1953 Chevy Description

The year 1953 was important to Chevrolet with the debuting of new sheet metal. A new one-piece windshield was introduced and the styling was boxier than previous years. The grille now featured three teeth with round parking lights at either end of the horizontal grille bar. Side trim consisted of a single spear beginning at the leading edge of the front wheel well and continuing just short of the taillights, except on the Bel Air models, where the spear doubled back to end at the gravel guard at the leading edge of the rear fender.

A 108-hp, 235.5-cid, 6-cyliner was the new base engine. Cars with the Powerglide got a horsepower boost to 115 hp. The 235 cubic inch inline six-cylinder babbit (bearing material) equipped, now used full pressure oiling to the rods. All engines by 1954 had this feature. The Powerglide, which was a hit, was equipped with an automatic low gear which in past years was driver selected. The Powerglide was now a true automatic transmission as it shifted automatically from low into drive at the appropriate time. Power steering was now an option.

Along with a completely new design, new model names were introduced for the 1953 Chevrolet model year. The budget Special's became One-Fifty's, the Deluxe's were now a mid-range line named Two-Ten's and the Bel Air became the top of the line model. The Fleetline was discontinued.

The Two-Ten series was the volume seller of the Chevrolet family ironically, it played host to the year’s rarest single model, a $2093 convertible that generated just 5617 orders. More than four times as many buyers opted for the Bel Air ragtop that cost only $82 more.

The Bel Air series featured a wide chrome strip of molding from the rear fender bulge, to the rear bumper. The inside of this stripe was painted a coordinating color with the outside body color, and Bel Air scripts were added inside the strip. Lesser models had no model designation anywhere on the car, only having a Chevrolet crest on the hood and trunk. Bel Air interiors had a massive expanse of chrome across the lower part of the dashboard, along with a Deluxe Bel Air steering wheel with a full chrome horn ring. Carpeting and full wheel covers rounded out the Bel Air standard equipment.

Production Numbers

Prices

Engines

1953 Chevy Model Identification

Serial Number Tag and Cowl Tag Locations

Location:

Engine numbers: 6 cylinder on crankcase to rear of distributor. Engine numbers were GA-1001 to GA-1031807.

Serial numbers are on a plate on the drivers side, front door hinge pillar.

Second letter in serial indicates assembly plant as follows:

Sequence Numbers: All Assembly Plants Start With "1001".

Style No.: Is a combination body style number. The first two digits represents the year. The next two digits (10) indicates the GM car division (Chevrolet). The next two digits is the style (Model) of the body.

Body No.: Is the sequence or production rotation in which the body was made. The prefix represents the plant in which it was made.

Trim No.: Is the combination number of the trim used in the body.

Paint No.: Is the paint or color combination used on the body.