Vehicle Description
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 4 Door Sedan
Without question, the 1957 Chevy is one of America's most iconic
images. From being instantly recognized around the world to its top
ranking among diehard fans of GM's bowtie and general car
enthusiasts alike, this single model year has seen it all since
introduction. Its competition credentials were felt not only on the
quarter-mile, but also on the ovals-both dirt and paved. It's been
chopped, lowered, modified and lovingly restored. The '57 Chevy has
also been replicated countless times in die-cast and molded plastic
guises, ranging from 1/87 scale right up to 1/12th-even fiberglass
go-kart bodies have been produced in its image. And its picture has
hung on countless bedroom and garage walls.
For consignment, a 1957 Chevrolet 4 door sedan in Bel Air trim. It
has had an earlier restoration but comes to us with a few slight
questions in regards to the original engine as the V in the VIN
denotes the car as being V8 equipped, but is now sporting an inline
6 cylinder. Whatever the back story, the car looks great, wears an
$8,000 base coat/clear coat paint job over rust free steel and has
had a good amount of recent maintenance performed. Then it has all
been bathed in Harbor Blue, has had over $5,000 spent on new
trimmings, wears 4 doors, and is like a new pair of blue suede
shoes. So it's one for the money, two for the show, and three to
get ready now go cat go!
Exterior
At the front of this five-seven hangs a bright Chevrolet crest and
polished parking lamps between chrome trimmed eye lid-esque
headlights and a broad bumper and a shiny gold egg crate grille.
Also we see some round turn signal lights in thick bezels and
rubber tipped "Dagmars" on either side. At the top of that grille,
a domed hood centers polished spear bullet and rocket tailed spoons
in front of new wrap-around glass that's draped in polished frames.
This is all steel straight with well minded gaps, and is bathed in
Harbor Blue. The paint presents as miles deep with only a few areas
of light spray and inclusions. At the base of those frames,
polished wipers, driver's and passenger's door mirrors and
traditional door handles complement flashy trim spears and elegant
"Chevrolet" scripts in grandmother's handwriting within the ever
widening silver and ribbed stainless panel in the rear quarters.
Undulating chrome is on the sills and this frames the lowers for
the roof line which comes to us in Harbor Blue as well. At the back
of the car a second broad bumper frames the trunk line lower, and a
second colorful crest. The finedge trimmings form a Z on the tail
as they ground themselves on the bumper. Smaller flame shaped tail
lights reside on the bottoms of these Z's. A backup light is within
the bumper just below and achromed tipped single exhaust is coming
from under the bumper. Simple Harbor Blue painted steel wheels with
standard faux knock off wheel coverings are wrapped in medium
whitewall G78-14 rubber on all 4 corners. From the curved glass to
all the new chrome, you can burn my house, steal my car, drink my
liquor from an old fruit jar, and do anything you want to, but
don't step on my blue suede shoes!
Interior
Featuring a stunning array of black and light and dark blue vinyl,
this Chevy's mostly original interior is both clean and impressive.
At the center of the cockpit, firm bench seats wear a retro
amalgamation of light blue vinyl bolsters with dark blue fronting
the base of the lower cushions and gold piping separating the black
flagstone broadcloth inserts. A matchy matchy sprawling bench is in
the rear and presents as nearly new. In front of those seats, a
full metal jacket dash forms round wide steel bezels bathed in
light blue and house round black faced gauges and a lineup of small
round lights in deep chromed bezels just above these gauges. These
circles border on a square weave pattern chromed strip that runs
the length of the dash, and houses some knobs and pulls, the
factory AM radio, and a rectangular clock in front of the
passenger. Fronting the dash on the driver's side is a light blue
bakelite steering wheel with a complete circle horn right in the
center. Just below the chromed square weave strip is another
horizontal band which is back to the dark blue paint just like the
all steel dash top. Here the heater control buttons and a glovebox
are seen in front of the passenger. Wonderfully clean and new dark
blue thick loop carpeting is in and flooding the floors and a dark
blue tight headliner is just above. Do anything you want to but
uh-honey lay off my shoes!
Drivetrain
Within a fully restored and blue and black painted engine bay is
stuffed an industrial light blue GM block in 235.5ci's and is an
inline 6 cylinder. It has an offset black air cleaner and this
covers a new 1-barrel carburetor. As per our consignor, this mill
was recently treated to a top end rebuild and fresh tune up. On the
back is a 3-speed manual transmission with a new clutch and a 3.55
rear axle to spin the rears. The original radiator is keeping
things all cool my cats!
Undercarriage
Fully structurally sound underneath with the exception of some
light invasive rust in the inner rockers. A newer fuel tank and
stock style single exhaust is now on. The floor pans and body
hangers, much like the rest of the underside is covered with
patina,factory undercoating and some surface rust. Independent
coilspring suspension is on front and leaf springs are on the rear
and looking good. Drum braking is on front and the back with new
wheel bearings and wheel cylinders in the front to keep things
stopping properly.
Drive-Ability
The car started easily and was fun to drive. It had nice
acceleration, bias free braking, and had a few rattles here and
there. I was amazed at the quality of the originality on the
interior, and all functions were fully operational save for the
clock not keeping time. Also, I noted that while the oil level was
full, at idle and low rpm the oil light was lit and slight ticking
was noted, but would go away when the rpms were raised. Even with
those faults it was so great I had a tear in my eye..decoder..hand
me a Kleenex!
The upper echelon of the tri five and the last of said trio year
example, nicely gone through with copious amounts of money spent on
the paint and chrome. A mostly original interior and all looking
good enough not to step on, but into and just drive and smile. Pure
1950's heaven my cool cats...
C57B122767
V-V8
C-2400 Series Bel Air
57-1957
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
122767-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE 57 1019D-1957 Bel Air 4 Door Sedan
BODY T13281-Tarrytown Body #
TRIM 665-Blue & Black Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT 796-Harbor Blue
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
