Arizona and New Mexico top the list for unrestored classic cars with minimal rust. Hot dry air and infrequent rain go a long way to preserving steel. Plastic and rubber parts may distort and disintegrate in the brutal heat, but they are much simpler to replace than contiguous steel. This 1957 Chevrolet 150 2-door Sedan in Chino Valley, Arizona features original paint, interior, and (straight six) engine. Listed here on Las Vegas, Nevada craigslist, this honest and mostly original Chevy can be yours for the asking price of $11,000. Thanks to reader Pat L. for spotting this faded desert flower.
The base model 150’s straight side trim recalls the ’55 Bel Air, thought the fins are all ’57. This combination might serve as a conversation-starter with novice car enthusiasts who expect the swoopy 210 or Bel Air trim on all 1957 Chevrolets. The metal and chrome trim look fairly solid.
The entry-level 150 had rubber floor mats, perfect for a quick hose-washing to remove muddy boot effluence and other remnants of blue-collar life. The missing radio currently resides in the trunk. The later steering wheel combines with the five-slot aftermarket wheels and miniature air cleaner to suggest an application of cash and flash from the 1970s.
The 235 cid “Blue Flame” inline six-cylinder engine made 140 HP (thanks to Wikipedia for some details). A column-shifted three-speed manual transmission selects the gears, and speed is controlled by manual drum brakes. Frugal customers trusted this basic combination for adequate, reliable service. Many sedans of the mid 1970s to mid 1980s suffered the burden of greater weight and similar horsepower. The next owner might refurbish it with minimal changes or discard everything except the body and build a 1100 HP Power Tour monster. What do you recommend?
I always hate to see a complete car that is unmelested get resto moded. This is a base line car just the way I like them. My Veiw would be to do a driver quality restoration complete with original wheels and hub caps. My only exception would a brake up grade on the front to discs and a two stage master cylinder with booste. With our modern cars out there with complex antilock four wheel disc brakes drum brakes are totally in adiquate. Sure they will stop but not as quickly. And last you want is to rear end another car just because he can stop faster. As for the side trim I like it the way it is, but the belair stuff is readily available from aftermarket manufacturers.
I agree redo the brakes, I would include rear disc, while I was doing it. Clean repair the rest of the car and drive it, give it a new fresh paint back to original colors and take it to the car shows!!!! I might even do a overhaul on the 235, and let her eat potato chip!
I’m surprised this car did not receive a Hurst floor shifter treatment. It may be a low mile example if the column shifter hasn’t worn out yet. The missing interior probably had diamond-pattern door panels and seats.
This rust bucket is clearly NOT an original Arizona car. Worth fixing, though—and like @canadainmarkseh, I’d restore to original (no) spec (w/brake upgrade) just the way it came. Given condition and said base spec, it’s probably generously worth half the ask (half-ask?).
I believe this owner bought it in New Mexico.
keep the six.
This is a duplicate post from a few weeks ago.
C’mon guys – you can do better!
Seems to me in the last few weeks there has been a lot of reposting of the same cars posted just a few months ago
Unlike most of the duplicate posts, this ad is still active if you are interested in buying the car.
I have a ’57 B.A. 2 Dr. Hdtp. I used to buy these 150’s for 100-200 bucks as parts cars!!!!! Today, due to inflation, I offer 400 bucks!
Agree with what’s been said with one possible exception. If you wanted to V8 it, go with a 283. Good dependable engine and fits like a glove.
Nothing wrong with a 6 cylinder, but a 283 is icing on top of the cake IMO.
If you needed a rear end, IIRC a comparable Pontiac wagon was stronger and a direct bolt-in from what I remember.
So in the past several days we’ve had three tudor sedans, a 210 and two 150s. The 210 sold just north of $7k. and the blown apart 150 was asking in that range with slow response from the marketplace. This one might be slightly better metal wise than the 210 (tough to tell without seeing in person but has extra parts and less apparent floor rot), and whenever I’ve bought cars like this I prefer them to not be in boxes where it’s tougher to tell what’s missing. Still, $8k might be top dollar in the real market for this which might be why it’s a repeat and advertised out of market (though not that far). He’s got a bit of a credibility problem claiming “not rodded” with the slot “mags” and Covico like steering wheel, but as noted above, at least there’s no funky floor shifter (probably would have been a Sparko-matic too). Fairly minor stuff. The other big plus is the OE front seat………far too many were punished with crappy looking buckets.
Yea Uncle, try to buy a good used 55-57 bench seat for a 2 dr these days- unobtainium…
Good luck to the new owner…love the look the way it is….
Seats are around at most swap meets but not cheap because what most did in the day is to put in buckets from some wrecked SS 409 car.
Can’t these knuckleheads wait to get it home, clean it up a little, before taking picures of it?? Seems like like a desparate attempt at selling a car to me. I would keep it as a 6. Update the brakes and enjoy.