Vehicle Description
Beautifully restored and finished to show-quality standards, this
drop-dead gorgeous 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Hardtop is ready for a
summer of cruise nights, Sunday afternoon shows, and a lifetime of
creating classic memories. And with only 759 miles on the build of
the this Bel Air beauty, it's going to be turning heads on Main
Street for a long, long time.
One of the most recognized cars of all time, the '57 Chevy is an
icon of car culture, and no matter how you equip it, it's hard to
make a mistake. Fortunately, the craftsmen who put this car
together didn't color too much outside the lines. Sure, they
upgraded the colors from Dusk Rose to Matador Red and added a
little extra 'oomph' to the drivetrain, but one look at this beauty
and you're instantly transformed back to 1957. It really looks the
part - Matador Red paint recently finished to unreal show
standards, an Imperial Ivory top, those gorgeous Bel Air aluminum
inserts on the rear quarters, side-skirts, and a period-perfect
continental kit out back. Bodywork is laser straight, panel gaps
are precise, and the crispness of details like the wheel well lips
prove that great care and a professional's touch were used in
painstakingly crafting this classic car. Chrome and stainless-and
there is a lot of it on a '57 Chevy-has all been fully restored,
including the big 'ol bumpers fore and aft, that gorgeous gold
front grille, and matching gold Chevrolet badges fore and aft. The
body trim and window surrounds have been polished and smoothed to a
blinding shine, along with the long trim pieces along the tops of
the tailfins that are so straight you could set your watch to them.
Accessories like the hood rockets, fender skirts, and dual antennas
reinforce the '50s nostalgia look, and the fish bowl glass is so
clean it's practically invisible. Man, what a great looking
car!
1957 Chevys received ten new interior fabric choices, and the
top-of-the-line Bel Air was the only series to get the cool black
and red patterned fabric found in this hardtop. Beautifully
restored to original specs, the front and rear bench seats feature
new seat covers in authentic materials that are both stylish and
all-day comfortable. The matching dual-ring steering wheel is
beautifully finished back-to-stock too, and the bright machined
metal trim that stretches from one side to the other is a nice
connection to the anodized panels on the exterior. For the first
time, all Bel Airs received full carpeting as standard equipment,
and this one also features color-matched reproduction floor mats
for protection. The radio hasn't been replaced with a modern unit,
which is a pleasant surprise (although it does need some service),
and the list of options includes a factory-style A/C system that's
been upgraded with modern hardware, seatbelts front and rear, and
even power steering and power brakes that vastly improve the
driving experience. Out back, the trunk is finished just as neatly
and correctly as the rest of the car (fully painted and topped with
a correct-style black rubber mat), and thanks to the continental
kit there's plenty of storage room inside.
The engine powering this beauty is a 327 cubic inch Chevy V8, which
is a natural choice for any '57 Bel Air, topped with a dual-set of
4-barrel carburetors for a much-welcomed added punch. Dressed to
impress in a factory configuration, the engine bay glistens with
Chevrolet Orange enamel on the valve covers and block, a dual set
of original air cleaners, and a combination of both original and
modern components that really pop up against the Matador Red
firewall and black inner fenders. A big radiator lives up front and
as you can see, and there's even a stock-spec generator in place,
although with the power steering and power front disc brake systems
are more modern and drastically improve this Chevy's performance.
The 700R4 4-speed automatic gearbox adds an overdrive gear and
channels torque back to the original-style rear end and the recent
dual exhaust system has a nice purr to it that doesn't get
obnoxious when you get on the throttle. The underside was clearly
built to show-off and to drive and includes newer shocks and
undercoating that controls noise and heat, but nothing terribly
radical to take away from the original appeal. Painted steel wheels
adorned with correct Bel Air hubcaps have a cool retro look to them
but carry thoroughly modern 205/75/14 Coker wide-whitewall rubber
to improve handling.
Take the time to look at the photos-this car is extremely well
detailed and fully sorted and can compete for the big trophies at
just about any venue. Values on '57 Chevys are skyrocketing, and
next to convertibles, Bel Air hardtops are the ones to own. Call us
today and get your piece of yesterday.
