This 1957 Chevrolet convertible needs some TLC! If you’ve been looking for a project with a ton of upside, this may be the right one for you. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $17,000, the reserve hasn’t been met yet. Located in Upton, Massachusetts, the car looks like a big project, but check it out and let us know what you think.
The seller says that all the “convertible-only” parts are present and the only missing parts are general ’57 Chevy pieces. There’s no mention of the fenders and hood, but one photo shows them in a pile. Hopefully, everything is there, but even if it is, sorting, cataloging, and organizing looks like it will be half the battle. The sale also comes with two engines. The engine in the car is a 350 mated to a manual transmission. The seller also has a 283 from 1957 that features a pair of camel hump heads and dual-quad setup. If you don’t want the dual-quad setup, the seller will knock $2,000 off the price.
The rust will probably be the biggest challenge of this build although the seller says the frame is in great shape. There are a few photos in the ad documenting the rust which seems to be concentrated near the door jambs and rockers. The great thing about these Shoe-box Chevys is there are a ton of aftermarket reproduction parts. A new floor pan (or body for that matter) is a phone call away.
Hopefully, this old convertible will get a second lease on life. It’s always a shame to see a car with a ton of potential sitting in a shed waiting for rescue. This will be a challenging build for sure, but with some hard work, it should be rewarding in the end. What do you think about this car? Would you take on a project like this?
Looks like the interior may respond well to a deep cleaning… :)
Nice car when finished, but too much work for me to get there. Pass.
‘Some’ TLC might be an understatement
My favorite part of this seller’s listing is part of the last sentence which says “it does not run, you cannot drive it home”…I am guessing someone must have asked him that…nice find, and a challenge well worth completion…
2K for the dual quad set up sounds like a deal. 20 years ago the bat wing air cleaner alone was $1500.00 when I was looking for one. If you had the skill, it looks like this car could either be restored or modernized depending on your tastes. I think you can get most every part you would need but, it won’t be cheap.
I agree with JW. The duel quad set up is worth 3 G + and in my neck of the woods double hump heads are going for 1,500 if they are all there.
That said, I’d keep looking for another 57 drop top project, shopping for at least a roller.
I see it all the time. Guy or guys buy a resto project and spend several weekends and nights pulling everything apart. Sheet metal in one pile, engine parts in another.. nuts and bolts strewn all over the place. Then life happens, and years later, the wife (or widow) decides to sell the project.
Just getting all the nuts, bolts and fasteners sorted out takes forever… I did one, a 34 roadster… and end of day, lovely car, but I will be lucky to get 60% of my money back when I decide to move it along..
What kind of madman would bid $17,000 for this pile of metal?
I used to be that “madman”, but then, at age 70, I grew up and now I wonder why I ever did things like that:)
50 yrs. ago when I started working on and buying old cars there was a saying that was OLD then ” you NEVER will get what you put in a project when it comes time to move it along” I don’t mean what they call flipping nowadays. I mean a project like this old lady. Just because its a rag top this guy thinks its worth 25k I’ll bet. 17k now just watch. I’ll put my 120k into something else. Pass…………………………JIMMY
17K and reserve isn’t met… NOPE, got better things to do… I’m thinking years unless you have a shop do it and then $$$
TLC in a project ad means Truck Load(s) of Cash
You know this was someone’s dream. Life got in the way. These still bring good money, but the interest in 50’s cars is dropping.
I love 64 Bonneville’s comment;
“TLC means Truck Loads of Cash”!! 👍
$17,000 or do they have the decimal in the wrong place!!! Love the baby puke green that they selected for the body though!!! Is that a stock color?????
Any decent 57 convertible is 50-70k all day long. A complete replacement body is 16k, decent modern frame 10k…etc.
If bought around 20k, there is no down side to this project.
All parts are available reasonably.
Unlike many other classics, the 57 Chevy is still one of the icons to get.
Yep! Nice project!