1955 Chevrolet Bel Air

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

If it was loud, fast, or custom, you knew Trebbi—er, trouble—was coming. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, George Trebbi was known for his insatiable quest for knowledge in business, history, and classic cars. He loved sharing his knowledge and passion with friends and family, and he could frequently be found taking his grandchildren for a joyride in one of his cherished Chevys. Hagerty Marketplace is proud to present The Trebbi Collection: custom, fast, and loud—and all presented without reserve.

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In the mid-1950s, the NHRA started the Gas division to attract more street cars to its drag strips. And it worked: by the late ’50s, Gas had five different classes, from E/Gas to blazingly quick 9-second A/Gas racers. And soon, the word “gasser” was heard around racetracks and cruise spots.

The gasser look was a practical solution for dealing with the era’s primitive, stiff-sidewall slicks. By building a car that could efficiently shift weight rearward, racers could make those low-traction early slicks hook. So they used a lifted, lightweight straight front axle, lowered the rear axle height for better weight transfer, removed the front bumper (and often the grille), and used lightweight fiberglass body parts, including tilt front ends. The mean-looking result could be further enhanced with a tall tunnel ram intake, or a huge supercharger sticking out of the hood.