1954 Chevrolet 210
The Chevrolet Two-Ten, or 210, was the midrange model of the Chevrolet car from 1953 to 1957. It took its name by shortening the production series number (2100) by one digit in order to capitalize on the 1950’s trend toward numerical auto names. The numerical designation ‘”210″‘ was also sporadically used in company literature. It replaced the Styleline DeLuxe model available in previous years. The Two-Ten was discontinued after the 1957 model year to be replaced by the Biscayne. The Two-Ten shared the wedge-shaped side trim with the Bel Air, but unlike the Bel Air (which had the wedge filled with an aluminum trim panel) the Two-Ten’s wedge was painted either body color, or top color with the optional two-tone paint package. “Chevrolet” in script was mounted inside the wedge.
Under the hood of this 1954 Chevrolet 210 you will not find a 350 chevy small block like most of these cars but instead you will find a Blue Flame 235 cubic inch inline 6 cylinder. Twist the key select drive and hit the road just make sure that you are ready to wave as everyone who watches this classic motor by will be giving you a thumbs up. Kids will smile, men will turn green and women will get weak in the knees.
A swing of the doors and we see some early jet age influence in the form of light green and dark green interplay within shapes. Also noted we are all clean and chromed in the handle and crank department. A two-tone dash in dark and light green presents as original with plenty of vertical ribbed chrome trim, and a nice clean instrument cluster, all in operating condition. Headliner is tight and original mohair and has a warm faded with age look that presents a beautiful contrast to the new seat coverings.
The single stage repaint has a very authentic look with a bit of patina over some clean original sheetmetal that probably needed little more than a good scuff to be paint-ready. It’s not show-quality, but the whole car has a period look that’s very charming and which shines up beautifully. There’s never been any rust on this car, and it’s probably the kind of car that the original owner proudly bragged about washing every Saturday afternoon. All the chrome and trim is original, and it’s a great barometer of the quality process in the 1950s with nice detail and a deep shine that only comes from spending real money to restore it properly.
As collector cars, the 1955-1957 Chevrolets will probably always overshadow the 1953-1954 models, but the latter are being discovered by enthusiasts as very pleasant cars with significance as the last of the low-suds “pre-classic” Chevrolets, an important transition in the make’s history. That’ s reason enough to include on any collectible car list — that and the bow-tie badge they wear.
