<P> In 1975, Consumer Reports tested a Bel Air four - door sedan with the 350 V8 engine and Turbo Hydramatic against other U.S. - built full - sized cars of that period including the Pontiac Catalina, Ford LTD and Plymouth Gran Fury . Although the car performed well in its tests and placed second to the Pontiac, Consumer Reports pointed out the Bel - Air had less noise insulation and a less - comfortable rear seat than its higher - priced siblings, and that a comparably equipped Chevrolet Impala (with additional sound insulation, and upgraded upholstery and seat padding, a $203 premium over the Bel - Air) "would be even closer to the Pontiac in overall quality ." Even so, the magazine stated that--for instance--the Bel - Air was "only slightly noisier than the Pontiac". Consumer Reports concluded in its report that prospective buyers should pay the extra $200 or so to upgrade to the costlier Impala, noting advantages such as greater resale value and interior - exterior appointments more comparable to the other tested full - sized vehicles . </P> <P> The last Bel Airs for the U.S. were manufactured for 1975 . For 1976, a lower - trimmed Impala "S" four - door sedan was a one - year offering which had less standard equipment than regular Impalas and functioned as a replacement for the Bel Air . </P> <P> From 1954 through 1969, GM Canada produced a unique Bel Air - based Pontiac marketed as the Laurentian . While body panels resembled contemporary U.S. Pontiacs, the Canadian Pontiac Laurentian had the chassis, power train, wheelbase, even the interior (except for the instrument panel), of the Chevrolet Bel Air . </P> <P> While the last Bel Air 2 - door sedan was available in the USA in 1969, Chevrolet introduced a Canadian market - only two door hardtop, the Bel Air Sport Coupe, from 1970 - 75 . Based on the Impala Sport Coupe, this new model featured Bel Air trim at a lower price than the Impala . Each year through 1975, this model's body followed the design of the contemporary Impala Sport Coupe . The 4 - door sedan and station wagon continued in production, identical to the U.S. models . For 1976, the Canadian Bel Air Coupe featured the same body as the Impala Custom Coupe, with the large fixed rear quarter window and frameless front door glass . </P>

How much did a 1956 bel air cost in 1956