|
|
|
Finding a world class, correctly restored tri-five convertible is becoming increasingly difficult for two reasons. First, the Bel Air has been at the top of almost every collectors wish list for decades now. And secondly, theyre snatched up faster than a T-bone in a dog pound, with deposits being slapped down almost the minute one hits the market. The last three weve featured, this Lakespur Blue classic http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/sold/1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air/132499#!/ this rare Fuelie car http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/top_sales_2011/1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air/132420#!/ and this equally impressive collection car http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/sold/1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air/132745#!/ brought $104K, $135K and $115K respectively, and all sold within a month of hitting our website. That means if you want to fulfill your dream of owning the holy grail of classic 50s style, youd better be on point when our newest arrival goes live! Dressed in a correct black, red and silver color combination; equipped with its original Super Turbo Fire V8, Saginaw 3-speed drivetrain; and sporting only test miles since a complete frame-off restoration, this blue chip tri-five is the best weve ever had. If youre looking for a super nice cruiser that you can drive and show with equal enthusiasm, this Bel Air is a great choice!
When you walk up to this stunning ragtop, the first thing youll notice is its remarkably straight body. Thats because someone invested a considerable amount of time in a complete frame-off restoration, and the fruit of their labor hangs from every perspective. No matter how hard the fine folks on GMs assembly line may have tried, they simply didnt have the time or technology to produce anything this clean. And as the beneficiary of a high quality nut and bolt rebuild, every angle of this 57s finned body is solid and true. After countless hours of welding, aligning and sanding, the cars expert restorers sprayed a correct coat of timeless GM code 793 Onyx Black under a thick clearcoat shell and buffed up a brilliant shine. And today, even in the harsh fluorescent lights of our bright showroom, the cars panel fitment is even, its finish is glossy and its body displays no major imperfections.
Theres just something about late 50s GM convertibles that speaks to the very soul of any true car guy. And this Bel Air, with its solid body and acres of fresh brightwork, evokes the kind of euphoric nostalgia you might find in a classic Norman Rockwell painting. At the front of the car a heavy, body-width bumper houses a proper gold Bel Air grille behind a pristine Chevrolet crest and clear, white parking lights. Above that crest, Bel Air exclusive gold hood ornamentation sits between bright T3 headlights and good looking 57 Chevy exclusive spear bullets and spoons. At the sides of those bullets, classic tri-five Chevy stainless, which visually connects the cars front fenders with its rear fins, is branded by Bel Air exclusive gold emblems and displays no dulling or imperfections of any kind. Below that stainless, dent-free rocker moldings and factory wheel skirts, which overemphasize the cars overall length, perfectly reflect our stained concrete floor. At the top of those rockers, excellent looking stainless trim combines with a new drivers mirror and traditional chrome door handles as a stylish complement to like-new glass and a correct white top. And at the back of the car, peaked stainless trim, which begins at the top of the fins and continues down to chrome trimmed tail lights, perfectly complements a second body-width chrome bumper and Bel Air exclusive gold trunk ornamentation.
In 1957, Chevrolets 283 cubic inch Super Turbo Fire V8 was the most common choice for factory GM performance. It made an advertised 220 horsepower, created a stout 300 lb./ft. of torque; and even in todays world of 300 horsepower grocery getters, its still quick and impressive. Follow this Bel Airs slick Onyx Black basecoat into its highly detailed engine bay and youll find a 1957-exclusive 3731548 small block thats been layered in a thick coat of familiar Chevy Orange paint. At the top of that legendary mill, a fully restored satin black air cleaner funnels wind into a Power Pack exclusive 4-barrel carburetor that comes complete with a correct glass fuel bowl. At the base of that carburetor, a correct cast iron intake feeds air and fuel to authentic Power Pack heads that are capped by great looking stamped Chevrolet valve covers. And at the back of that intake, a traditional points distributor shoots fire through fresh Radio GM TVRS cables that are organized into painted metal wire looms. Once those fires have been lit, an original black radiator circulates coolant through fresh reproduction hoses and authentic squeeze clamps. Once that air and fuel is torched, bare metal exhaust manifolds whisk spent gases into a Power Pack true dual exhaust system. And once combustion is created, new V-belts spin a tagged Delco-Remy generator opposite a rebuilt Harrison air conditioning system. Everything in this Bel Airs engine bay is as complete as its pristine exterior panels, and not a single detail was missed during the cars calculated restoration.
Take a gander under this top notch tri-five and youll get an idea of just how recently its restoration was completed. Judging by the looks of things, I dont think the car has seen more than 100 miles of post paint shop road time; and those miles certainly havent been logged on a wet surface. Its X-frame is stunningly straight and smooth. Its floor pans are solid and covered in the same GM satin black as its rebuilt suspension. And backing up the small block engine is an era-correct 3-speed manual transmission which wears a correct 3845122 Saginaw casting number. That column shifted transmission sends power to what appears to be a factory rear end. The cars clean front suspension hangs factory power steering inside of correct coil springs and manual drum brakes. Its proven rear suspension hangs new shocks inside of correct leaf springs and two more manual drum brakes. Its mandrel bent true dual exhaust system features polished factory replacement mufflers. And keeping the power to the pavement is a familiar set of 14 inch painted steel wheels which spin 7.50-14 BF Goodrich Silvertown radials around mirror-like stainless wheel covers. Fortunately, this Chevy isnt a victim of the rampant over-restoration that befalls so many ropes and red carpet cars. And while its undercarriage is respectably clean, its certainly not anything youll be afraid to drive when theres more than a 20% chance of rain.
In the mid-to-late 50s, few cockpits could top the Bel Airs level of craftsmanship and showmanship. Open this convertibles solid shutting doors and youll find a striking bright red and metallic silver interior which stays true to its original scheme. The firm bench seats are covered in a mix of red and silver vinyl that perfectly contrasts the cars monochromatic exterior paintwork. The curved dash is painted bright red and features spectacular stainless trim across the width of the car. The stylish gauge pod, detailed in chrome, centers a large speedometer between a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge. At the center of the car, youll find a correct Wonder Bar AM radio and controls for the rebuilt air conditioning system ...For more information please call the seller. 
|
|
STOCK/INV. NUMBER:
133222
|
|
