Major Project: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

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The owner of this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible refers to it as a big project, and he certainly isn’t understating the fact. There is a lot of work here, but the end product should be one very nice car. If you have a sense of adventure that extends to taking on a project like this, then you will find the Bel Air located in Altona, Illinois, and listed for sale here on eBay. At the time of writing, bidding is sitting at $5,857, but the reserve hasn’t been met.

It’s kinda hard to know where to start with the Bel Air because the rust issues are pretty extensive. All of the floors will need to be replaced as a starting point. There is rust in the bottoms of the quarter panels, the rockers are toast, plus there is rust in the bottom of the passenger side door, and the car will also need a tail pan. More worrying, the owner has also performed a repair on one of the front frame rails which would need to be checked fairly carefully.

There are no photos of the interior, but we do get this photo which shows a pile of parts, including the rear seat and a few other trim items. That seat looks to be in pretty reasonable condition, and the car must have been incredibly attractive finished in its original Surf Green with this interior trim. It does look like the power top was black, but I think that a white top would look really trick if the exterior was being restored to original.

The Bel Air did start life as a V8 car, and while there is an engine present, there’s not a lot we know about it. The owner does say that the car doesn’t run, but he doesn’t indicate whether this is the original engine, or whether it turns freely. The original owner must have really known what he wanted because apart from optional extras like the power top, he also ticked the box next to the power brakes option.

There is absolutely no doubt that restoring this Bel Air is going to be a monster undertaking, and if someone does take it on, then they have my full respect and admiration. There is not a single aspect or component of the car that is going to escape their attention, but if it is restored properly, then the end result will be one pretty stunning car. Do we have any takers amongst our Barn Finds readers?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. Capriest

    Not unless I turn into Jason Gedrick in The Heavenly Kid all of a sudden!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvoZ-ts9leg

    Like 2
  2. LT1 Mike

    Well I guess I should start with, “I wonder how much he wants for the ol’ goat next to the ’57 Chevy ?” This convertible will be a major restoration for sure, and someone would have to get it for a rock bottom price. Even then, this is going to take ALOT of work and patience (emphasis on patience) to restore it back to its former glory. That being said, I have seen cars like this turned into beautiful driving machines and parts are plentiful. Too much for me to tackle, but I would love to see it completed and cruising with the top down on a beautiful Summer day.

    Like 14
    • Alex

      Up to 10k now! 😳

      Like 2
      • Ike Onick

        The goat? He should let the goat eat it.

        Like 3
  3. IkeyHeyman

    The goat would be a better long-term investment.

    Like 8
    • Del

      Nice pile of scrap.

      How much for the GTO ?

      Like 0
  4. David Rhoces

    The goat should go with it

    Like 3
  5. Ric Parrish

    Why do so many of these cars have front end clips. They must all be rebuilt wrecks of some magnitude. This one also has a right door replaced, must have been a pretty good wreck.

    Like 2
  6. moosie moosie

    Real nice tires ? For some strange reason that cracked me up. Too much money for too much work even if one were talented enough to do it themselves. But the world is full of ’57 Bel Air lovers.

    Like 2
  7. Pete

    Dyncorn body transplant and swap the data plates and you will be well on your way to a beautiful restoration. Take what ya got left over and throw it at another 57 and sell that off. Way to much time, money and work to throw at that car.

    Like 2
  8. Chuck Turner

    Looks like the original engine. It has 539 power pac heads and the Rochester four-barrel. Pretty common for these cars, especially the convert.
    From personal experience I can say that you can buy the entire car-reproduced-cheaper than restoring this one. And you’d have a better car.

    The one in the picture is one of seven 57 convertibles I have owned. It received 998 points at the nationals.

    Like 8
  9. Kris

    Sure, they’re icons for some incomprehensible reason (IMHO, understyled compared to the Plymouths and Fords of that year), but a restoration on this one is as simple as picking up a Danchuk catalog. Have your credit card ready. About the only real work would be a paint job. The rest is simple assembly.

    Keep in mind that prices on restored ’57 Bel Airs are slipping, making them not quite the blue chip investment they were. This is not going to be a $100K car when completed.

    Like 2
    • Chuck Turner

      You are half right, my friend. There is nothing simple about restoring a 57 Chevy convertible. Ten times harder to do this car than to order all the parts new from Danchuck. The title is the only thing worth buying, in my opinion.

      The part you are dead-on right about is the value when done. A fuel injection unit for this car just sold for 3600 bucks. A third of what it would have sold for when I did mine.

      Like 1
  10. Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

    I wonder if the goat has 3 deuces? Sorry, that was a baaaaad joke!

    Like 3
  11. GPMember

    Up to 14,500.00 now. I agree with Adam that this car would look great in surf green and the seat color that is shone here. My question is, How many different colors has this thing been painted? You can see a peek of green and no it’s not worth it to me. Good luck and I wish I was the one who paid a 100.00 for it 40 years ago and left it to rot.

    Like 0
    • moosie moosie

      GP,
      40 years ago if it was a running, driving car it might have cost you at least two or three hundred bucks.

      Like 1
  12. PatrickM

    up to $16,100.00, now. CL ad says green exterior. If so, I need to return to see my eye doctor. That is the reddist green I have ever seen. ’57’s are returning to increased value status. But, for this guy, the car needs as much work as the house does. The new owner will need deep pockets. Best wishes to all.

    Like 1
  13. Del

    Some bidder pulling seller’s leg

    Like 0

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