I own what I believe to be a Golden Anniversary 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. It is a 4 door sedan, Style 55-10190, Body No. T4340, Trim No. 511, Paint No. 689.
This paint code does not show up on any of the 55 Chevy paint charts, and is a gawd awful gold.
I have never seen another one at any car show, nor advertised in Hemmings.
Could anybody shed any light on the number of these cars made?

Chevrolet started in 1912, so their "official" golden anniversary would be in 1962. I have heard about the 1955 Chevrolets painted gold in color though, and you are right, they are kinda sorta "gaudy" looking.....but interesting.

The trim #511 is what was used for the Gold cars.Its a Beige Vinyl with a brown cloth.This is a standard Bel Air interior color and was also used with maroon,tan,beige and brown cars.
689 is the special anniversary gold paint.There is nothing special about the car other than the optional Gold color.Due to the fact that it was only a special color no production figures are available.The BelAir 4 door is the only body style that I remember it being available in the color.If each dealer would have ordered one in 1955 there would be at least 10,000 painted that color.I have seen or heard of them being 6 or 8 cylinders, stick and automatic.They are not real rare but very intresting.The Gold was a very nice bright metallic color when new.In its old age it becaomes a dull brown that is not too actractive.
This should not be confused with the Special gold colored, gold trimed Spoort Coupe that was produced for the 50 millonth cars made by GM.

The car is a V8, with a powerglide. All of the rest of the options are pretty standard, with power steering being the only splurge.
I have owned the car for about 14 years, and have never ever seen another one advertised or at a show. If anyone is aware of others please let me know.
I have kept the car all stock, with the one change being two-toning the paint. The pure gold is butt ugly, but looks OK with the ivory top color.

There have been some magazine articles about the car/color...If I can find them I will send them to you.

I also own a Goldern Anniv car. Mine has the 689 paint code, and like you I also cant find any info on these cars. I sent an letter to Hemmings Classic Car, about this any I hope they respond in the next issue. My car is a 4- Door and has the orginal 265, with the powerglide, electric windowns and seat. It had the Power brake option but someone removed it and put the standard manual barke master cylinder.

Hi Paul,

I saw your letter in Hemmings Classic Cars, but unfortunately they did not add much to what is already readily known.
They cite the max production number of 5000, which is the common figure mentioned about this model, yet I suspect the actual figure is much lower, judging from the lack of knowledge, documentation, and surviving vehicles.

Perhaps a registry of these cars would be helpful to document numbers produced and surviving. Write me at willluceyverizon and perhaps we can get something going.

There never could be a production figure for the GOLD cars. The color was only a paint option number and Chevrolet never kept records on the number of particular colors produced. I would agree they were not "common" as few were seen on the streets when they were new.

Still, it is a paint code that does not show up on any paint charts for '55 (although I do believe it does show up on much later model Vettes), which make them a bit of an oddity. Also there is the oddity that they were only available in Bel Air trim level, four door sedan body styles, and only one choice of interior colors.

The paint option number can be found on charts that were published later in 1955 but true, not found on most. Also the color colud not be mixed, was available in pre-mixed only. This was true for a number of very metalic colors.
There was only one existing interior color that harmonized with the gold. That was the brown and biege whic was used with other exterior colors. Even that wasn't the best choice. The color was available on B.A 4 doors only. I saw everything from 6 Cyl. sticks to Power Pac Power Glides painted in GOLD. Being so metallic the color didn't hold up too well and many got a repaint after a few years.
I always thougt they looked pretty nice when new.

I own one of the ’55 BelAir Sedans in it’s original factory paint of Anniversary Gold. It only has 15,000 miles on it. Photo’s are posted with its story on my blog, www.classicsurvivor.com.

'There is nothing special about the car other than the optional Gold color.Due to the fact that it was only a special color no production figures are available.The BelAir 4 door is the only body style that I remember it being available in the color.If each dealer would have ordered one in 1955 there would be at least 10,000 painted that color.I have seen or heard of them being 6 or 8 cylinders, stick and automatic.They are not real rare but very intresting'.

With 5,000 or 10,000 of these cars being painted gold, what documentation is available to show this one may be the only non repaint, as you state?

The 55 gold color was in response to GM building their 50 millioth car,not their anniversary. The actual 50 millionth car is still in existence and I've heard it will be at the AACA's museum from May to Oct 2012 to celebrate Chevy's 100th.There was also a Anniversary Gold offered in 1962 Chevy's 50th anniversary.

There is a two part film on GMs 50 millionth car, which was a two door hardtop. Part One

Roger

Great film ... think of it, 50 million cars produced by a braintrust of individuals, long before the assistance of any computer. My hat's off those those folks who made it all happen.

Did you happen to notice how effortlessly that body and front end clip slipped into place on the assembly line?

I would be highly interested in seeing this special car, as would many others.

I'm curious what is your source for this information? I have heard so many stories over the years, that the car is in North Carolina, that it was completely gutted in a fire in recent years, etc.

BTW, Chevy's 100th anniversary was in 2011.

Jalapeno,I was very heavy in 5-6-7 Chevs all through the 70's and 80's.At a mini convention in Atlanta around 1978 or so a guy showed us actual parts off the 50 millionth car.He had the hood bird,AC ducts and some side trim,all plated gold.I was wary until he showed me the cowl tag Paint-SPEC trim- XXX.He did live in the Carolinas. After that I lost track of him and the car.Being a member of AACA I found out that this car is going to on display,but when I asked how and when they found the car they wouldn't say.So that's all I know.Ed

PS Chevy's anniversary is in 2012,they were incorporated on Nov 3 1911,probably the date everyone is using.The Classic Six was produced in 2012 (still not really a Chevy yet) Ed

The Classic Six was produced in 2012??

Classic Six (really officially known as the Model C) went into production in December 1912 as a 1913 model. It was produced for the 1913 and 1914 model years only. A total of 402 were built. They were true Chevrolets, but did not wear the Bowtie. That honor goes to the Model H (Baby Grand & Royal Mail) introduced in the summer of '13 as a 1914 model.