Vehicle Description
What we've got on hand here is an absolute beauty of a car, which
is an extreme understatement. Here at Coyote Classics, it's
suddenly 1960! Sitting on the showroom floor is this exquisite 1957
Plymouth Belvedere, a piece of art with four doors and four wheels.
Evoking the shape of the infamously evil 1958 Plymouth Fury in
Stephen King's "Christine", this 1957 Belvedere sedan calls to mind
the same car, with a gorgeous two-tone red over white paintjob.
Designed under the leadership of visionary automotive designer
Virgil Exner, the 1957 Plymouth and sister Chrysler Corporation
models were unlike anything else on the market. The ads trumpeted:
"Suddenly - It's 1960!" If the marketing was to be believed, the
new Plymouths sitting in showrooms were originally intended to be
1960 models. In an unprecedented move, Chrysler Corporation had
completely redesigned all five of its car lines, discontinuing the
new 1955 bodies after only two years. What the corporation walked
out in its place were Virgil Exner's best designs ever, not just
catching up with yearly styling giant General Motors, but leaving
both the General and the Blue Oval far behind. The effect of the
new Plymouth sent shock waves through the design halls of both GM
and Ford. One story tells of GM styling boss Harley Earl walking
into the office of Chevrolet exterior designer C.J. MacKichan,
throwing a 1957 Plymouth catalog on his desk and asking bitterly,
"Why don't you quit?"
This example is powered by the optional 301 C.I. V8 with a 2-barrel
carburetor, a step below the 318 V8 but above the 277 V8. That
combination is sure to provide for some smooth cruising!
Additionally, the three-speed "Torqueflite" automatic transmission
made its debut in 1957, using a rather unconventional shifting
layout: a button. Most cars of the time used a standard shifter,
while Chrysler brought the "pushbutton" automatic into the
mainstream, a feature that is still used on most cars today. Saying
this car is beautiful is a drastic minimization. The "Forward Look"
styling of this Plymouth takes inspiration from the space age, from
the chrome headlights, unobstructed greenhouse to the smooth clean
sculptured sides, the idea of an earthbound space vehicle was
everywhere. The low front fenders and hood, gently sloped
windshield, a razor thin flat roof with tapered rear window, and
rising fins created a "leaping" effect, as though the car was in
motion even while standing still. The red and white exterior paint
is incredibly striking, being buffed to a brilliant shine. It has a
couple spots of surface rust here and there, but overall, it
presents very nicely. The interior is just as nice, with an
eye-catching tri-tone color scheme in black, white, and red. The
bench seats front and rear are also in outstanding shape! Features
on this beautiful '57 Plymouth include power steering, newer
speakers, an updated Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo system (the original
AM pushbutton radio remains in the dash!), dual forward-mounted
mirrors, and a sweet-sounding dual exhaust system. The car rides on
a classic set of B.F. Goodrich "Silvertown" whitewall tires with
factory-spec 1957 Plymouth steel wheels and hubcaps for a
factory-fresh look.
This '57 Plymouth is a shining example of a different era, when
style reigned over all else. With outlandishly styled fins and
sweeping chrome ornamentation, the 1957 Plymouths look like nothing
that ever came before or since. This Belvedere is ready to go at
the touch of the gas pedal, and all it needs is a new driver. If
you're looking to own a beautiful, unique classic that is a rolling
tribute to the glory days of automotive styling, then what better
example to look for than this 1957 Plymouth Belvedere?
