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1957 Chevrolet

Bel Air

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Body Color
Black
Stock
4139
Engine Size
283 V8
Transmission Type
4 Speed Manual
Vin
VC57T187850
Miles
89
Drivetrain
RWD

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

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, read on and see.

For consignment a piece of the piece de resistance in the form of the banner year for the Tri Fives... a 1957 Bel Air. Fully frame off restored with a little bit of hot rod mixed in and all primed to go for a cruise down Main Street and start turning heads. In splendid condition, it's like a gold 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 toothy vintage and fresh 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 wrap around 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, all chromed are all wonderful show chrome from Danchuk. 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 nicely minded gaps, and covered in well applied black paint. All looking good and ready for a night out on the town. 15-inch Keystone polished and slotted wheels have been put on and are wrapped in deeply treaded blackwall BF Goodrich rubber.

Interior
A swing of the doors and we see flagstone pattern black and red broadcloth mixed with a curvaceous red mid panel. Cranks and levers are very good as is the armrest. Looking inside a very clean split bench with more of the black and red flagstone pattern tuck and roll cloth and smooth red bolsters. The rear bench follows the form of the front seats and just to show off chromed buttons have been added to the seat backs along with lap belts added in the name of safety. The dash is showroom, with red painted top dash, a red surround for the instrument cluster, steering column and steering wheel right out of 1957 and all pristine even with the added Autometer tachometer on the column. An aluminum band with a mini square pattern adds an accent strip to the dash and houses various knobs and a modern vintage looking AM/FM radio with Ipod capability. Red clean low pile carpet floods the floors and has some red rubber Chevrolet protective floor mats on top. A Hurst shifter with a white ball topper rises to meet the driver's right arm and a few aftermarket gauges have been added in and all is looking just showroom inside.

Drivetrain
An automotive mechanical bauble could best describe this dual 4-barrel carburetor and intake setup which tops a small block Chevrolet 283ci V8 circa 1957. According to our consignor this masterpiece top end is courtesy of a 1957 Corvette. This engine sports an orange painted block, and well-polished bolt ons all around, ribbed and polished valve covers, and twin round chrome air cleaner holders. Supple hoses and original silver manifolds are all present and accounted for. On back is a Borg Warner T10 4-speed manual transmission, and way back a 3.55 geared axle. Hopping up the mill is a Comp Cams Mutha Thumper camshaft and ignition is handled by a Pertronix unit under the stock looking distributor cap.

Undercarriage
The frame off restoration has left the undercarriage simply beautiful looking absolutely right out of the showroom. Black undercoated floor pans and pristine black rockers are mounted securely to a jet-black straight rust-free frame. Dual exhaust in Flowmaster fashion is like new and worms its way back past all this finery. Front and rear drums remain on. Manual steering and independent coil spring front suspension and leaf spring and traction bar rear suspension are all clean and near perfect and showroom quality.

Drive-Ability
As expected from the look of the rest of the car, it runs very well, starting immediately, shifting smoothly, and providing a smooth ride. Plenty of power from those dual 4 barrels feeding the small block. All functions were working as expected on our test drive, including the GPS driven speedometer.

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 one of the nicest examples around. A tastefully performed restoration with some hot rod additions all the while in keeping with the original concept from 1957. An original looker, and in the prime time… 1957. Looks like you are in the front row!!

VIN DECODE
VC57T187850
V-V8
C-2400 Series Bel Air
57-1957
T-Tarrytown, NY Assy Plant
187850-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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.