Vehicle Description
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a detailed, body-off restoration
5.7 liter GM LS1 V8
GM 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission
Custom leather interior
Air conditioning / Modern audio
Heavily upgraded suspension / Adjustable air bags
18 and 20-inch Billet Specialties Stiletto wheels
Power rack-and-pinion steering
Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
Sale includes restoration photos
Go to just about any car show and you're likely to find at least a
few Bel Airs. One of Detroit's most adored creations, late '50s
Chevys continue to be restoration magnets for builders and
collectors alike. The only problem is: once you've joined the ranks
of tri-five ownership, it becomes increasingly difficult to stand
out. Well, with a classic like this striking hardtop, standing out
is guaranteed to be a nonissue. The beneficiary of comprehensive
restoration, this Chevrolet's time-tested looks are backed by an
impressive list of hardware that includes a modern GM small block,
a smooth automatic transmission and a thoroughly updated chassis
that rolls on tough Billet Specialties wheels. Virtually timeless
and universally loved, Bel Airs are always crowd favorites. And
with twice the swagger of its restored-to-stock brethren, this
custom bowtie is one of the most enjoyable tri-fives on the
planet!
BODYWORK/TRIM
A solid foundation for building a lights-out resto-mod, this slick
Chevy's smooth, all-American body is covered in a silky coat of
vivid red 2-stage. That glossy pigment, bearing striking similarity
to the brand's recent Torch Red offerings, creates a classic hot
rod profile that's been buffed, sanded and polished to near
perfection. Panel gaps appear to be at better-than-factory
tolerances, creating straight surfaces that are likely much cleaner
than when they originally rolled out of the showroom. And today,
this reborn classic rolls as a stylish testament to storied Detroit
excellence!
As a collector car enthusiast, you really can't go wrong with any
'50s Chevy. But for many folks, the division's '57 model
essentially perfected the art. At the front of this five-seven, a
custom billet grille hangs a polished bowtie between chrome-trimmed
halo headlights and a fully polished bumper. At the top of that
grille, a nosed hood centers polished 'spear bullets and spoons' in
front of tinted glass that's draped in polished frames. At the base
of those frames, polished wipers and trick mirrors complement
traditional door handles and flashy 'speed spears'. And at the back
of the car, a guarded and fully polished bumper frames LED
taillights and a custom Center High Mount Stop Lamp.
ENGINE
Take a look under the hood and you'll find 5.7 liters of stout LS1
small block that's good for over 300 horsepower! Straight from GM,
that proven mill combines a sturdy aluminum block with lightweight
aluminum heads, coil-near-plug ignition and aluminum flat top
pistons to create razor-sharp throttle response and a torque band
that's as wide as Texas. At the front of the engine, a polished air
tube shuttles wind from a reusable filter element to a factory
throttle body. Behind that valve, a composite intake caps
completely stock internals. High-octane fossils are provided by
electronic fuel injection. Sparks are sequenced through fresh
Packard plug wires. Spent gases roar through coated long-tube
headers. Cooling comes courtesy of a polished aluminum radiator,
which seats two electric puller fans between a polished support, a
polished cap and a polished expansion tank. And GM serpentine
components spin a coated alternator opposite a coated AC
compressor. Aesthetically, both the Cast Silver mill and its
assortment of bright accessories seem right at home inside a
brilliant red frame that's founded on a smooth firewall. And
details like trick dipsticks, a polished hood latch, polished hood
supports, a polished oil cap and a slick carbon fiber engine cowl
ensure this Chevy has a steady balance of looks and
performance.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Slide under this classy cruiser and you'll find a thoroughly
upgraded chassis that's clean, calculated and ready to hit the
road. The car's Satin Black frame, upfitted with modern
crossmembers, creates a nice contrast to solid, undercoated floors.
Behind the big engine, a proven 4L60E 4-speed twists power to a
hooped driveshaft, which spins what appears to be a factory rear
axle. That power team pushes the car on a modern 4-bar rear-half
that's fitted with adjustable air bags. Opposite that 4-bar, an
independent front-clip sandwiches two more adjustable air bags
between tubular control arms. Turns come courtesy of power
rack-and-pinion steering. Stops are provided by quality Wilwood
calipers, which utilize a polished Wilwood master cylinder to
squeeze vented rotors. Charred dinosaurs float through coated,
Mandrel-bent pipes, which fill coated Flowmaster mufflers. And
power meets the pavement through polished Billet Specialties
Stilettos, which spin 245/40ZR18 Nitto Motivos in front of
315/35ZR20 Nitto Motivos.
INTERIOR
Pop the doors and you'll find a custom leather cockpit that's every
bit as stylish as the car's polished red fuselage. Front and
center, a quartet of plush buckets sport '57-themed buttons. In
front of those mitts, a custom dash hangs Classic Instruments All
American telemetry over controls for a modern climate system. At
the edges of that dash, red-topped side panels anchor custom trim
and polished hardware on a quartet of power-operated windows. At
the bottom of those panels, sleek Daytona carpet floats color-keyed
mats beneath aftermarket foot pedals. In the middle of that rug, a
custom, full-length console founds a booted Lokar shifter between
an MP3-compatible CD player and controls for the car's air bags.
Opposite that console, a chrome mirror leads a leather headliner
that's propped on polished trim. In front of the driver, a chromed
steering wheel spins a carbon fiber-weave rim around a stamped
bowtie, which laps a tilting column that's tinged with modern
cruise control. And behind the passengers, a custom-upholstered
trunk features almost enough room for one season's plunder of
trophies.
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
A book of restoration photos
What started out as America's first low-priced hardtop has now
become a legend. And today, the 1957 Chevy is one of the most
in-demand collector cars of all time. If you've been searching for
a top-notch tri-five custom that's as much fun to drive as it is to
show, this cool sedan's attractive combination of great performance
and classic style simply can't be beat!