Vehicle Description
In the world of collector cars, there are few cars as beloved as
the '57 Chevy Bel Air. Finished in Imperial Ivory with a rumbling
small block and a 4-speed automatic, this is the ultimate '50s
cruiser with modern upgrades that is a pleasure to drive and
show.
Repainted a few years ago and still in good overall condition, this
Bel Air has a subtle, resto-mod look that also offers a lot of
authenticity. Workmanship is decent all around, with flat panels
that fit together well and good depth to the finish, so it has a
proper 1957 look without being too shiny and slick. Look at the
door gaps, the way the polished stainless trim flows from panel to
panel, and the smooth surfaces and it's clear that this car led an
easy life and has been someone's favorite for a long time. The Bel
Air's trademark feature, those lovely anodized aluminum panels in
the quarters, are in good shape and carry correct Bel Air script on
their faces. And while this is a resto-mod and not a strict
restoration, it's nice to see that the restorer didn't go overboard
with options as so often happens with these cars. It's just a
clean, straight '57 that's easy to love.
The fantastic red and black interior is the ideal match for the
vintage-looking bodywork. It uses correct materials and patterns
and while it's not crisp and perfect like a fresh restoration, it
works rather well with the soft shine of the paint and gives the
car an all-of-a-piece vibe. And speaking of simplicity, the
steering wheel is from an earlier model, so it's plain, but the
contrast is appealing and works well here. The auxiliary gauges in
the dash have been replaced by modern dials, but the speedo is
original, and there's a second set neatly hanging under the dash. A
custom shifter for the 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive
transmission also carries a Sun tachometer, which is a cool way to
add function without altering the factory look. They kept the stock
AM radio in the dash, although it's probably due for an upgrade
pretty soon. Open the trunk lid and you can see for yourself how
clean and well-finished this car is, with solid quarters, a
reproduction trunk mat, and a full-sized spare tire that's never
been used.
Thanks to generations of development, a modern 350 cubic inch Chevy
V8 will slip right between the Bel Air's fenders and deliver
roughly twice the horsepower of the original 283. The small block
sports a Street Dominator intake and a 4-barrel carb, plus
Edelbrock valve covers and a bright chrome air cleaner. No, it's
not show quality, but it does run superbly and will be easy to
maintain for years to come without so much as a second thought, and
it's a ton of fun to drive. Stock manifolds feed a 2.5-inch dual
exhaust system, so it's got a great soundtrack to go with its
understated look and the overdrive transmission ensures that it
never gets annoying on the highway. Underneath, it's fairly clean
with a bunch of new parts, including the aforementioned exhaust
system, a new gas tank, and recent coil-over shocks. And no
resto-mod Chevy is complete without a set of Rallys with staggered
235/75/15 front and 255/70/15 rear Uniroyal radials.
If you're looking for a fun '57 that doesn't demand a lot of
fussing and can run with some pretty serious hardware, this Bel Air
fits the bill. Call today!