1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

Description

You already know that the '57 Chevy is one of the most popular collector cars of all time, but I guarantee that you haven't seen one this nice at your local shows. This '57 Bel Air might be the nicest we've ever featured, and we've sold hundreds of them.

The bodywork is pure 1957 Chevy with no additions or deletions, no modifications, and nothing to detract from the car that everybody loves. Tropical Turquoise comes from the original color charts, too, so it has a very authentic 1950s look and there's probably nobody in the western world who doesn't recognize it instantly. But when you get close to this one, the quality becomes quite readily apparent. The paint is deep, smooth, and glossy beyond what you get from the local body shop, this is professional-grade art. The steel bodywork underneath is nicer than it was new, with even the smallest flaws carefully erased. And those gaps around the doors are even enough to pass the Lexus ball bearing test with ease. The chrome was restored to show condition and the stainless was polished or replaced with exact replicas. Now it may seem like we're going on and on about the details, but the fact is, I'm not sure how you could make a car nicer than this. There are a few signs of use, but there's no question that the quality of the build was off-the-charts nice. We can see how it took over 5 years to complete.

At a glance, the interior appears to be nicely restored to pretty much stock condition, and that's largely true. The upholstery on the seats replicates the original cloth and vinyl in both materials and patterns, and it has a very cool period look, no doubt about that. But again, it's the details that get you. Check out the trick mini-console that adds utility without impairing the function of the original front bench seat, and it features a control button for the electric cut-outs neatly hidden underneath. The console also makes for a nice transition into the under-dash A/C system that's so subtly integrated that you hardly notice it's there. The gauges are neat multi-purpose dials that fit into the original housings but provide a lot more information (there's even a tach!), and an AM/FM/CD stereo fits neatly down low so the original radio can stay in the dash. All the glass is new, too, and the trunk is very cleverly finished with matching carpet and cool side panels what were actually created from correct Bel Air anodized trim, carefully cut to expertly fit in there just right. How cool is that?

The engine is a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 that dyno'd 345 horsepower at the rear wheel, and an equal amount of torque, so it's more than adequate on the street. A Demon carb delivers the juice with exhaust gases handled by a set of custom long-tube headers with electric cut-outs that can go from mild to wild with the touch of a switch. A billet serpentine drive system enhances efficiency and looks great, and finned valve covers and air cleaner give it a traditional Chevy performance look. It's backed by a rugged TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and an upgraded rear end, all of which have been detailed. The suspension features A-arms and coil-overs up front and air shocks in back, and there's a disc brake at all four corners. 17-inch Billet Specialties wheels have a slick look and wear grippy 225/60/17 front and 255/60/17 rear Goodyear rubber.

There's just not enough space to cover all the goodies on this amazing Bel Air. But you can rest assured that we are highly impressed by this car, and after seeing hundreds of them, that's not easy to do. Call today!