Car Sightings | Chevrolet Bel Air

In the streets of Manila chances of seeing classic or vintage cars are very much a rarity. You can’t find them on a daily basis, but when you do find one it gives you the nostalgic vibe even though you weren’t even born in that era when the car was first introduced. It also depends on anyone’s preference, but sometimes old school rules. There’s not much classic sighting you’ll find in the streets in Manila even in the old side, where the center of commerce used to prosper in the side of Escolta in Binondo.

Escolta itself is that forgotten past most people can’t even recall for its golden age, but in case you see a parked Chevy Bel Air there’s certainly old stories here.

On a sunny and busy Thursday afternoon chanced upon a white 1955 Chevy Bel Air parked beside The First United Building along Escolta Street. Although it doesn’t catch anyone’s attention on this side of Manila for those who lived long to remember it will surely give them nostalgia from that particular time where both car and building on a well-known street used to be the norm back in the day.

You can understand most people won’t even bother to notice this scene, but someone who appreciates the heritage of automotive and historical structure will certainly appreciate this perspective. The set up won’t even get an immediate noticed due to the vehicles passing through this side of the street at the same time the cars parked along Escolta Street is not going to give you the full nostalgia experience.





1955 Chevy Bel Air

Produced for the Chevrolet brand the Bel Air is an iconic for its popularity back in the day when it was first introduced in the 1950s. This particular car is the second generation of the long line of Bel Air models that has styling and power. This full-size classic is certainly a head turner in Manila populated by modern cars of today.

It’s only the old and outdated Jeepney that will complement this car due to its aesthetics. This version of the Chevy Bel Air is widely known for being modified of being tuned to have a powerful engine. Some even installed a V8 on it for street racing and even further modification that gave birth to the Chevy Bel Air Gasser.

This is also known for being used in drag racing with the Chevy Bel Gasser modification that features an exposed big block engine, fender well headers, ladder bars, and aluminium fuel tank. But that’s a rare find there and this Bel Air has been featured before usually hired as a Wedding car.



It is surely a welcome sight to see this American Classic in Manila streets and it was in the right place at the right time in a fair weather that a Chevy Bel Air was just parked beside a historical heritage that you’ll never see every day.