1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

Description

Did you ever expect to get a '57 Chevy hardtop this nice for so little cash? The secret here is that it's a 4-door, but with the way Chevy engineers cleverly hid the rear doors and used the same sleek pillarless hardtop design, it takes a second glance to spot it. This car also includes a new interior, gorgeous paint, and a smart-running small block to make it an incredible value.

The vivid candyapple red paint makes this vintage Chevy look fast even when it's standing still, and you quickly forget that there are four doors cut into the body. Fit and finish are quite good and obviously someone didn't care about spending a lot of money on a sedan and instead focused on getting it right. All four doors line up nicely, which is critical on a car like this with so much trim, and the sheetmetal underneath is in excellent condition. The paint is modern two-stage urethane with a bunch of metallic and pearl mixed in, but the net result is that every time this car stops people want to ask about it simply because it's gorgeous. All the distinctive Bel Air trim was fully restored, including the quarter panel trim that blends into the door to visually lengthen the quarter panels. Fresh chrome on the bumpers, anodized gold emblems, and bright Chevy cloisonné emblems make it sparkle.

The handsome burgundy interior is entirely new and while not totally stock, it does have a '50s look to it. The front and rear seats feature trim-looking pleats, the door panels are simple, and new carpets give it a finished look. All the factory instruments are in excellent condition with clear markings and the original steering wheel was painted to match the body. The bright strip that runs through the center of the dash suggests that this was either a really clean original car or they did invest pretty heavily in the plating department, and there's an AM/FM/cassette stereo in the center of the dash. Finish quality throughout is quite good and almost no signs of use, and it's easy to see yourself with some friends or your family heading out in this good-looking car. Even the trunk is road-trip-ready with matching carpet and a full-sized spare tire.

Even the engine bay is dressed up in that beautify candyapple red pain, which covers the engine itself and gives it a somewhat custom look. The small block V8 wears stamped steel valve covers, a chrome air cleaner, and a 4-barrel carburetor, plus an upgraded alternator for reliability's sake. There's a 2-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission behind it and the factory-issued rear end with highway gears inside, so this is a fantastic cruiser. A dual exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers and custom chrome tips poking out from under the rear bumper gives it a great V8 sound and the clean chassis hasn't been detailed for show but obviously didn't come from the rust belt, either. Bright aluminum wheels add to the sedan's hot rod demeanor and carry staggered 215/70/15 front and 225/70/15 rear General white-letter radials.

Take a closer look and the photos and you'll see that there's a lot more time and money tied up in this '57 Bel Air than is reflected in the sticker price. If you like the looks of a '57 hardtop, this is as affordable as they come. Call today!