The First Bel Air
In the showroom ...looking for a replacement for our '41 Ford, my parents had in mind either a fleetline or styleline two-door. I was only 8...and I still remember their looking at a black one, which did nothing for my young leanings. The salesman walked us over to one with the new Powerglide transmission, but my very conservative parents were having none of that. All of a sudden, my Mother spied a shiny, almost yellow green with a black top, Bel Air [1950] over in the corner.
She left us behind and made a beeline for that car...probably unaware of the significance of the first year body style. All she knew was she liked its looks a lot!!! I remember sitting in the car and the smell which was from the vinyl type interior and headliner...the latter styled as a convertible's with roof bows and all. The salesman came over and told us it was called a "hardtop convertible"...for body style...thus the interior styling. With the side windows all down, the large open area was so noticeable and seemed to make the car look longer from the outside. In a very few minutes my Mother said she wanted that car; it was delivered to us and stayed in our family for 7 years...taking us on Florida and California trips "in style".
After selling it, we would frequently see the car around town, since there were none like it...and amazingly, some years later, I found and bought an old issue of Motor Trend which tested an identical car...color and all! Honestly, my Mother always referred to that Bel Air as her benchmark for everything good in a car.