In a Brady Bunch episode titled “The Wheeler Dealer,” Greg Brady buys his first car for $100. Although it is a hunk of junk, he has high hopes of transforming the ’56 Chevy Bel Air into a beauty. Photo courtesy of IMCDB.

We are counting down the Top 50 hot rods and street cars of all time that have made an appearance in a television series, or a memorable television episode. Starting from #50, and counting down to our #1 pick, follow along with our memories, and see where your favorite show lands.

31. The Brady Bunch: 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

Like most television series that had a wide, mass appeal to the baby-boomer generation, car companies supplied a myriad of vehicles that were showcased throughout its programming and life cycle. With each new model year and TV season, characters were provided with new cars. Such is the case with “The Brady Bunch,” only this spot on the countdown highlights an older classic – a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air droptop.

We mention this car as it was the star attraction in the fourth episode of season three, “The Wheeler-Dealer,” with a plot that involves a “Caveat Emptor” lesson for Greg Brady (Barry Williams) when he forgoes waiting on his dad, Mike Brady (Robert Reid) to look at a car, and instead purchases a hunk of junk for $100 of his own money (it was a steal!).

Swindled into buying the lemon from a fast-talking friend, Eddie (Chris Beaumont), Greg believes he can turn this pumpkin into a carriage, even as backfires, hisses, and makes all types of other noises an owner does not want to hear. Armed with a complete mechanic manual, he sets to work under the hood while his Brady siblings helps get it into ship-shape.

Restoration complete, the whole Brady gang admires all of Greg’s work. Photo courtesy of IMCDB.

Realizing the money train is not going to stop anytime soon before he can completely restore his ride, Greg decides to pull the same con job on an unsuspecting friend who has no idea that underneath the refinished exterior is a piece of trash. Ultimately, those wholesome Brady values and morals kick in, and the old jalopy is sent to the junkyard instead of taking advantage of another.