Some of the most well-known and sought-after cars today are the Tri Five Chevrolets. Over the 1955-57 model years, almost five million of them were built by General Motors. They came in three trim levels, the basic 150, the middle-of-the-road 210 and the upscale Bel Air. Running across one of these cars today is not hard but finding three of them together is a bit unusual, as is the case here. Located in the wide-open spaces of Bennett, Colorado, these three ’57 Bel Airs can be found here on craigslist as a package deal for $5,000. One is said to be restorable, while the other two are described as parts cars. Thanks, Gunter Kramer, for shooting this tip our way!
There were six versions of the Bel Air offered in 1957 that accounted for more than 800,000 cars. This included the seller’s two bodies styles, the 2-door sedan (169,000 copies made) and the 4-door sedan (366,000 examples built). The seller has two 4-door models, one of which is inside a shipping container. The other 4-door sedan is stored outside along with a 2-door pillared coupe. The seller indicates that one can be saved, which we assume is the car inside the container, while the donor cars are resting atop some metal panels rather than directly on the ground.
The container car looks largely complete except the rear bumper isn’t present. It may be Imperial Ivory over Matador Red in color, although the red part looks a lot like old primer at this point. We don’t know the condition of the interior, nor is there any reference to its drivetrain (inline-six, V8, automatic?). One of the outside cars may be Imperial Ivory over Larkspur Blue and, it too, looks mostly complete. Its rear bumper has vanished as have the headlights. It looks like it could be rebuilt, but the seller thinks not. The second outside car may have been Sierra Gold in color at one time, but it’s rusty now and has been stripped of a lot of parts, especially the hood and engine.
Considering that you’re getting three cars for one price, you’d have to think you could make one good automobile out of the lot. That may not necessarily be the case, but it could be worth checking out. Look at it this way, for $5,000 you get 10 doors, three trunk lids, three front bumpers and maybe two motors. What’s not to love?
Judging from the few crappy pictures, they all look like parts cars to me.
Agree with Bluetec320 that they’re parts cars and don’t understand why anyone selling a car doesn’t provide a decent description and pics if they really want to sell.
Loch Ness Monsters.
We bid tree-fiddy and not a dime more.
Make a vertible out of the two door. No top. Foney top boot.
Wella, topless cruiser.
Still need lots of parts even after the two 4 door donors
Oddly, every tri-five “chart” says white is India Ivory except for one color combo in 1957 its called “Imperial”…… so naturally most paint manufacturers started marketing “Imperial”…. which sounds to me like a Ford color so I cringe every time I see it. I Just did a road trip yesterday so probably staying home for the weekend, but it’d be interesting to go see these old hulks. I’d have thought the container car would make others curious…
Just what I need to p.o. my neighbors! Worth the $5k.
LS motors with five speeds in the four doors and junk the rotted 2 dr sedan. Be great sleepers