1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 4-Door Hardtop
Chevrolet designers were really hitting their stride in the mid 1950s with their Tri Fives, and you would arguably say the Magnum Opus was the last model of the Tri Five era...the 57 Chevrolet. Probably one of the most recognizable classic cars of all time, available in multiple body styles colors and with engine and transmission options. You'd be hard-pressed to go to any car show or cruise night without finding yourself at least one 1957 Chevrolet.
Bill Haley and the Comets were lighting up the charts, drive-in movies were all the rage for more reasons than one, and the poodle skirt had hit high schools across the country. And with this being the last year and considered the best year of the Tri Five era, and the highest end model in the Bel-Air. This one will not disappoint with all the right options, 54,899 title verified actual miles, an upgrade to power rack and pinion steering, plenty of chrome trimmings and a finned rear.
Exterior
The 1957 version is always the talk of the town, and this one will have your town's tongues wagging. The shiny mirror like grille with its big bumper with added guards below a gold egg crate grille and single headlights framed by fenders with the beginnings of a trim spear above, it just does not get any better. We see nice use of chrome to highlight the rockers and above there is the ever widening spear that takes over the rear quarter panel and has a wonderful stainless steel insert panel complete with Bel Air script in your grandmother's handwriting along with a badge. On back are the chrome topped fins which on the driver's side magically flip open to reveal the filler for the gas. On the bottoms of these fins are half oval tail lights with an arc bezel which intermixes with the protruding oval backup lights and dual exhaust under the rear bumper. One quick glance at the panoramic glass and its spit shined trim and I'm ready to head to the local sock hop with my best girl. Dusk Pearl bathes the body from the passenger compartment downward and Imperial Ivory paint graces the roof of this two tone work of 1957 bowtie art. Keeping this skate on the ground are medium width white wall tires in G78-14 form wrapping 14-inch steel wheels with vented and faux spinner equipped covers.
Interior
A swing of the doors and we see smooth silver vinyl mixed with polished chrome strips making up the clean door panel floating in a sea of black flagstone cloth. The cranks and levers are very good, as is the armrest. Looking inside, a very clean bench with more of the silver and black flagstone broadcloth for your posterior meets your eyes and things just don't get more 50's than this. The rear bench follows the form of the front seats and there is plenty of romper room here. The dash is showroom with a black painted top dash, silver instrument cluster, and steering column. A silver rimmed steering wheel fronts the instrument cluster and is complete with a full round chrome horn ring with Bel Air in the center. An aluminum band with a mini square pattern adds an accent strip to the dash and houses various knobs, clock and a factory AM radio. Black colored clean thick pile carpet floods the floors and has some black rubber bowtie emblazoned protective floor mats on top.
Drivetrain
We swing open the hood and are greeted with a well restored but slightly patinaed engine bay. Sitting within the front fenders we see a date correct and possibly original 283ci 220hp V8. This orange eye candy is topped off with a single 4-barrel carburetor and backed up by a two-speed automatic Powerglide transmission. This 8 cylinder and 2-speed combination sends power back to the 3.36 geared conventional axle.
Undercarriage
Showing off with only slight invasive rust on a few of the outboard body hangers and inner rockers and plenty of undercoating. Clean parts are noted for the independent front suspension with coil springs and rear suspension with leaf springs. We also see solid frame and floor pans. Slight seepage is noted on the bottoms of the engine and transmission and drum brakes are on all 4 corners and stainless steel dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers is shiny and in good shape. The icing on the cake down below is the recently installed power rack and pinion steering.
Drive-Ability
Sitting behind this wheel brought me right back to 1957 in my parent's car with my best gal at the drive-in. The 283ci V8 lit right up and took me quickly around the test track where it handled very well, panic stopped straight, and provided a nice quiet cruise. All controls were in full working order with the exception of the left turn signals not flashing, the clock not keeping time and the steering having a bit of loose then tight feel to it. Otherwise it was a nice experience and a veritable trip back in time.
Redone in the original colors of Dusk Pearl and Imperial Ivory with a silver and black flagstone colored interior, this car harkens back to 1957 in every way shape and form. This writer was taken back to a much simpler and happier time; the golden age of automobiles, the 1950s, who could ask for anything more? Well maybe an extra cherry on top of my root beer float at the malt shop.
VC57N159816
V-V8
C-2400 Series Bel Air
57-1957
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
159816-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE 57 1039D-1957 Bel Air 4 Door Hardtop
BODY N4788?-Norwood Body #
TRIM 670-Black & Silver Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT 822D-Imperial Ivory & Dusk Pearl
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
