Chevrolet Bel Air Engines by Year

The Bel Air name ran on Chevrolet's US full-size cars from 1950 to 1975. It began as the hardtop of the Styleline De Luxe, became Chevrolet's top series in 1953, and from 1959 sat below the Impala.

Pick a year to see every engine offered that model year, with its code, rated horsepower and the trims it came in. Each engine links to its full specs.

Jump to a year

Stovebolt years: 1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954

Tri-Five: 1955 · 1956 · 1957

1958–1964: 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964

1965–1970: 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970

1971–1975: 1971 · 1972 · 1973

Stovebolt years (1950–1954)

Before 1955 every Chevrolet had an inline six: the 216 with a manual transmission and the 235 with the Powerglide automatic, until the 235 became the only engine in 1953.

1950 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
216 inline-six	92 hp gross	Bel Air hardtop (Styleline De Luxe)
235 inline-six with Powerglide	105 hp gross	Bel Air hardtop (Styleline De Luxe)

1951 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
216 inline-six	92 hp gross	Bel Air hardtop (Styleline De Luxe)
235 inline-six with Powerglide	105 hp gross	Bel Air hardtop (Styleline De Luxe)

1952 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
216 inline-six	92 hp gross	Bel Air hardtop (Styleline De Luxe)

1953 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six	108 hp gross	Bel Air series
235 inline-six with Powerglide	115 hp gross	Bel Air series

1954 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six	115 hp gross	Bel Air series
235 inline-six with Powerglide	125 hp gross	Bel Air series

Tri-Five (1955–1957)

The Tri-Five Chevrolets introduced the small-block V8. It arrived in 1955 as a 265, gained dual four-barrels in 1956 and grew to 283 cubic inches in 1957, when Ramjet fuel injection made 283 hp.

Every engine below was available in all three series, the 150, 210 and Bel Air, including the Nomad wagon.

1955 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six Blue Flame 123	123 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
235 inline-six Blue Flame 136	136 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
265 V8 Turbo-Fire V8, 2-bbl	162 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
265 V8 Power Pack	180 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)

1956 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six Blue Flame 140	140 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
265 V8 Turbo-Fire 2-bbl	162 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
265 V8 Turbo-Fire 2-bbl	170 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
265 V8 Power Pack	205 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
265 V8 (RPO 411) dual 4-bbl	225 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)

1957 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six Blue Flame 140	140 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
265 V8 Turbo-Fire 265 2-bbl	162 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
283 V8 Turbo-Fire 283 2-bbl	185 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
283 V8 Super Turbo-Fire 4-bbl	220 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
283 V8 dual 4-bbl, hydraulic lifters	245 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
283 V8 Ramjet fuel injection, hydraulic lifters Ramjet fuel injection.	250 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
283 V8 dual 4-bbl, solid lifters	270 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)
283 V8 Ramjet fuel injection, solid lifters Ramjet fuel injection.	283 hp gross	150, 210, Bel Air (incl. Nomad)

1958–1964

The longer, lower 1958 car added the 348 W-series V8 above the 283, and the 409 followed in 1961.

1958 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six	145 hp gross	Bel Air, Bel Air Impala (Impala was a Bel Air sub-series in 1958)
283 V8	185 hp gross	Bel Air, Bel Air Impala (Impala was a Bel Air sub-series in 1958)
283 V8 4-bbl	230 hp gross	Bel Air, Bel Air Impala (Impala was a Bel Air sub-series in 1958)
283 V8 fuel injection	250 hp gross	Bel Air, Bel Air Impala (Impala was a Bel Air sub-series in 1958)
348 V8 4-bbl	250 hp gross	Bel Air, Bel Air Impala (Impala was a Bel Air sub-series in 1958)
348 V8 3x2-bbl	280 hp gross	Bel Air, Bel Air Impala (Impala was a Bel Air sub-series in 1958)
348 V8 3x2-bbl, special cam, solid lifters	315 hp gross	Bel Air, Bel Air Impala (Impala was a Bel Air sub-series in 1958)

1959 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six	135 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8	185 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8 (RPO 410)	230 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8 (RPO 578) fuel injection	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 576)	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 573)	280 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 574) 3x2-bbl special cam	315 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 574) 3x2-bbl special cam, 11.25:1	335 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)

1960 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six	135 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8	170 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8 (RPO 410)	230 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 576)	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 573)	280 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 576) 4-bbl special cam, HD Powerglide	305 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 577 / 590) 4-bbl special cam	320 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 574 / 571) 3x2-bbl special cam	335 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)

1961 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six	135 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8	170 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8 4-bbl	230 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 576)	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 573)	280 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 4-bbl special cam	305 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 (RPO 572) 4-bbl special cam, 11.25:1	340 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
348 V8 3x2-bbl special cam, 11.25:1	350 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (RPO 580)	360 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)

1962 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
235 inline-six	135 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8	170 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
327 V8 (RPO 300)	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
327 V8 (RPO 397)	300 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (RPO 580)	380 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (RPO 587)	409 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)

1963 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
230 inline-six	140 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8	195 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
327 V8 (L30)	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
327 V8 (L74)	300 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (L33)	340 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (L31)	400 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (L80)	425 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)

1964 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
230 inline-six	140 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
283 V8	195 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
327 V8 (L30)	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
327 V8 (L74)	300 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (L33)	340 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (L31)	400 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)
409 V8 (L80)	425 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala)

1965–1970

From 1965 the full-size Chevrolet offered big-block V8s alongside the six and the small blocks.

1965 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
230 inline-six	140 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
283 V8	195 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
327 V8 (L30)	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
327 V8 (L74)	300 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
396 V8 (L35)	325 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
409 V8 (L33)	340 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
409 V8 (L31)	400 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)

1966 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
250 inline-six	155 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
283 V8	195 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
283 V8 (L77)	220 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
327 V8 (L30)	275 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
396 V8 (L35)	325 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
427 V8 (L36)	390 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
427 V8 (L72)	425 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)

1967 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
250 inline-six	155 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
283 V8	195 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
327 V8 (L30)	275 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
396 V8 (L35)	325 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
427 V8 (L36)	385 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)

1968 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
250 inline-six	155 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
307 V8	200 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
327 V8 (L73)	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
327 V8 (L30)	275 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
396 V8 (L35)	325 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
427 V8 (L36)	385 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)

1969 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
250 inline-six	155 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
327 V8	235 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
350 V8 (LM1)	255 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
350 V8 (L48)	300 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
396 V8 (L66)	265 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
427 V8 (LS1)	335 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
427 V8 (L36)	390 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)

1970 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
250 inline-six	155 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
350 V8	250 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
350 V8 (L48)	300 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
400 V8 (LF6)	265 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)
454 V8 (LS4)	345 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series, below Impala/Caprice)

1971–1975

The last US Bel Airs were Chevrolet's lowest-priced full-size series. Ratings are SAE net from 1972, and from 1974 the base engine was a 350 V8; no six was offered.

1971 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
250 inline-six	145 hp gross	Bel Air (mid series 1971-1972; lowest full-size series 1973-1975)

1972 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
250 inline-six	110 hp net	Bel Air (mid series 1971-1972; lowest full-size series 1973-1975)

1973 Bel Air engines

Engine	Rated	Offered in
250 inline-six	100 hp net	Bel Air (mid series 1971-1972; lowest full-size series 1973-1975)

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