A few things surprise me about this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, but the biggest of these is that there have been no bids on it as I write this article. This is a car that ticks many of the right boxes for enthusiasts, and it is in wonderful condition for a vehicle that the owner restored 30-years-ago. Located in Fenton, Missouri, you will find the Bel Air listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the auction to open at $25,000, and while 70 people are watching the listing, there has been no bidding action. Adding to my consternation is the fact that this appears to be a No Reserve listing. That’s usually enough to get the bidding going, but it hasn’t been so far with this Bel Air.
Since it was restored, this Sierra Gold and Adobe Beige Bel Air has been garage-stored. This strategy has allowed it to remain in excellent condition. The paint still shines beautifully, with only the occasional minor flaw to note. The panels remain as straight as an arrow, with panel fits and gaps that seem to be consistent. That inevitably brings us to the question of rust, and here, the news looks pretty positive. The spot that you can see just above the bumper in this photo is one area to consider. The other, and definitely the most worthy of attention, is an area around the back window. Some rust is beginning to appear under the chrome trim, and I would be pulling the glass and addressing this as a matter of priority. If it is allowing moisture through, it could lead to much bigger problems. Addressing these should potentially be pretty straightforward, and given the rust-free status of the rest of the Chevy, it would be worth the effort. The trim and chrome present as impressively as the rest of the exterior, while the glass is free from flaws and clouding.
The owner decided to upgrade the engine in the Bel Air to make it more driveable for his daughter. The engine bay now features a more modern 305ci V8, along with a 2-speed Powerglide transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The owner says that the Chevy runs and drives extremely well. The only issue that he identifies is a slight fluid leak from the Powerglide, and he believes that this is because it has been sitting for a while. That suggests that some of the seals may have dried out, so I’d attend to this sooner rather than later. If you aren’t thrilled by the more modern V8, the owner does offer you an option.
For those potential buyers who crave originality, the motor sitting on this pallet is the Bel Air’s numbers-matching 283ci V8. This engine should offer the driver 185hp, and with the Powerglide bolted to the back of it, this V8 would have launched the Chevy through the ¼ mile in 18.7 seconds. The new car market contains no shortage of modern 4-cylinder offerings that can beat that figure. However, none of those cars would have the character and presence of a ’57 Bel Air. They might in another 60-years, but I doubt it. It isn’t clear how healthy the 283 is, but this would be a chance to detail it thoroughly before returning it to its rightful place if it has no problems. If I were to buy this car, I would be tempted to treat the engine to a rebuild anyway. It wouldn’t cost a million dollars, and it would mean that the V8 would be good to go for another half-century or so.
It appears that the interior has received a retrim as part of the restoration. It looks pretty stunning in its combination of Code 674 Beige vinyl with Black and Copper pattered cloth. The upholstered surfaces are all in excellent condition, with no rips, tears, or appreciable wear. There is an exception to this because the top of the rear seat has what seems to be a large water stain. That suggests that the back window might be leaking, and this could be associated with the rust that I mentioned earlier. I’m not sure whether the stain could be removed, but I’d be handing it to a professional to maximize my chances in this case. The dash and carpet are in excellent condition. There is a radio/cassette player fitted into the dash, and it looks entirely out of place. I would be looking for a more appropriate solution because it is pretty distracting and looks tacky.
The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air has been a staple of the classic car scene for decades. It’s easy to see why because the company hit a winning note with the vehicle’s styling. It had fins when fins were king, but the ones on the ’57 weren’t outrageously huge. This one shows a lot of promise, and with a bit of work, it has the potential to command a value of more than $40,000. The work required to hit that mark would appear to be relatively minor, and that’s why I’m so surprised by the lack of bidding action to date. We’ve seen examples that weren’t as nice as this commanding a BIN of $30,000, and if things don’t pick up soon, someone could be scoring an iconic vehicle at a bargain-basement price. With those thoughts in mind, this is an auction that could be worth watching carefully.
It’s refreshing to see a ’57 restored close to original, without gaudy paint, goofy wheels, and endless chrome under the hood. Very nice.
I agree Rex, and with its numbers matching spare engine it’s a good looking car that should still bring good money. I was thinking maybe the market is going cold for these classics but ironically Hargerty just published a market report on the 57 Chevy and while they dropped a little they are still very much in demand.
Hagerty.schmagerty. I always considered their market snap shot as a sellers wet dream………on the ground things are often different in the end though I realize its supposed to reflect actual results.
This is a nice looking ’57 and maybe its my screen but the copper looks too something. I’m guessing its oem but still……
Hagerty has good rates and good customer service. I’m completely satisfied, though I’ve never made a claim.
But, regarding their values, it makes sense that they might over-value any and all cars. Potential clients will like these values, and thus be inclined to choose Hagerty to insure their cars. No harm really on Hagerty’s part, and I suspect they use good data, so I have no reason to doubt their valuations. And my common sense easily corrects anything I don’t agree with.
If you want to talk about over-inflated, pie-in-the-sky valuations, just peruse FB or CL to see the delusional prices that most people seem to think their classics are worth. I agree with Howard that the pool of interested buyers may be shrinking, but sellers on CL or FB sure haven’t gotten the message!
Rex- I didn’t mean to throw shade on Hagertys insurance business :). I just don’t put a lot of currency in their valuations vis a vis , perhaps, what I will pay or think some vehicles are worth. ( Keeping in my mind obviously that I’m being subjective as hell). That said I agree with you in principle that everyone is completely out of their mind with respect to their asks..regardless of the vehicle.
With a rapidly decreasing buyer base due to the reality of time passing, I find it strange that prices don’t seem to fall but instead seem to accelerate. Lets hope are beloved hobby is not a field of tulips :)
April must be ’57 Chevy month.
I guess I’m the outlier. Some Torque Thrusts, some decent tires and a color change. This looks like grandpas ‘57.
OK Lets see. We have a 57 Chevy for sale and no bids. So $25K and no reserve. Seems like that is what should be on the for sale sign out in the driveway.
A car restored (a definition of restore would be in order) What was exactly done 30 years ago. A little digging then I mean one would pretty much have their answer why no one is pulling the trigger. Then reading on and the guy installed a then modern 305 V8 with the PG trans? Ouch. I see plenty more work ahead here. Safe to say another restoration on the way. That being said. Think I would wait on another.
There are always new tri fives being posted for sale daily. If it was such a deal it wouldn’t needed advertised.
I don’t know why for sure, but I have always found the proportions of the 57 Chevy hardtops (both 2 and 4 door) to be a bit off. Something about the length of the trunk, exaggerated (?) by the fins, makes me want to stretch the wheelbase or somehow reshape the rear side windows. Even today, those Mercedes-Benz 4 door coupes, strike me as being odd looking. The 55 and 56 models seem to avoid this strange proportioning…maybe with “a trick of the eye”. But I would much rather have a 57 Fairlane.
Nice $15,000.00 car. No sale at $25,000.00. To much work to do to justify the price.
If he upgraded to a newer motor, why not an alternator as well?
The original power steering pump is mounted on the end of the generator.
Oh, double duty.
Man if closer to me I might take a chance on bidding. I built a lot of cars with my dad ( current is a 67 Nova SS). In my childhood all we heard about was the 57 Bel-air, Sierra gold and Adobe beige my dad built out of hight school. 327, mondello heads etc that he raced in the Philly area. Then came the draft and off to Vietnam he went. 3 years later when he came back his father had sold it. Mean a lot to me to buy this for him and let him relive some memories.
I wonder if any ’57’s were made as right hand drive.
They could be speced RHD for export from the US to RHD countries. They were also built/assembled in RHD form in Australia (210 sedans, 6cyl/3spd). The RHD cars used the 55/6 dash since that was designed as a symetrical dash, which is much easier for conversion.
Original buyer didn’t opt off backup lights…
*for
Still 4 days to go. To the doubters, I predict this one gets a bid before the auction ends. Maybe just one bid, but it will get one.
Looks like I was right, $26,100 and a couple days left in the auction.
Right you are Fred! I still think there is some disappointment coming for whoever gets it, but after the last 25 years of doing this I learned the hard way before too! We all have the same ailment of seeing the car we want in the pictures, but its not always the car we get!
I love that 57’s are here almost daily. This would be a good deal except for the corrosion. And needing an engine rebuild and reinstall. And needing the PG rebuilt. But corrosion in all the wrong places is the deal breaker. The seller is too honest!
305 Cubic inch V8. Hello…. McFly…… The 283 illustrated with the incorrect Quadrajet carburetor would have been quite sufficient, maintaining the cars originality with enough power to respectfully propel it on to the freeway on ramps. I would concur with the other commenters herein, $25K is the top of the market and this car certainly doesn’t merit the price considering the condition,the anemic 305 engine, and the fact that these Tri-Five cars are everywhere, produced in large numbers. No bids…. not a surprise.
First time I’ve heard a 305 being referred to as an upgrade over a 283 but I guess the seller is smarter than all the designers and engineers at GM.
I would prefer the 283 with the correct carb on it, my preference would be the 4gc Rochester. They always ran good. Much better engine then the 305.
Nice car needing some work but my 57 fairlane sunliner is a much prettier car
From my personal experience those old powerglides all leak if left sitting for long. Fluid in the T-converter drains down and overfills the case.
It’s a $20,000 car tops, because of these issues. First of all it wasn’t “restored” thirty years ago. It got a paint job and an interior refresh back then and it shows. Just looking under the hood shows no restoration and much cracked weatherstripping and deterioration. I suspect some serious rust issues seeing the water leak around the rear window and the rust bubbles deck lid. And this is a car that’s been kept inside! Plus not one picture from under the car is troublesome because all Tri-fives are notoriously susceptible to rust, especially in a Missouri climate. Add a junkyard 305 hooked to the original Powerglide that leaks, that’s hardly desirable. I would replace them both because not many people want to drive a car with a stock powertrain these days. With these cars you can spend a ton of money just replacing rubber and trim parts. There may be someone who will buy it for more but they will learn a hard lesson in what it takes to make it a nice car again.
Ask me how I know this? I’ve been working on my 1956 Chevy Handyman two door wagon and have spent a thousands replacing all the glass, rubber seals and trim, rear bumper, a Rain Gear wiper system, a Vintage Air A/C system and just a lot of little things that add up fast. Mine is also cursed with a stock cast iron Powerglide, so that will go along with the 283 to bigger engine (a 400 SBC, a ’93 LT1 or an LS?) with an overdrive trans (4L60 or a Turbo 400 with a Gear Vendors Overdrive) and a newer posi differential (GM 10 bolt or an Explorer). I had a ’57 Nomad in the same color combination as this Belair but I let it co when I added up what it would take to restore this absolutely rust and dent free car. About $30K plus paint and interior so I sold her for $20K nine years ago. I just didn’t have the time or garage space at the time since I was still moving and building my shop.
My ’56 Wagon: https://photos.app.goo.gl/q3RLAr5vm3zVBumU9
My ’57 Nomad: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dzRpHhBhB2iu8Mzw2
The fact that the numbers matching engine comes with the deal would win me over!