There's something about a 1955 and 1956 Chevrolet sitting side by side that stops you in your tracks. Maybe it's the chrome. Maybe it's the fins just beginning to stretch toward the sky. Maybe it's the knowledge that these two cars — built just twelve months apart — helped define what American automotive style meant to an entire generation. Whatever it is, Atlantis Models has bottled it in plastic, and we've got both kits in stock right now.
The 1955 Bel Air: Where It All Started
The 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air was a genuine turning point. Out went the stodgy prewar styling; in came Harley Earl's all-new design — lower, wider, and unmistakably modern. The Atlantis Models 1/25 scale kit (#1374) does it full justice, built from the original vintage tooling with a one-piece body molded in white, clear, and chrome. What makes this one special is the engine choice: build it with the factory 265 cubic inch V-8 for a showroom-stock look, or drop in the blown 409 V-8 for a high-performance custom that would have turned heads at any drive-in on the strip. Newly tooled one-piece tires round out a kit that rewards careful builders with a display piece worth showing off.
The 1956: One Year Better
Chevy refined the formula for 1956 — a bolder grille, revised trim, and just enough change to make Tri-Five collectors argue about which year is the definitive one. The Atlantis U.S. Route 66 kit (#1391) leans into that heritage hard, right down to the name. Also built from original vintage tooling, this one gives you chrome trim options for the 150 Series, 210 Series, and Bel Air Series, so you can model your favorite variant of the car. Build it in stock ride height or raise it up for a cruiser stance. Opening hood, doors, and trunk add display drama, and the small block V-8 under the hood is there to be seen.
A Shelf Worth Stopping For
Side by side, these two kits tell a story — the story of a car company finding its voice, and a country falling in love with the open road. Whether you build one or both, they belong together. Pick up the 1955 Bel Air (#1374) and the 1956 Route 66 (#1391) from Shore Line Hobby and start building a little piece of American history.
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