1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

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? The devil is in the details and there is plenty new for the 57's lineup.

For consignment, a piece of the piece de résistance in the form of the banner year for the Tri Fives... a 1957 Bel Air. Fully restored and all primed to go for a cruise down Main Street and start turning heads. In excellent condition, it's like a Matador Red nugget that glistens in your pan amid all the silt and water, and when you lay your eyes on this one you will see she's worth her weight…

Exterior
From its gold egg crate grille that floats between a small upper bumper and lower large bumper complete with rubber tipped “Dagmars”, to the beltline swoop spear that makes a downward turn on the rear quarter panel, this restoration is truly the definition of the term “buttoned up". Dual rocket style hood embellishments are fronting curved gentle tubes that are on either side of the hood. These run back toward the windshield where they die into the hood. Very nice, (just like the bumpers and trim), chrome headlight bezels frame the single headlights, and nice chromed side view mirrors, door handles, and window trim are all good. Continuing rearward, we see an offshoot of the downward sloping spear that also runs to the rear of the car, and borders a horizontally ribbed aluminum panel with a gold Bel Air badge in your grandmother's handwriting, and cloisonné Chevrolet bowtie badge. We need to talk about the straight steel panels all around, with well minded gaps, and covered in Matador Red paint. Chromed Chevron styled fins house the quarter crescent moon lower tail lights. The large bumper on back is a continental option with inset backup lights, central dual bars that hold the steel Matador Red covered spare tire in the center. Dual antennas and fender skirts add to the cruiser look. A white canvas convertible top is the glitter if you will, and is in nearly new condition. 14-inch Matador Red wheels have been restored and have shiny faux knockoff style hubcaps. Wide white complete the you ain't nuthin but a hound dog package.

Interior
A swing of the doors and we see red steel sills and just below neat gray embossed circle textured vinyl for the centers, in this panel are some power window toggles, a vent window crank and actuator. Also, a silver vinyl armrest is floating inside a thin horizontal red vinyl stripe and then below a smooth gray lower panel. Looking inside, a very clean split bench with more tuck and red bolsters in red and some smooth silver inserts. Just to show off, red buttons have been added to the setbacks. The rear bench follows the form of the front seats. All this floating in a very calm sea of black carpeting. The dash is showroom with red painted top dash, red panel under a square off visor, (sadly the dual fans are now gone), and some wide red bezels hose a trio of circular instruments. In the center is a snazzy square pattern punched inwardly curved horizontal aluminum panel with some knobs and pulls and a Wonderbar radio. Below is a rare chromed tissue box dispenser, and this car also has the vacuum ashtray. Smoke'em of ya got 'em. A fine red tonneau covers the top when in the down position.

Drivetrain
Automotive mechanical jewelry could best describe this factory looking engine bay. An orange/red painted bowtie block in 283 cubes sits in the center with an EB stamping code putting it at 1957. Under the black air cleaner setup are dual 4-barrel carburetors to feed this mill. On the back is a 3 speed manual transmission. The rear axle is a 3.70. Stock exhaust on. The bay and engine look just like it would have in the showroom.

Undercarriage
The frame off restoration has left the undercarriage simply beautiful looking absolutely right out of the showroom. Red floor pans and pristine red painted rockers are mounted securely to a jet black straight rust free frame. Dual exhaust is like new and worms its way back past all this finery. Factory drum brakes are on all 4 corners. Independent coil spring front suspension and leaf spring rear suspension are all clean and pristine. Just a concours job underneath this example.

Drive-Ability
As like the rest of the car, it runs very well, starting immediately, shifting smoothly, and providing a smooth ride. We went topless on the drive and this functioned perfectly. Plenty of power from those 8 barrels feeding the 283 cubes. All functions were working just swimmingly!

If you are in the market for the best year of the Tri Fives, that is as close to really nice as one can get, then look no further because this is the nicest example I've seen in a long while. A great color combo and a fab frame off restoration courtesy of an expert that knew what they were doing. This car is also as clean as they get with the odometer reset during the restoration and now showing a mere 4263 miles. You will have to go in and get the break in oil changed!

VC57F116567

V-V8
C-2400 Series
57-1957
F-Flint, MI Assy Plant
116567-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

STYLE 57 1067DTX 1957 Bel Air 2 Door Convertible
BODY L8953-Lansing Body #
TRIM 683-Red & Silver Vinyl
PAINT 802-Matador Red

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.