The Tri Five Chevy models built by General Motors in 1955, 1956, and 1957 changed substantially with each passing year. Body panels, grilles, lighting, trim, interior colors, and exterior colors all differed from year to year. In addition to these standard features, Chevrolet offered a variety of optional features for '55, '56, and '57 models. These options ranged from common choices, such as two-tone paint and whitewall tires, to much rarer choices. Read on for a list of 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevy option codes, descriptions, and original prices.
As is still the case today, Chevrolet offered both factory-installed options and dealer-installed options for Tri Five Chevy cars. Factory-installed options, which GM later standardized as RPO (regular production option) codes from 1970 onward, were added to cars as they traveled down the assembly line. Dealer-installed options were added to vehicles after they arrived at their destination dealership, and were therefore less set-in-stone. In this article, we'll focus only on factory options — dealer-installed options will be a topic for another day.
Some of the option data and pricing information below is thanks to TriFive.com.
In 1955, there was an extensive list of option codes for Chevy 150, 210, and Bel Air models. Since it was the first model year of the Tri Five series, the sequence of these codes is less intuitive, with paint options interspersed between other codes. This would be streamlined and simplified the following year.
| Code | Description | Price |
| 100 | Turn signals | $16.75 |
| 101B | Airflow heater (not available with A/C) | $72.80 |
| 101C | Recirculating heater (not available with A/C) | $48.15 |
| 216C | 1-pint oil bath air cleaner (6cyl only) | $5.40 |
| 227A | Heavy-duty clutch | $3.25 |
| 235 | Single color paint | No cost |
| 235W | Single color paint - Anniversary Gold | $26.90 |
| 236G/M | Single color paint | No cost |
| 236A/F/H | Special two-tone paint combinations | $25.85 |
| 237B | 1-quart oil filter (6cyl only) | $11.85 |
| 237L | 1-quart oil filter (V8 only) | $11.85 |
| 237M | 1-quart oil filter (models with A/C) | $14.00 |
| 238A/F/P/W | Special two-tone paint combinations | $25.85 |
| 238H/M/N/U | Single color paint | No cost |
| 238G/K/L/Q/S/T/V/X | Standard two-tone paint combinations | $12.95 |
| 241A | Governor (standard for 6cyl models) | $18.30 |
| 246 | Standard two-tone paint combination | $12.95 |
| 254T | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (5-leaf) | $2.70 |
| 254Y | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (wagon models) | $3.80 |
| 254V | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (6-leaf) | $6.50 |
| 288A | Five 6.70-15 6-ply tires | $37.90 |
| 288L | Five 6.70-15 6-ply whitewall tires | $73.65 |
| 290B | Five 6.70-15 4-ply whitewall tires | $26.90 |
| 313 | Powerglide automatic transmission | $178.35 |
| 315 | Overdrive transmission | $107.60 |
| 320 | Electric windshield wiper | $10.50 |
| 324 | Power steering | $91.50 |
| 325A | 30-amp generator | $7.55 |
| 325U-Z | 30-amp generator (models with A/C) | No cost |
| 325C-F/Q/R | 40-amp generator | $80.75 |
| 397 | Electric controls for seats and windows | $145.30 |
| 398 | E-Z Eye glass | $32.30 |
| 410 | 4-barrel carburetor | $59.20 |
| 412 | Power-assisted brakes | $37.70 |
| 417 | Positive crankcase ventilation | $12.95 |
| 435 | Trim combination | No cost |
| 437 | Single color paint | No cost |
| 440 | Single color paint | No cost |
| 441 | Standard two-tone paint combinations | $12.95 |
| 450 | Air conditioning | $565.00 |
For 1956, many options featured slight changes to availability or price, but the darker grey fields below represent options that were substantially changed from the previous model year, or entirely new for 1956. The new options included the Super Turbo-Fire engine, dual four-barrel carburetors, Full-Flow oil filter, and heavy-duty battery. Electric seat and window controls were now separate options, the air conditioning option code now included a 30-amp generator, and paint option codes were streamlined.
Note: Options with multiple prices listed varied in cost depending on the model or series they were applied to (e.g. two-door or four-door, 150 or Bel Air).
| Code | Description | Price |
| 101 | Airflow heater (not available with A/C) | $72.80 |
| 101 | Recirculating heater (not available with A/C) | $48.15 |
| 104 | Full-Flow oil filter (V8 only) | $8.65 |
| 110 | A/C (including 30-amp generator) | $430.50 |
| 216 | 1-pint oil bath air cleaner (6cyl only) | $5.40 |
| 227 | Heavy-duty clutch | $5.40 |
| 237 | 1-quart oil filter (6cyl only) | $8.65 |
| 241 | Governor (6cyl) | $18.30 |
| 241 | Governor (V8) | $43.05 |
| 254 | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (5-leaf) | $2.70 |
| 254 | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (wagon models) | $3.25 |
| 254 | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (6-leaf) | $3.80 / $4.35 / $6.50 |
| 288 | Five 6.70-15 6-ply tires | $43.50 |
| 288 | Five 6.70-15 6-ply whitewall tires | $86.55 |
| 290 | Five 6.70-15 4-ply whitewall tires | $26.90 |
| 290 | Five 7.10-15 4-ply tires | $13.25 |
| 290 | Five 7.10-15 4-ply whitewall tires | $48.75 |
| 313 | Powerglide automatic transmission | $188.50 |
| 315 | Overdrive transmission | $107.60 |
| 320 | Electric windshield wiper | $11.35 |
| 324 | Power steering | $91.50 |
| 325 | 30-amp generator | $7.55 |
| 325 | 40-amp low-cut-in generator | $7.55 |
| 345 | Heavy-duty battery (not available with A/C) | $10.80 |
| 397 | Electric controls for seats | $48.45 |
| 398 | E-Z Eye glass | $32.30 |
| 410 | Super Turbo-Fire V8 engine | $32.30 |
| 411 | Dual 4-barrel carburetors (V8 only) | $242.10 |
| 412 | Power-assisted brakes | $37.70 |
| 417 | Positive crankcase ventilation | $12.95 |
| 426 | Electric window controls | $64.60 / $107.60 |
| 484 - 499 | Trim combinations | $6.00 |
| 500 - 523 | Single color paint | No cost |
| 525 - 558 | Standard two-tone paint combinations | $12.95 / $25.85 |
| 525 - 558 | Special two-tone paint combinations | $17.25 / $25.85 |
Chevrolet released several new factory options for 1957, including fuel injection, dual-quad carburetors with high-lift cam, close-ratio transmission, several limited-slip differential choices, and a padded dash. As above, new or substantially different options are represented by darker grey background, and options with model-dependent pricing are listed with multiple prices.
| Code | Description | Price |
| 101 | Airflow heater (not available with A/C) | $74.90 |
| 101 | Recirculating heater (not available with A/C) | $48.15 |
| 104 | Full-Flow oil filter (V8 only) | $8.65 |
| 110, 111 | A/C (including 30-amp generator) | $430.50 |
| 216 | 1-pint oil bath air cleaner (6cyl only) | $5.40 |
| 227 | Heavy-duty clutch | $5.40 |
| 237 | 1-quart oil filter (6cyl only) | $8.65 |
| 241 | Governor (6cyl) | $18.30 |
| 241 | Governor (V8) | $37.70 |
| 254 | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (5-leaf) | $2.70 |
| 254 | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (wagon models) | $3.25 |
| 254 | Heavy-duty rear leaf springs (6-leaf) | $3.80 / $4.35 / $6.50 |
| 303 | Close-ratio transmission | $59.20 |
| 313 | Powerglide automatic transmission | $188.50 |
| 315 | Overdrive transmission | $107.60 |
| 320 | Electric windshield wiper | $11.30 |
| 324 | Power steering | $69.95 |
| 325 | 35-amp generator | $7.55 |
| 325 | 40-amp low-cut-in generator | $8.70 |
| 345 | Heavy-duty battery (not available with A/C) | $7.55 |
| 397 | Electric controls for seats | $43.05 |
| 398 | E-Z Eye glass | $32.30 |
| 410 | Super Turbo-Fire V8 engine | $43.05 |
| 411 | Dual 4-barrel carburetors (V8 only) w/ standard cams | $209.85 |
| 411 | Dual 4-barrel carburetors (V8 only) w/ high-lift cams | $242.10 |
| 412 | Power-assisted brakes | $37.70 |
| 417 | Positive crankcase ventilation | $12.95 |
| 426 | Electric window controls | $59.20 / $102.25 |
| 427 | Padded dashboard | $16.15 |
| 465 | Five 7.50-14 4-ply whitewall tires | $31.60 |
| 465 | Five 7.50-14 6-ply tires | $42.85 |
| 466 | Five 7.50-14 6-ply whitewall tires | $42.85 / $85.00 |
| 480 - 499 | Trim combinations | No cost |
| 500 - 524 | Single color paint | No cost |
| 525 - 559 | Two-tone paint combinations | $21.55 |
| 578 | Fuel injection | $550.00 |
| 675 | 3.36:1 limited-slip differential | $45.00 |
| 676 | 3.55:1 limited-slip differential | $45.00 |
| 678 | 4.11:1 limited-slip differential | $45.00 |
Whether you're trying to restore your 1955-57 Chevy to match the original options it was sold with, or you're rebuilding an ideal version with all the options you wish it had, Classic Industries can help. We have thousands of parts for Tri Five Chevy models, including many of these optional items. Click the button below for a free full-color 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevy parts catalog.