Vehicle Description
Stunning frame-off restoration with upgrades. 283 Power Pack V8,
PowerGlide automatic. Power steering, upgraded power front disc
brakes, A/C, modern stereo. Highly detailed and ready to run. An
exceptional '57 Chevy that does everything well.There isn't much
left to say about the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible. It's an
icon, a part of American history, and a symbol of everything great
about the 1950s. They remain on many collectors' wish lists and
pictures of 1957 Chevys adorn the walls of garages around the
world. If there's one car that resonates with almost everyone, it's
a bright red '57 Chevy ragtop. Fortunately, owning this icon is
easy thanks to a very high-quality restoration finished about five
years ago. The goal was to create the ultimate '57 Chevy that still
looked, acted, and felt like the real deal. That meant no modern
chassis, no LS motor, no custom interior, but rather a few
well-chosen enhancements that make the car better to drive without
erasing its soul. It's finished in Matador Red, which is the car's
original color, and it is exactly the right shade for a '57.
Iconic. Paint and bodywork are extremely well done and it shows
very well with even body gaps and laser-straight quarters. There
are no exterior modifications, although it does sport a few
accessories like the dual antennas, continental kit, and fender
skirts, but who doesn't love a fully dressed Bel Air? This is a
beautifully finished car.Exterior notes: Excellent throughout. If
you look really hard, maybe you'll find a small mark, but overall
the car presents in outstanding condition. Beautiful chrome and
trim, nice panel fit. No demerits to mention.Inside it remains
1957, including the funky two-tone upholstery with silver inserts,
black carpets, and correct reproduction door panels. The dashboard
is as the factory made it as well, including factory speedometer,
temperature, and fuel level gauges plus a string of warning lights
above, and they all work. A trio of auxiliary gauges were added
down low to give you a better perspective of what's going on under
the hood, and the A/C system is subtle, using factory-style sliders
for operation. The original AM radio is still in the dash, but it
has been superseded by an AM/FM/CD head unit hidden under the seat.
Even the steering wheel has been subtly modified, offering a
slightly smaller diameter and thicker rim to feel more comfortable,
and with power steering, that giant original wheel wasn't needed
anyway. Seat belts were added for safety and there are red rubber
mats protecting the floors. Everything you can see or touch is new,
including the white power convertible top, which fits beautifully
and stows under a matching red boot. The trunk is correctly
outfitted with a rubber mat, and despite the continental kit,
there's a matching full-sized spare tire assembly and jack, just in
case (it's just not worth the hassle of removing the tire from the
continental kit).Interior notes: Everything is new. Upgraded with
A/C, custom steering wheel, and stereo hidden under driver's seat.
Almost no signs of use or wear. Clock inop but may just have the
fuse pulled to avoid running down the battery. Top is a little hard
to latch, but it's 55 degrees in the shop so it should be better on
a warm day.Mechanically, it doesn't stray too far from the original
recipe. The engine is a 283 cubic inch Chevy V8 dressed the way a
'57 should look: big air cleaner, Chevrolet script valve covers,
and lots of Chevy Orange paint. On top there's a big 4-barrel
carburetor, which was part of the Power Pack option package, and it
exhales through familiar 'ram's horn' exhaust manifolds into a
great-sounding polished stainless dual exhaust system. Upgrades
include an alternator, electronic ignition, and the A/C system,
which includes an electric pusher fan to maximize efficiency.
Factory-style power steering makes it effortless on the road, and
braking has been upgraded with power front discs and a dual
reservoir master cylinder for safety. It starts easily, idles
properly, and has enough performance to make the big Bel Air fun to
drive. The 2-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission is original
equipment and it turns a set of 3.36 gears out back, making this a
fine highway cruiser that's at home almost anywhere. The chassis is
highly detailed, with correct red oxide primer on the floors, satin
black on the frame, and new hardware throughout. There's a fresh
gas tank hanging out back and it rides on 205/75/14 Goodyear wide
whitewall radials for a modern ride with vintage looks.Mechanical
notes: Modern alternator and A/C system. Electronic ignition. Dual
master cylinder with power booster and discs up front. Starts and
runs properly. PowerGlide shifts cleanly. Nice ride with radials
and new shocks. Someone spent a TON of time polishing the exhaust
system?wow!Extras include a shop manual, parts manual, owner's
manual, plus a massive cache of spare parts including clocks,
hubcaps, filters, chrome trim, mirrors, power top pumps, steering
wheel and trim ring, accessory tissue dispenser, weather seals,
gaskets, and much more.This is a superb car. The restoration cost
far more than the asking price and the sensible upgrades make it a
no-excuses old car that you can use in the modern world. And it
retains 100% of its iconic good looks so everyone who sees it will
still know it's a 1957 Chevy. It's not radical enough to be called
a rest-mod, but the few changes they did make it a lot more
user-friendly, and that was entirely the point. What a car!Harwood
Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional
inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
