The Bel Air sedan was the second most popular Chevy in 1957, only outsold by the 210 4-door sedans, so family cars were in demand with buyers. Most folks don’t associate those body configurations produced to go fast, but you got some extra muscle with the Power Pack option. Horsepower was increased because that add-on brought a 4-barrel carburetor, upgraded heads and camshaft, and dual exhaust – adding 20 horses to a 283 V8. This 1957 is one of those cars and – located in Deep River, Connecticut – is available here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $20,000.
Chevrolet built 1.56 million automobiles in 1957, including 264,000 Bel Air 4-door sedans. Of those numbers, we don’t know how many of them came with the aforementioned Power Pack, but probably a minority, saving that set-up for the sportier hardtops. This ’57 Chevy has had at least three owners and spent time on both U.S. coasts. It began life in California before moving to New England about 10 years ago. The car has about 60,000 miles which are more or less accurate although the odometer has been switched with a comparable one. The auto still wears its original Surf Green paint which has held up well over the past 65 years. This machine may be on the market via a third party who remarks that the owner is more interested in non-defunct brands, like Studebaker and Rambler, so the car would be better served in another home.
The engine is original to the Bel Air and is said to run well. It’s paired with a TurboGlide automatic transmission which is continuously variable in its operation. It acts like a 3-speed, but not manually shiftable like one. Some of the suspension pieces have been renewed, including the shock absorbers, and the car rides on a new set of tires. The brakes were renewed earlier and stop the car as they should. Parts of the interior have been redone, like the seats and carpeting, but not the door panels and headliner, which is stained.
More photos are available and most of the images provided by the seller are marked “Property of AutoArcheologist.com.” A video is also available, and the car has a clean Massachusetts title. Do any of our readers have any experience with the Power Pack option and how much do they add to the performance of these Chevies?
Correction Russ, there IS a MASS title. Sorry for that. I’ll make the changes in the classified if you can make the change here.
Thanks 👍
Done. Good luck!
Thank Russ!
When I was in High School my dad had this exact car, same color and everything else. My dad was not a car person, but he was very generous and let me use the car to chase parts and even on a date once in a while.
My car was a 32 Coupe and I was constantly working on it and sometimes it was nice to get to use the 4-door sedan. I was always embarrassed, for other guys to see me in it, as they would shout out “Daddy’s car, whose got Daddy’s car?
I always thought why couldn’t he have bought a hard top or at least a 2-dood post. To this day I won’t buy a 4-door sedan.
My first car was the ’57 Chevy, four door-hard top BelAir, with 283/Power Pack option. Awesome car! Wish I’d never let it go! My Dad bought it brand new, ordered options he wanted. Turquoise w/white top. Power Glide 2 speed tranny, dual radio antennas on rear, (dealer installed). Wonder Bar option on the standard AM radio. No A/C and no power steering. But did have power brakes. Which gave away anytime you lost vacuum line air! It met trees a couple of times to stop it! Otherwise a fantastic car I rode in from day he drove her home until my college days! 🤙
Power Pack added 35hp not 20. Two barrel was 185 hp and the 4barrel power pack was 220 hp
The power pac (no “k”) was a great option. I had a 57 Bel Air coupe with that option. It would run well past 120 on top end! Only problem was the 2 speed Powerglide.
I had a ’57 as a first car like this except mine had the inline six. Bought it from the corner gas station in the summer of ’69 for $10.00. It cost More to put plates on it. Unfortunately, I guy turned left in front of me and I t-boned him with it the following November. His insurance gave me $100 and let me keep it. I drove it with one headlight for a while before my dad and I took it to the junkyard. They gave me $10.00 for it. (Bought a ’62 Corvair for $110, lol.)
Crazy, $10 is like 2 gallons of gas these days… Thanks for sharing, that guy that turned in front of you 10 years before I was born was a dummy!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c-rLTiix-d0
Turboglide!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c-rLTiix-d0
I remember the marking. Like a small triangle added to the machined rectangle on the front of the heads. A fast valve job with hand-lapped finish and I could get a huge $20 payday.
To bad it has the optional rear doors.
Wow! Nice ’57 at a good price considering any newer car with all the luxuries/headaches with over 100k miles are at least $22k or $300/month for the next 7 years! Lol! The 4 doors make it more practical and looks great. Anyone can maintain this themselves without an expensive computer or dealer labor charges plus it looks great! Did I already mention that it looks great?
Chevrolet started early on with getting more power from their small block. I had a 1956 265 with 4bbl, duel exhaust and if I’m not mistaken, it had 205 hp? I was 19 years in age @ that time. My mom had a 55 265 2bbl. But my 56 had lots more power than her 55.