La gamme des Chevrolet 1953 (marque rattachée a la puissante Général Motors) comprenait dix-sept modèles au total, dont l'un des plus populaires était la Bel Air "2400" Sedan, quatre portes, lancée cette année-là, et qui figurera également au catalogue en 1954. L'année 1953 marqua une étape importante dans l'histoire de la marque Chevrolet : ce fut celle du renouveau, de la refonte des modèles. La Bel Air demeurait la voiture familiale type, sage et robuste. L'événement chez Chevrolet, C'était plutôt le lancement de la Corvette…
   Sous le capot de cette Chevrolet pour "pères tranquilles", un 6 cylindres, dénommé "Blue Flame", qui connut une longue carrière : on le retrouvera sur quelques versions des "Hot Ones" (les Bouillantes), à savoir les Chevy millésimes 55, 56, 57 - la plupart de ces modèles recevront le tout nouveau V8 "Turbofire". Le "Blue Flame" développait de 108 à 115 ch suivant les versions, au nombre de quatre en 1953 : coach, berline, cabriolet et coupé hard top. La production totale de Chevrolet en 1953 atteignit l'incroyable score de 1 477 299 unités. La gamme des Bel Air contribua indiscutablement à ce succès.
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   The Chevrolet Bel Air was a series name of automobile produced by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, in the United States from the 1950 through 1975 model years. The Bel Air was Chevy's most expensive car when it was introduced, and it featured the division's first "hard top" model. The '55, '56, and especially '57 Bel Airs are among the most recognized American cars of all time and good examples of them (especially coupes and convertibles) are highly sought after by enthusiasts. Roomy, fuel efficient, and with tastefully restrained use of tail fins and chrome, they are seen by many as vastly superior to the oversized and overdecorated full-size models that would roll out of Detroit for the next 20 years.
   In 1955, the Bel-Air gave birth to the ever popular Nomad station wagon, which lasted throughout the fifties. Prior to being a Bel Air model, the Nomad had been a Corvette-based concept vehicle in 1953. That prototype was updated over 50 years later. Before that concept was brought back, however, another prototype was created in 1999.
   After 1958, the Bel Air was replaced by the Impala (1958-1985, 1992-1996, 2000 to present) as Chevy's prestige full-size model. At that time, Bel Airs (and the less expensive Biscayne) could easily be identified from the rear because they only had two taillamps per side; Impalas (and later, the top-line Caprice) had three taillamps per side. Also, because it featured a somewhat higher-grade interior trim and upholstery, and exterior brightwork than the Biscayne, families and other customers saw the Bel Air as an attractive, value-oriented alternative to the top-line Impala. Most of the same luxury items that were available on the Impala – e.g., automatic transmission, air conditioning, power brakes and power steering – were also available on the Bel Air.
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