Bear with me: I believe this is a 1957 Chevy 210 wagon, as the seller uses the generous label of 150/210/and/or Bel Air to designate the model code. Technically, I believe the trim would be “Bel Air” if so equipped, but based on a few details, I believe this is a more plain-jane 210 wagon. Regardless, it’s an interesting find as it was willed to the seller by his cousin after his death following close to 30 years of being parked in the same place. There’s no bidding activity yet and the auction opens up at $5,500 with a $6,500 Buy-It-Now. Find it here on eBay and located in Iowa.
The other giveaway – I think! – is that the fins have a body-colored insert, as opposed to the silver ribbed trim found on Bel Airs. It gets confusing when you poke your head in the interior, as there is a clock in the dash and a trim insert as well, but those could have been either ordered that way or swapped in from an actual Bel Air. It doesn’t help that the nameplate trim that says either “Chevrolet” or “Bel Air” in the center of the dash is missing, along with the bulk of the interior.
Gee, think there have been mice in here? The seller says the wagon is very dry with good floors, but that at least one rocker will need to be replaced. Don’t fret, he’s including reproduction panels with the sale, along with a host of other goodies: “Comes with extra trim, A/C parts, hood, fenders, doors, dash cluster, etc. I also have a windshield to replace the original which is cracked. ” When new, this 210 came with the aforementioned air conditioning and was a V8 car with the 3-speed manual with overdrive – but the seller doesn’t allude to which eight-cylinder it came with.
The seller notes the original color as being yellow, which is hard to see under all that grime. The body does look fairly straight despite years of farm dirt on top of it. While he suggests turning it into a gasser, I always found these classic ’57 Chevys to be the best looking of the lineup and wouldn’t change a thing other than bringing the paint back life, finding a 283 to drop in and keeping it purely OEM with some polished hubcaps. How would you build it?
Man. All I see there is one heck of a lot of work…… And money.
Though the 57 long roof is a neat find , I myself think the early headers are more interesting . Not often do you see consumable early hot rod pieces that are pretty much intact . Headers generally get tossed frequently due to damage or burn through . Neat find .
I would attempt to keep it as much 57 as possible with updated brakes and suspension .
Yay – an A/C car .
It’s a big project with strong upside. I’d have to change the color scheme, interior/exterior, restore it and drive it. I had a 210 wagon when they were new and it was three cars in one.A great value.
You owned one when they were new? God bless. My first car was a 1957 Bel-Air. It was 10years old. I paid $100 for it.
“When new, this 210 came with the aforementioned air conditioning and was a V8 car with the 3-speed manual with overdrive – but the seller doesn’t allude to which eight-cylinder it came with.” …. While the trucks in ’57 still came with a 265 the only 8 cylinder offered in ’57 passenger cars was the 283. …. A little bit of car knowledge is lacking on this site.
Actually Karl, the 265 was still available in 1957 as a base V8. They were rare in passenger cars. The ’57 passenger car 265’s were painted yellow. There’s plenty of information on the ’57 265’s out there. Here’s a little – http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/car-of-the-week/car_of_the_week_1957_chevrolet_bel_air
gee Karl, it seems YOU may have gained a little bit of knowledge today, going my Toms post. Ouch
Pretty sure the site was referring to which 283, i.e. 2 barrel? 4 barrel? 2X4? F.I.? (don’t know if the last 2 were avail in a new 4 dr wagon in ’57)
Any system could be ordered in a wagon. There are a few FI factory wagons in CA.
This really seems doable for about 12K, but my wife has said “me or that car” too often, and she does not like 57s, so I have to pass.
trcrtps,
Will you miss your wife? lol
Get a wife that likes 57’s lol
Silver “V”s on bonnet and tailgate, no gold louvres on front fenders,”Chevrolet” script where the stainless steel inlays go on the rear fenders, its a 210 series.
Wow! That was a very special grocery hauler with kids and sports gear in the back. A/C in 57 was fairly rare, but the best part was the drive train, very cool. Wagons are not my thing, although I’ve owned a few through the decades, but 57 Chevy’s, I love them and always have. Somebody please give this one new life.
If a shell of a wagon is worth $6500.00 I am going to have to find the ones we have here in Mexico and send them north.
I know where two are right now for relatively little money.
I’m in!
BigDamage, which one do you want? The fire chiefs car…
Or the fake Ghostbusters car? They are both priced a little over what the seller wants for this basket case above, plus shipping and handling of course. Hahaha.
OMG. $6500?
Nothing but lots of hardwork and $$$ to get this to any semblance of a drivable car… Why do the brain damage? Find a drivable wagon, pay up for it, and go on from there.
There is one in Marfa Texas, sitting (circa 2016) in a backyard with chickens walking around it. Bet it could be had for far less and a desert car to boot…
I go 1,500 max only because I like them and would like a Tri5 station wagon.
This Wagon is not worth $6500.00 as these pictures show.
U would b surprised what folks will pay 4 a heap, thinking of the good ole days when they owned 1, wanting 2 restore. If the sheet metal all/mostly there & min rust it can b made into something nice. Most folks don’t understand the time & money involved & get discouraged & bail. I’ve kept my baby 4 35years, tore it apart in pieces twice, still run it every day
My ex GF grew up in Poughkeepsie NY and her dad had a wagon like this. In 67 he traded it in for a 67 Biscayne with a PG and no power steering and radio delete. She learned to drive on the 67 and inherited the car when her dad bought a new one. My dad owned wagons til he passed away. Wagons are the unsung Heros of family transportation
Every day I think “So many wagons, not enough time”.
I can list the wagons I have seen for sale lately where I am.
I am going to have to build a warehouse just to keep them in nice condition.
What a mess.
Looks like the mice ate the damn seats.
In the early ’70s I had a ’56 Nomad with factory A/C, from the state of Arid zone. The only disadvantage of the A/C equipped cars was accessing the back spark plugs on the right bank of the V8 engine. The A/C unit was positioned over the back of the engine, and as a result to get to the plugs you really need an arm with 2 elbows.
If it’s in Marfa, Texas , maybe it belonged to one of the characters in “ the Last Picture Show “ But also the sequel “ Texasville” !
That’s The home of McMurtry and his bookstore! He also wrote all the Lonesome Dove books about that area !
I had an opportunity to buy one just like this (minus the AC) in 2011 for $1500, running, glass intact with the exception of the tailgate, during a summer swap meet. The car was on a trailer and the price went from $2200 at the top of the morning to $1500 delivered to my door at the end of the day. It had the same barn patina as this car but drove under its own power. Beautiful factory copper color which I always liked on the 57s. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
This is in fact a 210 V8 car most likely a 283 with the mentioned optional overdrive, It has the telltale chrome V on the tailgate alluding to a V8 engine, The rear upper fin chrome will be way longer on a Bel Air along with the lack of trim between the side chrome,small chrome strips on the dash etc. It is odd to me that the person that ordered this car new ordered the a/c,clock,radio and overdrive combination. Most cars I have seen with these options were on a Bel Air. They must have saved a hundred dollars or more by buying the 210 version. Still some pretty rare options that today would have no value unless you were trying to do an original restoration as in the a/c compressor was the size of a medium watermelon or so and probably not near as efficient as today’s a/c units.