Just when you think another 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air can’t surface, one does! They have been found for years in just about every locale and circumstance imaginable. And, this example is probably considered the most desirable body style and trim level, a Bel Air, two-door hardtop. This old Chevy is located in Kansas City, Kansas and is available, here on craigslist for $11,500. Thanks to Gunter K for this tip!

Classic Industries states that there were 168K Bel Air, two-door hardtops assembled in ’57- and that’s not the number one body style (that would be the Bel Air four-door sedan at 264K), but there seems to be an endless number of these 64-year-old cars appearing all the time. And yes, in the eternal Chevrolet vs. Ford wars, Ford came in at number one in ’57, but ’57 Ford Fairlane 500s don’t turn up with anywhere near the regularity of its Chevrolet counterpart. It almost seems as if ’57 Chevrolets are still being made…but wait, they are! Real Deal Steel can set you up with a new ’57 two-door hardtop.

The seller of this ’57 states, “Please be willing to come take a look in person so I’m not answering a lot of questions. No trades!” Great, just what you need with a listing that essentially has no detail other than that comment. So, with that, here’s what can be spied, the body looks fair, surface rust is present, with what looks like rust-through in the fender legs. The panel alignment is not indicative of crash damage, glass looks good as do the bumpers. The extensive Bel Air stainless-steel trim, however, is nowhere to be found and you’ll probably have to go to Kansas City to find out what happened to it.

Under the hood is a non-running, 185 gross HP, 283 CI, V8 engine. It’s one of only a zillion made though ’57 was the 283’s inaugural year. Is it seized, or worse? Who knows, it’ll take another trip to KC to figure that one out. Appearance-wise, it looks complete and original, other than the missing air cleaner. The transmission is not referenced but it appears to be a Powerglide, two-speed automatic that’s perched behind the 283.

The interior’s strong suit is the appearance of the floors, they show as solid – same with the trunk floor other than the obvious surface rust and scale. There are front and rear bench seats in place, condition unknown. The instrument panel is in fair shape though the radio is missing and the passenger-side trim is falling off. From what can be seen, the door cards look shot – the entire interior will have to be redone, at least to some degree, to be usable. The under-dash wiring is looking understandably shaky as well.

Details or not, this Bel Air honestly appears to be a reasonable basis for a project build. There isn’t an immediate red flag from what can be observed so you can cancel that K.C. trip. Ah, but wait a minute, what about the frame? The cross member? The suspension/attaching points? The differential?, Um, you better get that ticket back. Who’s up for a road trip?