Belair Trivia 

Sedan? Post? Hardtop?   

I have been a bit confused about the terminology used to describe model types so I did a little research and came up with this from Custom Chevys, Inc.

I keep getting these questions about what a "Hardtop" really is. Well, in short words, a "Hardtop" is a Coupe, totally different from a Sedan, 2 Doors or 4 Doors. Moreover, many Classic Car Collectors try making a comparison between:

a) 2 Doors Post (2 Doors Sedan) And 2 Doors No Post (2 Doors Hardtop)

b) 4 Doors Post (4 Doors Sedan) And 4 Doors No Post (4 Doors Hardtop)

The truth is, there should be no comparison between a 2 Doors Post and a 2 Doors No Post. The first one is a SEDAN, while the second one is a COUPE, and there is a world of difference among the two. In fact it was called "HARDTOP", given its resemblance to a Convertible, with the exception that the TOP was not "SOFT", as in the Convertible.

By the same reasoning, there should be no comparison between a 4 Doors Post and a 4 Doors No Post. The first one is, again, a SEDAN, while the second one is a COUPE.

While 2 Doors Hardtops can be found anywhere within the so called "Tri-5's", Chevrolet built the first 4 Doors Hardtop in the second half of 1956, to fill the demand for a Sports vehicle with the convenience of 4 Doors. Hence, there is no "1955 4 Doors Hardtop".

The production run for the 1956 4 Doors Hardtop was limited by time, so there are not too many left, unlike the 1957, which had a full production run; so there are still alot them on the road.

HARDTOPS, -2 Doors or 4 Doors- are vehicles with a much lower Top profile. So much so that the windshield on Hardtops is about 1" lower than in Sedans. Sedans are easly identified by two obvious points: 1) They have a Post. 2) The top is much higher, and sort of "bubble-like".

Here are the facts; Let them be Bel Air, 210, or 150. (or perhaps any 50's car):

1. A 2 Doors Post is in fact, a SEDAN; it is identical to a 4 Doors Sedan with the exception that it has 2 Doors instead of 4. In reality, a 2 Doors Post is so much like a 4 Doors Post, that even the windshield and back glass are the same high. Remember, it's still a SEDAN.

2. A Hardtop or Coupe, is a totally different story, 2 Doors or 4 Doors; On a Hardtop the Top of the car is much more lower, lower than any Sedan, 2 or 4 Doors. The main characteristic of a Hardtop is the lack of that (annoying?) Post in the middle of the car.

3. A Hardtop, 2 Doors or 4 Doors, will have no Post and the windshield high would be about 1" less than Sedans, making the car's Top look much lower, without that "bubble" effect seen on Sedans.

4. Finally if we take 50's definitions:

   a) Sedans are 2 or 4 Doors, but they both got that "Post".

   b) Hardtops or Coupes are 2 or 4 Doors, but they lack that "Post"

   c) Sedans have that "high Top" with the Post in the middle (even if they have 2 Doors)

   d) Hardtops have that "low profile Top" without the Post, with a windshield high just as the Convertible, which makes cars so streamlined, given them that style that collectors love.

Some unwise collectors tend to look at these vehicles based on the number of doors, 2 Doors or 4 Doors, but...

Unfortunately, they find out (sometimes too late) that a 2 Doors Post car looks almost identical than a 4 Doors Sedan, with the "bubble" Top and that Post in the middle.

Bottom Line:
2 or 4 Doors doesn't make the difference. What makes the difference is POST or NO POST.

This tells me that what I have is a 4 door sedan (has the post).