Chevrolet brought back a beloved name one more time with the open-topped 2002 Bel Air Air Concept—to mixed reviews.
If the name didn’t tip you off, a glance at the dash and instrument panel will make it clear that this Chevy concept was a tribute to one of the brand’s most memorable cars. The panel is, of course, a stylized version of the 1955-56 Bel Air setup, with crescent-shaped nacelles left and right with three large dials in the center.
When the design exercise made its debut at the 2002 North American Auto Show in Detroit, it was the first time the Bel Air name had appeared in the USA since 1975. However, the name had continued on in Canada as the base model of Chevy’s full-sized line through 1981, which might be news to many Americans. When the downsized B-body Chevrolets appeared in 1977, it seemed the Bel Air name had gone away for good.
A continuing glance reveals more ’50s retro features—-note the column-mounted shift lever for the 4L60E automatic transmission and the full-width bench seats. The upholstery was all fabric, no slick leather here, but the three large, round dials on the dash actually service a high-end digital audio system. Another neat retro touch was the fuel filler hidden in the left rear tail lamp, just like the ’56 Chevy and a number of other General Motors cars of the ’50s.
Like the original Tri-Five Chevys, the Bel Air concept was of body-on-frame construction, with a hydroformed ladder frame reportedly borrowed from the Chevy Trailblazer mid-sized SUV. While this mission seemed to cry out for a small-block V8, here the powerplant was a pilot verson of the 3.5-liter Vortec inline five from the Atlas engine family, with a turbocharger boosting its output to 315 hp.
When the Bel Air appeared at the Detroit and Chicago shows in 2002, many observers noted a resemblance to the equally retro 2001-05 Ford Thunderbird—except, that is, for the Chevy’s high, almost SUV-like beltline and tall stance. Developed under the direction of Wayne Cherry, GM’s design VP from 1992 to 2004, the show car’s styling was panned by Car and Driver in a 2016 retrospective, where it was named among “The Worst Concept Cars of the Past 20 Years.” Reportedly, the Bel Air was stripped for parts a few years later and eventually scrapped. Now that the Motor City’s retro phase has apparently passed, we probably won’t see the Bel Air name again.
I’m sure this won’t be the last we hear of the Bel Air name. All the car companies retain the rights to many names that they may or may not be currently using. Ford waited 45 years to “bring back” the Maverick, this time in the form of a hybrid front wheel drive compact pickup truck. Next year Chevrolet might decide to “bring back” the Bel Air as an electric 3-wheeled dump truck, or whatever.
I could see myself trading in my 3rd Gen Honda Insight on an electrified coupe version of this. More power to it@!
I agree with Car and Driver.
The modern version of Belair convertible seems passable, however, please offer many options like series 150,210, belair, nomad…Personally I’d go for Belair coupe with 6 cylinder, automatic. Now I have several concerns that I have is: 1) price NEEDED to be affordable for EVERYONE because I was forced to keep my ‘97 Ford escort with 231,000 miles on it since I bought it brand new and on disability insurance pension in which isn’t much to go by 2) Engine compartment needed to be EASY-TO-WORK-WITH because many of us can’t afford the expensive mechanical labor nowday! 3) engine options needed to be given flexibility in options like 6, V8 to begin with 3) MORE color (interior, paint) flexible options to begin with. If you, GM folks listen really GOOD. Your sales will explode like how they did in the 50’s
I would like to add by notifying GM that I need a full, thick, cushioned bench to support my chronic backache (spinal cord injury) and doesn’t need a radio since I am deaf at-birth. Only options that I need are: power brake, power steering, charcoal tinted window shield, cruise control with metallic red paint on red interior
I agree with Car and Driver. It’s the anti-ute, combining car utility with truck style.
It really does look like a poor knock off of the last T-Bird, which wasn’t that great either…
At least the 2002 T-bird actually looked like a T-bird. This Bel Air concept, it looks like GM Design phoned it in.
Definitely not one of GM Styling’s better moments. The interior is attractive, the exterior . . . . .
Heard the joke about the AMC Pacer? Someone sneezed in a Gremlin. This balloon looking Bel Air fits the part as well.