.