1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Restomod

Description

It's no secret that we love 1957 Chevys here at Streetside Classics, but the way they sell also proves that you love them too! With timeless looks and the ability to become just about anything you can imagine, there are few better choices for your next car than this lovely 1957 Bel Air 2-door post coupe.

The color is called Navistar Red, and it's somewhere between Matador Red and Hugger Orange. Thanks to a comprehensive frame-off restoration, it was given a full body makeover that included smoothing every parking lot ding it ever acquired, straightening every panel, and making sure that the two-stage urethane paint had a mile-deep shine. Even a close examination will reveal only minor signs of use here and there, but that only proves that the car is working as intended. The brilliant, high-visibility finish suits the '57 just fine, because you don't buy a 1957 Chevy of any kind if you want to keep a low profile. And you already know that chrome isn't cheap and the '57 is literally covered in the stuff, so there's a small fortune wrapped up in the details on this car and the results speak for themselves; it was worth every penny!

The interior is as subtle as the exterior is flashy. With tan leather cloth on the original bench seats, they didn't stray too far from the original recipe, although the natural materials are probably a lot more comfortable on warm days than the original stuff. Pleats are a safe bet for a vintage look, but the door panels have been upholstered using multiple textures and patterns that recreates the '50s vibe. On the other hand, the custom Dakota Digital gauges put a 21st century twist on the original round instrument pods, which allows the stock dash to remain, well, stock but offering a lot more information. Vintage Air A/C has been very discreetly mounted underneath and most folks won't even notice it until the frost starts to form on the windows. Neatly fitted carpets and matching floor mats keep the OEM look going and even the AM/FM radio (with CD changer) doesn't call attention to itself. The trunk is tidy, too, with full upholstery and a matching cover for the spare tire.

Small block Chevy power is a given in a '57 like this, and it's obvious that with 383 cubic inches on tap, not only was it built to drive, but that someone intended for this one to run as well as it look. The usual stuff, like a 4-barrel carb and ceramic-coated headers, helps it build power and with that long-stroke crank inside, it makes the kind of torque that snaps necks. There's a custom serpentine belt drive system for the accessories and a big aluminum radiator up front keeping it cool. Four-wheel disc brakes are powered by a chrome master cylinder and with the 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission, it even pulls down decent gas mileage. The engine bay is ultra clean and the chassis shows off what you get when you tear a car down to the bare frame and rebuild it from there, because everything is new, shiny, and beautifully finished. Polished Boyd Coddington billet aluminum wheels wear modern 235/45/17 front and 255/45/17 rear performance radials.

You can probably count on this car landing a new home pretty quickly, given how well finished it is, and there's definitely no shortage of '57 Chevy fans. Call today!