Reportedly the owner asks $18,000 for this Russo-American hybrid.
Wordless Outtake: 1956 Chaikolet Bel Air from Kazakhstan
– Posted on December 20, 2015
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Curbside Classics Archives
Reportedly the owner asks $18,000 for this Russo-American hybrid.
This wordless outtake leaves me begging for the words.
Like new. Just needs tires. No low ballers. No title.
Ran when parked.
I’m curious if it has the standard 283/powerglide, or the optional 5.5L with soviet torqueflite.
It took me a minute, but I like a challenge! http://kolesa.kz/a/show/17699389
Region
Aktau
Body
sedan
Engine
2.4 l (gasoline)
PPC
Mechanics
condition
On the run
Steering wheel
left
Colour
the black
Cleared by the customs
in Kazakhstan?
Yes
This Chevrolet Bel Air 1956. This legend of America. Such machines have for any money in Kazakhstan not zavezesh, year not covered by EURO-4).
All the documents are in order. Those rooms have a passport. Tax paid. According to the passport volume 2.4, the engine number is not set. Native engine no. The machine requires restoration.
Is it actually a Chev, or some kind of Soviet copy?
Going by the interior shots it’s a Bel Air. http://kolesa.kz/a/show/17699389
What the hell…
It looks, for all the world, like a Bel Air with a Chaika front clip. But I would think a Chaika would be a wider car…maybe they sectioned the hood? The trim on the fender openings also does something nonstandard. The heavy corner stainless is correct for the Chaika, but that car’s trim followed the curve of the fender opening downward, whereas this one continues straight and stops at an arbitrary point.
Not sure what to make of this one, but I’d love to know the story!
The fact that it has a 2.4 diesel swapped in seems very…Cuban?
Here are a couple variants of the same generation of Chaika. You can see they’re not Chevies; sort of Fordish below, Plymouthish above, Buickardish in front.
The hood and grille are definitely from a Chaika. The front fenders may be Chaika reshaped toward the rear to fit the Chevy, or may be purely fabricated.
Inside looks live a Chevy to me. http://kolesa.kz/a/show/17699389
A/C works….just needs charge.
Wow, would be curious to see other examples of this “hybridization”.
It’s a WHAT, now? Just when I thought I’d seen everything! Thanx Stanislav and Paul!
I thought these were Packards in drag?
So what would have been more expensive in Kazakhstan? GAZ-13 Chaika or Bel Air?
In 2015, it’s the Chaika, but when this car was built (probably 20 years ago) it seems like the Bel Air would have been pricier.
KZ was up to not long ago, in a similar state to Cuba and the solutions to the same problems (foreign car, no import channels) were similar, so to me it’s not a “WTF” situation at all. The question for the new owner would be whether to keep as is (I would if I were that person) or restore as another belly button Chev…
So ;
We see drug addled car flippers are also in Kazakhstan .
This is a very interesting car but you can’t bother to slap on a set of freaking tires before asking $18,000.00 ?! .
Right , it’ll sell easily .
Or , get hauled off for scrap ere long .
Too bad .
-Nate