1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 4-Door Hardtop
Chevrolet designers were really hitting their stride in the mid 1950's with their Tri Fives, and you would arguably say the Magnum Opus was the last model of the Tri Five era, the 57 Chevrolet. So how exactly does one take this masterpiece of bowtie design, and take it one step further? Something to really end up with the pie'ce de re'sistance, and stand out from the crowd a bit, but all the while not ruining the original concept.
An original design kept for this car, all bathed in 50's turquoise and white paint with a two-tone interior, upgraded wheels, bumpers and styling with a few faults that come with this classic. Now with a 1973 454ci big block V8, a Chevy hi rise intake, Wolverine cam and lifters from a 60's 427 'Vette we're sharing the room with one serious power house that is still looking the part of a 57 Bel Air in every way.
Exterior
Led off by its front, chromed and dagmared front bumper which retains its shiny chrome and a deeply inset correct gold grille. We then move to the Airport Turquoise highlights for the upper grille and hood, shiny headlight bezels and visors. A dual rocketed chromed adorned hood with a long bumps running rearward to the windshield flanks the chromed Chevron on the front of the hood that has Chevrolet badging in your grandmother's handwriting in gold. On either side the swoop spear with ribbed metal insert, and white background on the rear quarter is looking fine and original. The door and fender panels are straight, and mind their gaps very well but on the passenger door lower shows invasive rust. Exterior paint is showing bubbling some cracking but is confined mostly to the lowers of the car and could be considered overall nice. The above roofline is painted in a contrasting Custard White and bringing up the rear is another curved chrome encircled rear tinted glass, and a neatly curled around trunk lid which is flanked by the finned rear quarters complete with chrome and lower tail lights. Classic chrome Cragar wheels in 15-inch format are wrapped in black wall radials. All looking good, and a wonderful color scheme to the '57 design.
Interior
A swing of the door and the panels for said doors are looking original with like new broadcloth in flagstone pattern black over stainless center panel with a silver armrest and shiny cranks and actuators. Inside, the seats are in their original configuration with a bench up front and a matching bench in the rear. These are carefully covered with smooth shiny silver bolsters and have the black flagstone pattern broadcloth in the background. The seat backs use more black flagstone inserts with silver buttons within a border of more silver piping and silver smooth vinyl. The bench in the rear presents as the front does and all is very nicely redone. Black thick loop pile carpeting floods the floors. Moving forward, up front is a squared off bump up metal dash in a black topped metal jacket with a trio of round gauges mounted within the dash front. These have deep satin gray bezels and just below are some mini square pattern aluminum banding in its center. This band stretches from door to door, and has several pulls, knobs, the ignition, and a factory AM radio in the center. Just to the right of the radio is a BelAIr script badge and a rectangular clock. There is more black painted steel below which houses the temp sliders and glovebox. Hanging from the bottom of the dash is an AM/FM/Cassette radio. Fronting this instrument cluster is the original steering wheel in slightly worn silver plastic and it has a circular horn ring in the center in chrome. Above is a tight gray headliner looking clean.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is now a 454ci big block V8 engine. It is a consignor stated 1973 block from a truck and has Wolverine cams and lifters. There are all Manley stainless steel valves inserted in the cylinder heads and topping it off is an Edelbrock intake and 4-barrel carburetor. Strapped to the back is a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission. The rear axle is a 336 Positraction version. Headers and a Turbo muffler system are installed.
Undercarriage
Underneath shows plenty of patina and surface rust, but none of the invasive kind. A new fuel tank and sending unit is in. The floor pans and framing are solid and rust free and hold the independent coil spring suspension for the font, and leaf springs for the back. Drum brakes are on all 4 corners.
Drive-Ability
That big block Chevy V8 fired right up and ran like a dream. Plenty of power on the acceleration front, smooth easy auto shifting from the TH400 3-speed, and good braking thanks to the factory drums. All functions were working well during my test drive.
A nice example which has not been ratted, overly rodded, or restoration-modded, just brought back to look original for 1957 but with some kick under the hood. The paint is very nice, even with the few faults we noted, but is definitely the right color. 95 percent of the work is all done, so hop in and enjoy the car and when you are ready. Talk about the top of one's game!
C57B222563
C-2400 Series Bel Air
57-1957
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
222563-Sequential Unit Number
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.
