This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is a true barn find after being pulled out of storage for nearly 40 years. No bids have been placed on the starting price of $2,500. It is located in Friedens, Pennsylvania. The listing says the car has a salvage title, no VIN noted, and 93,525 miles. You can view more on eBay.
The pictures provided of the engine bay show a 283 cubic inch V8 that is connected to a three-speed manual transmission on the column. It is unknown if the engine will turn or start and the seller has indicated they have not tried. Included in the sale are some engine pieces in the trunk as well.
The interior photos are showing things in a very rough condition. Holes in the floor, torn seats, and filth await you if you decide to purchase this car. As the seller indicates, this vehicle might be better suited as a parts car. Although, it might be tough to find pieces on this car that can be used on another car.
To put things into perspective, the seller indicates they have a skid loader and rollback to assist moving this car around and to help you get it off the property. The price is low but it might not be low enough. Although, these cars are popular and it would not be surprising if someone bought it and let it sit with others that might someday contribute to a build that will be roadworthy.
Looks like all you are going to get here is some trim and glass. I’ll bet an underside photo would be an eye bleeder.
I am 72 years old. I have had my share of collectable old, collectible, drivable, rust buckets, including two ’58 speedsters, and a ’70 Challenger. I never made much money from selling them. I do miss them all, but old cars “collectable” or not, feels like a waste of time and money to me now. The world is changing, and I would prefer to collect electric cars.
The Pennsylvania part explains all the patina. In Pa. here we call it rot , rust and cancer….
As long as the frame is reasonably sound, it needs to be a derby car.
Parts car at best, though as bobhess commented, you’re going to have to dig deep to find useable parts on this one. There are plenty of better ’57s to start a restoration on rather than something like this that has more rust than clean metal.
It has seen better days…
Most of the trifive chevys being built today are similar to this, and require a total restoration, including new floors, rockers, etc and blasting of the metal to get to a good restorable surface. 2-dr sedan Belairs like this are desirable to many, and yes, the cost to restore is high… high enough that several hundred dollars in the purchase price makes no significant difference…
Let the dead Rest In Peace!
I’ve seen this car sitting on the side of the road for about 35 years. Always outside, never stored.
When the hood and deck lid are rotted through it’s hard to imagine anything is left to salvage.
Gonzo. Beyond the grave
A restoration is possible with an extensive amount of patience and labor. Sure, an artist and his co-artists who enjoy resurrection-level challenges could bring this one around. The Foose-style restoration shows go the easy route removing a good body to re-sheet for all-new modern equipment. An authentic production would show-case a car like this one start to finish with all the welding and sheet-shaping involved to original condition (with 4-speed and Cragars, of course) for a great story.
Just add dollars…
Fred Flintstone is bidding on this one already has the floor cut out for him!!!