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Assembly Required: 1957 Chevrolet 2-Door Station Wagon

While most enthusiasts will complete their project build, sometimes an owner will run out of steam with the finish line in sight. That is the case with this 1957 Chevrolet Two-Door Station Wagon. The owner has completed all of the heavy lifting, leaving it to the buyer to reassemble this classic. It is rust-free and essentially complete, and if the supplied photos are an accurate indicator, the new owner could have this classic back on the road before summer hits us once again. If you find yourself tempted by this Wagon, it is located in Mexia, Texas, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has moved beyond the reserve to $7,500, meaning somebody seems set to score a straightforward project build. Once again, Barn Finder Larry D has demonstrated his uncanny knack for spotting absolute gems for us. Thank you so much for that, Larry.

When the seller purchased this Chevy, it ran and drove. He dismantled the vehicle and handed it to a body shop to address any shortcomings. This included replacing both rear quarter panels and ensuring that the remaining panels were laser straight before applying a fresh coat of Matador Red paint. The supplied photos suggest that the paint is in excellent condition under the layer of dust. You can see that it shines nicely, so you would have to think that a wash and polish would have it sparkling like a new penny. It appears that one front floor may have been patched at some point, but the vehicle looks to be rust-free. Most of the glass is present, as is the exterior trim. The owner has accumulated an enormous list of new parts that he includes in the sale. These include new front and rear bumpers, window seals, weatherstripping, and other exterior hardware. Once fully assembled, the exterior of this Wagon should present in a showroom fresh state.

The VIN for this Wagon indicates that it rolled off the production line with a six-cylinder engine under the hood. That original motor has gone the way of the dodo, and a V8 now occupies its spot. The owner doesn’t indicate its capacity, but it is common to find a 350 small-block in cases like this. If that’s what we see in this shot, it should offer sparkling performance when it’s returned to a roadworthy state. The seller says that the motor has been refreshed, but not whether it has turned any miles since he completed the work. A further mystery surrounds what transmission is bolted to the back of that motor. The owner provides no insight, and even though there is a column shifter visible in the interior shots, I wouldn’t take that as a firm indicator of what might be lurking below the surface. If I were a betting man, I would place my money firmly on either a four-speed manual transmission or a Hydramatic. Either way, this Wagon should be capable of holding its own in the cut and thrust of daily driving once it hits the road again.

As is the case with the rest of this Chevy, its interior appears to need little more than reassembly. The painted surfaces shine impressively, while the owner supplies photos of a seat upholstered in a combination of red vinyl with white inserts. It should provide an excellent complement to the exterior, and the upholstery looks like it is in good condition. Once again, the owner has accumulated a vast list of new components to help the buyer whip the interior into shape. It appears that there will be very little left to purchase, and it will simply be a case of breaking out the tools to bolt everything back together.

Some people are hesitant when it comes to the idea of completing somebody else’s project build, and I understand those feelings. No matter how good the work looks, there are no ironclad guarantees that it is of the highest standard. However, sometimes we have to take a leap of faith in these situations. Nothing in the supplied photos indicates that there have been any shortcuts in this case, and it all looks promising. If an in-person inspection verifies the quality of the work, returning this classic to a roadworthy state should be a straightforward process that the buyer could complete in a home workshop. I’m not surprised that the bidding has already surpassed the reserve, and I would love to think that one of our loyal Barn Finds readers will purchase this Wagon. That’s for selfish reasons because I’d love to see it once it’s finished. Do we have any takers?

Comments

  1. Avatar photo Terrry

    The vast majority of the 2-door wagons came with the six banger in ’57, since they were salesmen’s cars, the six meant better economy. I like these, I think they’re the best looking wagons in the ’57 Chev line.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar photo Rw

    Had a 55 2door handyman,so many people would say cool Nomad ,I finally got tired of explaining and just said thanks.

    Like 3
  3. Avatar photo Ron

    Sold for $10,100…

    Like 2
  4. Avatar photo Ron Wofford

    I’ve lived in Mexia, Tx fir 56 yrs. I thought I knew what my car buddies had. Somebody held out on me.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar photo Larry D

    Thank you again, Adam.

    Like 0

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