Project cars can come in all shapes and sizes, and some show more promise than others. This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Hardtop ticks many of the right boxes for anyone contemplating a project build. The ’57 Hardtop is easily the most popular and the most desirable of the Tri-Five offerings from the company. This one is also largely original, and its lack of rust makes it a solid foundation for a project build. The owner has decided to part with the Bel Air that is located in Lakewood, Colorado. He has listed it for sale here on Craigslist with an asking price of $30,000 or reasonable offer. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Gunter K for spotting the Hardtop for us.

When you take a closer look at the Sierra Gold Hardtop, there’s a lot to consider. The owner describes it as having some minor rust, but he doesn’t elaborate on where this is. The panels look pretty clean, with no signs of any significant penetrating rust. We don’t receive any specific information on the condition of the floors or trunk pan, so that is possibly where these minor problems are located. Apart from the fact that they are a stunning car once restored, one of the greatest attractions of these Tri-Five Chevrolets is the ready availability and affordability of parts to address rust problems. For example, different floor sections can be found for between $70 and $110 per piece. That makes it affordable if the rust problems are minor. A builder who wants to go the whole hog can buy a complete one-piece section that includes all of the floors and the trunk pan. This is an excellent way to ensure that their treasured classic is 100% rust-free. At $2,100, it isn’t cheap, but it does represent great long-term insurance on a car like this. The paint is pretty tired, but if the buyer wants to drive the vehicle as an unrestored survivor, it is guaranteed to turn some heads. The trim and chrome are generally in good condition, while I can’t spot any problems with the glass.

The VIN for this car in its listing is a bit confused, but I believe that when the Bel Air out of the Kansas City plant, the engine bay housed a V8. Today, the original engine is gone, and in its place is a 307ci V8. This motor is backed by an automatic transmission, although it isn’t clear what type it is. The V8 wears a few cosmetic pieces, along with what appears to be a new Edelbrock carburetor and intake. There’s no doubt that this combination would offer some pretty respectable performance, and the buyer might not need to wait long to confirm this. The owner says that the Chevy runs well, and I get the impression from the vehicle’s overall appearance that it may be roadworthy. If it is, that opens the option of the buyer driving the Hardtop as-is and tackling any restoration work when the weather takes a turn for the worse once again. Finding something to occupy our time in Winter can be a battle, so maybe this classic offers the perfect answer.

The Bel Air’s interior is in keeping with the rest of the vehicle. By that, I mean that it is tidy and serviceable, but it needs work to be taken to the next level. The seats and door trims have been reupholstered at some point, but it appears that the passenger door trim now has a rip in it. There is some wear and a seam separation where the plaid meets the vinyl on the driver’s seat, so a retrim will be required in the future. There is also an old radio/cassette player mounted in the dash, so there will be a bit for the buyer to do. However, the foundations are there for someone to create something unique and to put their stamp on the interior.

The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air has been a staple of the classic car scene for decades, and particularly in 2-Door Hardtop form, good examples are highly prized. Seeing them sell for around the asking price of this one is an everyday occurrence, but seeing spotless examples sell for more than twice that price, even non-original vehicles, is not uncommon. Values have taken a bit of a hit over the past 18 months, but they have almost climbed back to the levels that they were at before this happened. Some classics have been a reasonably safe investment over the years, and the ’57 Bel Air falls into that category. This one isn’t perfect, but if the right buyer with the right vision can be found, it could be transformed into something spectacular. The big question is, are you that person?