Vehicle Description
Is this 1957 Chevrolet 210 2-door sedan a street car you can race or a race car for the street? With a full competition suspension, lightweight body parts, and a thumping 355 cubic inch V8, you might be forgiven for thinking it's track-only, but the finished interior, pump-gas-friendly horsepower, and awesome paint suggest this one was merely built to drive... fast!
Not many race cars wear paint that looks this good. The '57 Chevy's shape is instantly recognizable, even from a distance, and we have to say it makes a fine-looking pro-street machine. The burgundy paint has a fantastic shine and someone was obviously fastidious about getting the details right. Without the Bel Air's quarter panel inserts to hide behind, the sheetmetal work had to be exact, especially with those large-by-huge meats hidden behind. The flames are a traditional look and we like the simple gold rather than the multi-hued flames that you see on most cars like this. Of course, the giant hood scoop and fiberglass bumpers painted to match the body don't allow you to hide this car's intentions, but the chrome and stainless trim that's still on the car looks great and suggests quite a bit of time and money was invested in the build. You'll note a few details like the jump posts on the rear bumper for a quick charge at the track and tinted windows, but they only add to the serious look of this rather impressive '57.
The interior is definitely built for combat, with a full cage and no back seat, which was deleted to make room for the oversized wheel wells. However, that doesn't mean it's uncivilized, as the front buckets are comfortable enough for long cruises and the cage was thoughtfully designed to make getting in and out of the car relatively drama-free. The two-tone upholstery is very nicely done with diamond-tufted seating surfaces and contrasting red stitching, none of which was cheap to do. Full carpets and matching door panels help control noise and heat, so it feels reasonably accommodating inside. The original dash is still there, dominated by a giant tach on the steering column, and, of course, there's no radio, but you won't miss it a bit. A trick shifter allows you to snap the 2-speed PowerGlide to attention and the fat steering wheel feels great in your hands. The trunk is filled with hardware, including a custom fuel cell and battery, but the tinwork is extremely nice, showing that someone knew what they were doing here.
A 355 cubic inch Chevy V8 provides the power, and with Twisted Wedge aluminum heads, a giant Holley carb, and assorted other upgrades, it cranks out an astounding 580 horsepower on pump gas. It was set up for nitrous, but the system was never installed, so it hasn't been thrashed and is ready to go. It's not detailed for show, but that's the race car attitude showing, with function being more important than form. Trick long-tube headers dump through the wheel wells and lead to a pair of Flowmasters located outside the frame rails, and the sound is spectacular. A race-prepped PowerGlide 2-speed automatic transmission with a built-in trans brake and a narrowed 9-inch rear on a 4-link setup are pure hardcore and the 4.11 gears and sticky tires make for some pretty impressive acceleration. Weld Draglite wheels are a familiar look and it carries skinny 165/80/15 front and giant 31x16.5-15 rear tires.
Surprisingly user-friendly and very neatly finished, this '57 Chevy brings the thunder but doesn't punish you for it. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? Call today!
