The seller has owned this ’57 Bel Air sport coupe for more than 40 years and has finally decided to sell it. It was last on the road more than 35 years ago, so the Chevy has been inactive for a long time. The problem is he doesn’t know what to ask for it, so he’s gone out to solicit recommendations here on Facebook Marketplace. I would think Hagerty and Hemmings are better places to start looking. Located in Shelby, Michigan, what do you think it’s worth?
From 1955-57 Chevrolet would build a series of all-new cars that would later be known as the “Tri-Fives.” Sales would top 4.5 million total units, with 1.55 million in 1957 alone. The Bel Air sport coupe would account for 168,000 examples in ’57 alone. So, they were plentiful back in the day and popular, but not uncommon, today, including the seller’s car.
The 1957 Chevies featured sharper styling cues than the 1955-56’s, including pointed tailfins, which may make the third-year cars more desirable with collectors. Mechanically, the big news for ’57 was that the 265 V8, which had debuted in ’55, was bored out to 283 cubic inches and came with both 2 and 4-barrel carburation. We don’t know what engine the seller’s car left the factory with, but during his ownership, it gained the more modern 350 V8 with a 4-speed. When it was parked in 1985, it was still a running car, but time and Mother Nature have changed that.
Not much else is known about this car. No report of claimed mileage and no mention of any problems that have carried forward over the years. The red paint and body look to be in decent condition, but we only get to see limited views of the car. The glass and chrome may be okay, and rust may not be an issue, but the operative word here is “may.” The car doesn’t roll because the tires and wheels have been removed for replacement.
The last update we have from the seller is that he’s decided to get the car formally appraised before posting an asking price. Hagerty would tell you that one of these Bel Airs in Fair conditions is worth $18,600, but there are more unknowns rather than knowns in determining if that’s a fair starting point. So far, he’s been fishing without benefitting a buyer as yet. What would you offer for it?
Been a while since I’ve seen a solid color ’57, especially in bright red. Don’t
think I’d put more than 8K in it unless I had a complete look at it.
A complete 57 hardtop with a 4 speed stored for the last 40 years in a dry garage with concrete floors and you would start @ $8k?. Even if in worse shape upon inspection, this car will sell for more than that.
Come on guys, look at the OZZY sticker on the rear bumper! You know you want to ride this “Crazy Train”.
Actually at the right price it could be a fun car. Problem is you really need to look at it in person. Paint and body work done to a northern car 40 years ago was not the same quality as what is expected today.
Now there are lots of repop parts and most anyone can afford a 110 MIG welder. Back then if there was a 1/4″ hole in the rocker panel, it was dented in a bit and filled with bondo. Inspect before purchase.
Its late at night. His mullet is flying back and forth as he races down the country road, windows down, Ozzy blasting away on his Craig centermount 8 track. He hangs a corner and hits something with his right rear wheel. Stumbling out of the car, through the haze of too much crank he stares at the wheel..oh sheeeeit he says out loud. I bent the wheel..tires blown. Hopping up and down on his jittery feet he considers his options. No. Not that. No. That. Tow truck. Put it in the garage I’ll fix it tomorrow.Yeah. Yeah.
“Crank is a street name for the illicit drug methamphetamine.”
@ ADM- Thank you for the clarification ;)
This is 45 minutes from me. If the owner didn’t make this complicated I would seriously pop up and look it over. Could be a relatively easy project to get a driver car out of to enjoy.
It looks like it has potential, but there is so little information given it’s hard to tell the cars condition. One thing you can pretty much guarantee, the seller is going to ask a stratospheric price. He does a good job of telegraphing that in his post.
Steve R
Looks gone now either way. Inspect the lower rockers and quarters with a magnet where mine was rusted and go from there. Moot point now. If rust free, it was worth $12k to start plus…
Definitely needs a personal look. Based on the description I’m not seeing either a clutch pedal or a floor shifter present in the car. Maybe he meant a 4 speed automatic, but that’s not what was said.
There IS a clutch pedal, look at the interior photo
I must be looking at a different car. I would describe the body and paint work as quality only if ‘low’ is used as an adjective. Consider the the driver’s side A-pillar. Between the wheel wells the lower passenger side is noticeably wavy. Brush marks are readily visible on the quarter panel.
There are other issues like the hacked up dash and the damage to the right quarter panel where the bumper wraps around. The pictures tell enough of a story which ends with ‘just walk away.’ There are better candidates to work with.
I do agree that appears to be patched and bondoed in fair amount of places. 40 years in a garage means 23 or years being out on the roads. And if it was all in the Detroit area it saw a lot of salt for those 23 years. Still interesting and I would love a look at it.
Well, lets see, what we have here is a failure to communicate. These 57 models bring old people like me to lookie see and maybe drop a few coins if it looks like a doable project. I’ve owned both a 57 Bel Aire 2 drhdtp and a 57 Ford Fairlane 500 2 drhdtp. I loved both of them. I see a car like this going for about 10 grand, but maybe up to 15 grand. It all depends on the buyer.
God bless America
Complete and driving project might be $25-35K for this desirable hardtop. But this is neither drivable nor complete. There isnt enough information to make a proper decision so you have to assume the worst. So somewhere between 10K and $15K is my guess, with a significant drop if there is any rust. There are so many running and driving 57’s out there in the 35K range and it is very easy to spend that much on a project and be upside down in that same sales class.
Face book market place? Please! If you want to find out what it is worth put it on fleabay and start the bidding at buck and in 7 long days (due to stupid questions) you will know.
I would start at 15k and reduce a little at a time if it doesn’t sell within a month. I would absolutely not sell it for under 10k as it sits. Despite needing work….. I’m from up north and have seen far worse. They aren’t easy to find and someone will definitely buy it in the 10-15 range.
The truth is that a lot of folks who love these years are dying out. Me included.
The value is also going DOWN on these models regardless of what the Barrett Jacksons guy say. LOT of work to be done on this car and restoring one today, even vs a couple years ago is definitely not going to be cheap.
An honest, and fair price for THIS vehicle as it sits is about $7500. Unless you enjoy the work/labor/spending money, we better off, and less costly, to go buy one already done with all the upgrades. Be honest and THINK about. We the buyers can stop paying stupid money for these relics and the prices will level out…….Just my .02 and I’ve restored several vehicles.
Thats a very honest view! Its about time someone said it like it is. I see the same thing in the Shelby Mustang market. The ole grey mare aint what it used to be.
We is gettin old and the kiddies do not want them, and if its a manual, they cannot drive them, blame the lazy drivers ed and lazy parents, (after all interest in a classic car will not get a scholarship). But the sports sure will!
I would give $7000.00 car needs lots of work😖
Dwight Jackson
North Carolina
must be a market location thing. A similar condition 57 sold locally (Denver CO metro area) here about 3 months ago for $5,800. I’m looking a a package deal right now for a similar condition 57 (albeit no title) with 2 parts cars for $3,500 (one of the parts cars does have a title). I figure I can build 2 cars from the 3. So I agree that locally, I wouldn’t pay more than $8k.
Denver usually has lower prices than other parts of the Country. It is a great place to find a rust free classic.
Awesome car!,love it! But $18,000 is real considering there is not much said about the car. I would put this car between $5-$8,000. The iconic 57 is apart of American culture a trademark of the good times
as Steve R says, hard to tell with poor presentation. I would have some dialog with the guy, feel him out and if you feel confident, head over there with some cash. Pretty sure, like the guys said, he’s gonna want top $. Everyone thinks they have gold. Stay safe and happy motoring.
Cheers
GPC
This car is tatty, the dash, seats, carpet, all the stainless on the right side. Looks like he has done panel repais himself and could not be bothered replacind the rear wheel hence the overspray on the brake drum
Were is the car at (1957 cevrolet 2door hard top)