Peering out of this barn is one of the most iconic cars to roll off an American production line in the 1950s. It is a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, and it is also a project that has been sitting untouched longer than most. The owner has decided that the time has come to find a buyer who is willing to have a crack at returning this fantastic classic to its former glory. Located in Lexington, Oklahoma, you will find the Chevy listed for sale here on eBay. The popularity of the ’57 Bel Air is easy to gauge when you take a look at the bidding action on this one. There have already been 29 bids, which have pushed the price along to $5,105. Making this all the more attractive is the fact that the Bel Air is being offered in a No Reserve listing, which means that this is a “winner takes all” proposition.

When I said that this Bel Air project has been sitting longer than most, this was no idle claim. The car was dismantled back in the 1970s. The paint was removed, a coat of primer was applied, and then the restoration work stalled. That means that it may have been waiting patiently for up to 50-years for someone to weave their magic on it. The car now wears a coating of surface corrosion, but the news seems to be mostly good despite this. When you look beyond the surface corrosion, actual penetrating rust in the panels is very limited. What is there could be addressed with patches, so there would be no need to spend money on new panels. The story below decks isn’t quite as good, but it is a long way from horrendous. The frame wears a coating of surface corrosion that matches the panels, but it appears structurally sound. The floors and trunk pan both have holes, and while it might be possible to patch these, I would look at alternatives. The buyer might consider buying replacements in sections, but some suppliers produce complete one-piece floor/trunk pan sets. These are a bit unwieldy to handle, but it will mean that the buyer will only have one component to align and weld rather than multiple pieces. At around $2,100, it is not a cheap alternative, but it has the potential to provide the best level of finish for a more discerning enthusiast. It looks like the Bel Air might be one of those “what you see is what you get” propositions because the owner doesn’t mention anything about the missing glass. He is also sorting through a pile of trim pieces but isn’t sure whether all of the exterior trim for this car is present.

There isn’t a lot to consider with the interior because apart from most of the dash and a tattered front seat, there are no other parts included in the sale. The seat is upholstered in its original combination of Black vinyl and Red cloth, but both the cover and padding are scrap. The seat frame will need to be stripped and refinished because there is evidence of corrosion. The radio and a few switches are missing from the dash, and what is present will need total restoration. That is where the buyer’s imagination can run wild. Trim kits are readily available if a faithful restoration is the goal. If a street rod or custom is more to their liking, custom upholstery might be the way they choose to go. What you can see in this photo is some of the rust in the floors. You can see how it could potentially be addressed with patches, but how much better new floors would look.

This photo shows you all of the drivetrain that this Bel Air is equipped with. It is a roller with a rear end, but that’s it. The vehicle did start its life with a V8 engine and a manual transmission, and I suspect that the buyer will probably fit something similar during the build. If they aim at improved performance levels, they will probably also want to do something with the brakes. The owner is including a front disc brake conversion kit with the Bel Air, so I guess that is a starting point. From there, this is another area where the owner can let their imagination roam free. They could tackle a faithful restoration, a classic custom build with a 350 under the hood, or they might want to wander down the path of a restomod build. The world will be their oyster on this one.

If I close my eyes, I have no trouble envisioning this 1957 Bel Air finished in Matador Red and India Ivory. I can see an interior trimmed its original combination of Black and Red, and I can see a 350/4-speed combination under the hood. I know that all of that sounds quite traditional and maybe even a little bit pedestrian, but I will guarantee that the ’57 would still turn heads wherever it went. Your vision could be entirely different, so close your eyes and think about it. Once you open your eyes, think about whether you would be willing to bid on this classic. If the desire is strong enough, maybe you should give this one a closer look.