Beautiful 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Two Door Hardtop

Offered for Sale by the California Automobile Museum

Nicely restored 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Two Door Hardtop

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This is a very original example of the iconic 1957 Chevy that looks like it just arrivedfrom the fiftiesin a time warp, erfect from it’s two tone paint right down to the wide white sidewalls. Slide behind the wheel in that beautiful interior and you almost expect to find the new car smell. This beautiful Chevy is a two door hard top with a 283 and automatic transmission. It’s a basic car without power steering or power brakes.

This Chevy was restored in 1986 and has been in storage since then. Restoration included body work and paint, pholstery, echromed bumpers with the engine and transmission rebuilt. Brake cylinders and tires were replaced at the last service and the car has been lightly driven for the past few years. The car runs and drives nicely, ut it idles a bit rough so the carb may need some attention. This old Chevy is complete except for the original radio.

The owner also wanted to give some history and background to her car, elow is a letter in her own words:

Dear prospective new owner:

This is a brief history (and love letter), nd an answer to why this wonderful vehicle is being sold. My beloved aunt gifted the 57 Chevy to me on my 17th birthday. The car had been bequeathed to her from a childhood boyfriend who became a life-long friend. They maintained a bi-coastal friendship until his untimely death.

My aunt’s husband provided my initial driving instructions for the Chevy. Slow into the curve and accelerate out as we motored through the Bay Area hills. I must note that, o this day, still cannot parallel park. At the conclusion of my two-week introduction to this mysterious, hroaty and powerful vehicle, y aunt gave me the keys.

For most of my life this Chevy has been my transport to school, ollege, obs (a “company car”) and running out for shopping. My beloved Chevy has enjoyed the challenges of travelling to Yosemite, arking at the beaches in Santa Cruz and the back and forth of I5 and Highway 99. Her favorite travel destination was the Napa/Sonoma wine country. Upon leaving a winery I would often come upon folks who once owned a Chevy, ost a Chevy, njoyed the drive-in movies in a Chevy, ent on a prom date in a Chevy, r travelled on their honeymoon in a Chevy. This car was admired and photographed by many people recapturing their memories.

As you can see from above, y Chevy was never a trophy car, lthough guys I dated always wanted to drive my car. This was a working car owned by a woman who appreciated its trunk capacity that could handle the numerous boxes of high heels I packed when travelling. When asked about the car’s specifications, just knew that it was a two-door V8—powerful and gorgeous.

Transitions occur. I thought the Chevy would always be mine until my job began to require increasingly lengthy road trips that the Chevy found challenging, nd gas prices started escalating. Power brakes and steering began to look attractive. But it was the company I worked for (which provided a car allowance) that finally said, ldquo;get a modern car”, nd so I did. That car was a Lexus SC430 coupe, hich became my new dream car. It didn’t replace the Chevy—it was just radically different. For example, ts small trunk couldn’t haul nearly the number of shoes that the Chevy could.

The Lexus was recently totaled in a stupid rear-end accident, nd sadly my 57 Chevy cannot transition back into the every day car she originally was. I always thought she was a keeper, ut sadly I must now let her go. I hope that the new owner will experience the same enjoyment I did over the past 49 years.

Sincerely,

Lillie