Sixty years. That is how many have passed since this Chevrolet 210 Two-Door rolled off the production. Little did the one who ordered it back then that it would survive almost seven decades. Even though it looks gorgeous, the car has so many flaws that you can't help but fall in love with it. Paint chips and gauges that don't work give it character.
Chevrolet kept the 210 or Two-Ten in production between 1953 and 1957, giving it its name by shortening the production series number 2100 by one digit. It was a trend back in the 1950s, and the 210 had to comply. It saw the light of day as a replacement for the Styleline DeLuxe, but was discontinued after the 1957 model year to make room for the Biscayne.
Sales numbers started to plunge after it was the best-selling Chevrolet model in 1953 and 1954. The carmaker wanted more. Customers wanted more. That is why the Bel Air of the era started outperforming the 210, even though it came with the exact same luxury equipment.
But the one we have right here is not exactly one that checked all those luxury options. It doesn't have power steering, power brakes, power windows, or power seats. It rocks a gorgeous two-tone paint in maroon and silver over an interior in silver vinyl and black fabric with a flowery pattern, which covers the bench seats and door panels.
The four-spoke steering wheel frames a rev meter and a speedometer scaled up to 110 mph (177 kph). The engine, a 350-cubic-inch V8, starts with no hesitation whatsoever. The 350 wasn't in the lineup in 1956. The lineup started with the 235 cubic-inch Blue Flame L6 rated at 140 horsepower, while the 265-cubic-inch TurboFire with dual-quad barrel carburetors and 225 horsepower sat at the top of the range.
Photo: Maple Motors | YouTube
This 68-year-old Chevy Two-Door underwent a heart transplant at some point. The odometer shows 50,400 miles (81,111 kilometers), but we can't possibly guess when the counting started. It was probably after the swap.
Chevrolet offered three transmission choices: the three-speed Synchromesh manual, the three-speed Synchromesh manual with overdrive, and the two-speed Powerglide auto box. This Chevy comes with an automatic with a B&M shifter.
The blower works, so the AC system cools the cabin properly. There is no radio on board, the wipers are stuck, and the horn is dead.
Once the test drive begins, the dealership rep realizes that the speedometer is also just for the show. That needle doesn't move a single inch. The steering pulls to the left when the driver hits the brakes, it pulls to the right if the lets go of the steering wheel.
Noise, gauges that don't work, and a gazillion paint chips
The insulation is so poor that you get the feeling you have to yell at those sitting next to you so that they can hear you. Wind and tire noise, you name it, you've got it! The suspension, however, filters the road imperfections without sending more useless discomfort into the cabin. A modded suspension brought the 1956 Chevy closer to the ground for a more aggressive stance.
The turn signals have to be turned off manually, but, hey, that was 1956. To fill the gas tank, you really need to know your way around the car. The test driver has to unclip the taillight on the left for the procedure, a solution that drivers of today would never come to consider.
Photo: Maple Motors | YouTube
The chrome looks good, but the bodywork is full of paint chips and spots. A few cracks every here and there have altered the paint over the years. The most prominent of them all sits right in the middle of the hood. So, whoever buys the 1956 Chevy will have to fix those. The car rides on 14-inch aluminum Torque Thrust wheels.
The car is for sale with Maple Motors in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The listing indicates several upgrades, such as a dual exhaust, a ten-bolt rear end, and aftermarket gauges (those that don't work included).
Whoever falls in love with the 1956 Chevy 210 Two-Door will have to pay $29,900 and will be able to drive it home, fix those paint chips, and drive it without a care in the world, turning heads everywhere it goes.
It may not be as rare as the 1953 convertible or the Del Ray Club Coupe with the vinyl interior. But it's got style and so many flaws that make it loveable.
The average price for the Chevy 210 is around $47,000, as reported by classic.com. However, all original examples in mint condition can go well above the $200,000 mark. The most expensive such model ever sold was a 1955 Chevrolet 210 Custom Coupe. Someone paid $291,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for as much as 4291,500 back in January 2020.
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