Nice Exterior Frame Off Resto Beautiful Interior Showroom 283 Powerpack Engine

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

Chevrolet designers were really hitting their stride in the mid 1950's with their Tri Fives, and you would arguably say the Magnum Opus was the last model of the Tri Five era...the 57 Chevrolet. So how exactly does one take this masterpiece of bowtie design, and take it one step further? Something to really end up with the piece de resistance, and stand out from the crowd a bit, but all the while not ruining the original concept.

For consignment a piece of the piece de resistance in the form of the banner year for the Tri Fives...the 1957 Bel Air. Fully restored and all primed to go for a cruise down Main Street and start turning heads. In good condition, it's like a fine wine that has aged to perfection, and now ready to be drunk, as you will be when you lay eyes on this beauty.

Exterior
From its toothy grille that floats between a small upper bumper and lower large bumper complete with rubber tipped "Dagmars", to the belt line swoop spear that makes a downward turn on the rear quarter panel, this restoration is truly the definition of the term "buttoned up." Dual rocket style hood embellishments are fronting curved gentle tubes that are on either side of the hood. These run back to the windshield where they die into the hood. Very nice (just like the bumpers and trim) chromed headlight bezels frame the single headlights, and nice chromed side view mirrors, door handles, and window trim all chromed are all good. Continuing rearward, we see an off shoot of the downward sloping spear, that also runs to the rear of the car, and borders a horizontally ribbed aluminum panel with a gold Bel Air badge in your grandmother's handwriting, and cloisonn Chevrolet bowtie badge. We need to talk about the straight steel panels all around, with fair minded gaps, and covered in Colonial Cream (yellow) paint. A black canvas convertible top is the icing on the cream if you will and is in nearly new condition. 14 x 6 steel wheels in Colonial Cream have standard chromed Chevrolet badged dog dish style covers with faux knockoffs, wide whites and thin bias ply tires.

Interior
A swing of the doors and we see metallic silver with doughnut style pattern over yellow vinyl making up the clean door panel. Cranks and levers are very good as is armrest. Looking inside a very clean split bench with more of the dough-knitted silver vinyl and yellow bolsters with button accents in yellow. The rear bench follows form of the front seats. The dash is showroom with black painted top dash, and mini checkered aluminum in front housing the clean and mean gauges, wonder-bar radio, knobs for various functions, and a clock. The original steering wheel also near perfect fronts the 50's styled dash, with another bowtie badge and more Bel Air grandmothers handwriting. Black, clean, no stain carpet covers all the floors.

Drivetrain
A look under the hood and I could be standing in the showroom looking in to a totally restored 283ci Powerpack optioned engine. A 4-barrel carburetor is atop...underneath a black shiny air cleaner. Powerglide provides the automatic transmission in a 2 -peed form.

Undercarriage
The frame off restoration has left the undercarriage simply beautiful looking absolutely right out of the showroom. Dual exhaust from the Powerpack option, and 4-wheel drum brakes are noted nestled within this perfectly painted undercarriage.

Drive-Ability
As like the rest of the car, it runs very well, starting immediately, shifting smoothly, and providing a smooth ride. We tried to go topless on the drive but were met with a click of the top motor but no movement from the mechanism. Otherwise a good driver as expected on this front as well.

If you are in the market for the best year of the Tri-Fives, that is really nice, then look no further because this is a great example. Great color combo, and a fab frame off restoration from 1995, and it hasn't skipped a beat since then.

VC57T233748
VC-V8 2400 BelAir
57-1957
T-Tarrytown, NY Assy Plant
233748-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 450 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.