This is the dream you didn’t know you had—a tri-five Chevrolet that’s been transformed into a four-wheel-drive snow carver. What did you say? You’ve never even thought about such a thing? Well, someone in Nogales, Arizona did it for you, and here’s your chance to own the baddest 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air in the West. You’ll pick it up in sunny Arizona, but possibly transport it east, or elsewhere. To make that happen, start with the ad here on ebay, where the auction has a week to run, and better the bid that’s closing in on $3500 but that hasn’t met reserve. Then give some thanks to Barn Finds for turning you onto your new ride.
But don’t kid yourself: even if this is a good idea, you’re going to have to have some considerable engineering talent to make it work. Not the least of this car’s needs are wiring, lights, and work on the steering system. Bear in mind the seller’s honest appraisal: “To be honest I don’t like the modifications that they did. It drives like an old truck. The suspension and steering is [sic] not enjoyable. Even though it has power steering it feels different.” OK, so you you’ll need to book a return ticket, not a one-way, when you go west to examine this hulk, because you ain’t driving it home.
And even if you make the car functional, you’re going to be running a lot of non-original components, including the drivetrain. There’s a 350-cid engine under that long hood. Not what the car was born with, but motivating power that most enthusiasts are fond of, and which is essentially failure-proof if given some fresh oil once in a while. The car is noted as having travelled over 85,000 miles. No word how far the engine has gone.
So if this is a good idea at all, why is it being sold? Because the current owner has been thinking over the matter of how to do something that will make the suspension work, and he’s given up hope. No, the ad doesn’t say that exactly and fully, but it might as well. Read the “Vehicle Details” paragraph for yourself to see what I mean. Let’s put it simply: Once, on a night where a few beers likely were consumed, it seemed like a good idea to marry the chassis of a 1955 Jeep Uplander Wagon to the body of a 1957 Chevy Bel AIr 210. Now, in the cold light of day, the work done seems ingenious enough, and the chassis hasn’t been cut up to the point where the original car and its underpinnings are ruined, but finishing the job requires a level of commitment that the owner has decided to bail on. Are you the person to put things right, to carry this project to its (potentially) scary conclusion?
Nope.
Well, I’ll tell ya’, we seem to dismiss these “creations” as weekend alcohol induced visions, but I take the road that they were really fixed on making a 4×4 ’57 Chevy wagon. I think it’s really cool. The thing is, when adding a front drive axle, we don’t have the luxury of 15 engineers in a company setting, so many alignment and other issues arise, many times it , like I suspect here, turns out badly. Unsafe even. So, what I would do is, I like the way it looks, just ditch the whole 4×4 thing and run a real front suspension( Mustang II ?) and have a neat car.
Surfin Safari🦒🏄♂️🌊Howard 🎶🎸
” Early in the mornin’ we’ll be startin’ out
Some honeys will be comin’ along
We’re loadin’ up our Woody with our boards inside
And headin’ out singin’ our song
Come on, baby, wait and see (surfin’, surfin’ safari)
Yes, I’m gonna take you surfin’ with me (surfin’, surfin’ safari)
Come along, baby, wait and see (surfin’, surfin’ safari)
Yes, I’m gonna take you surfin’ with me (surfin’, surfin’ safari)
Let’s go surfin’ now
Everybody’s learnin’ how
Come on and safari with me
(Come on and safari with)
At Huntington and Malibu, they’re shootin’ the pier
At Rincon, they’re walkin’ the nose
We’re goin’ on safari to the islands this year
So if you’re comin’, get ready to go”
🎶 🎵
Looks like the 57 body may be mounted on a 80’s era Blazer chassis. Could be fun to finish if that’s you dream. Not my cup of tea though.
Read the ad.
The rig has traveled 85,000 miles, is that the body? the rig as it stands now? or on the trailer?
Dang, I just spent several days in Tucson, could have buzzed down to Nogales and checked this out.
This is the type of project that could be very fulfilling, once you get it back to where it came from; the extra “parts” that come with it, along with removed ones could help finance the re-do.
Not for the faint of heart, but definitely rewarding
My shop space is currently limited, but there’s the yard…
On another note, while in Tucson I checked out an ‘84 Olds 98 2-door with 49k original miles.
Nice car, but a touch pricey.
Perfect example of somebody watching those car mod shows and thinking “I can do that”.
No different than somebody watching the home improvement shows and thinking the same thing….until they start to do it and realize…they are in over their heads.
I had a similar idea – a 37 Chevy 2-door on a 2002 Envoy or Trailblazer chassis. Same wheelbase so ought to work. All the modern power and safety of 2002 with the pre-war sedan look. Only difficulty is the Envoy engine sits 11″ further forward than the original Chevy six. And the Envoy is 2″ wider.
Is this worth the trouble? Or just a money pit hassle?
Back in early 1980’s I work in Cleveland Ohio, And a fellow coworker drove a 1965 chevy station wagon to work . He and his bother put the body on a 4×4 truck frame using the whole truck drive line . boy way that cool .
I actually like it but I think it’s value currently is 5k at best it kinda makes me think of the YouTube channel Matt’s off road recovery where he took a corvair wagon and made it a very capable off road recovery vehicle I think this would just be fun to play with.
shame that was done to 57 wagon. not many of them left
If you think this was a good idea, you are probably drunk or officially white trash.
Pull the body and put it on a 57 chassis or aftermarket chassis and scrap the current chassis