Some barn finds are often photographed in the “before” stage when they are first found and you’re left on your own to figure out what’s under the dust, boxes and assorted dreck. Every now and then though, a seller shares “before” and “after” images and then the true existential nature of the subject is revealed. Here is just such an example, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, two-door sedan, located in Huntington, New York and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $25,000.
One of the things that is interesting about this Bel Air is the fact that it is a two-door sedan and not the more coveted two-door hardtop body-style that is considered the top-dog variant. Look at cars today, assuming you can find a non-CUV/SUV passenger car, and you’ll note a single body style, a four-door sedan. In 1957, a Chevrolet Bel Air was offered in seven different body arrangements, two and four-door sedans, two and four-door hardtops, a convertible, two-door “Nomad” station wagon and a standard four-door station wagon. My, how things have changed! And this wasn’t a Bel Air or a Chevrolet phenomenon, all manufacturers rolled that way.
This ’57 Bel Air was in a barn of sorts for 30 years and three years ago, it saw the light of day again. This ’57 must have been pretty happy in that barn because it looks to be in great shape, it slept well! The finish has the perfect amount of fade to it, it looks good. It’s very presentable and you won’t have to worry about it as you would a huge dollar modern, two-stage redo. The seller claims that this Bel Air is rust free, top side and bottom; there is no visual evidence of rot or crash damage with the body, glass or trim. The American Torque-Thrust wheels are the perfect accouterment for this Chevy!
Mechanically, this Bel Air is a bit of a mixed bag. It has its original 283 CI V8 engine and it’s either a 185 or 220 gross HP version depending on the carburetion, the seller doesn’t elaborate. The seller adds that the car “runs great”. The transmission is listed as an automatic and the dash shift quadrant indicates a Powerglide as opposed to the less commonly found Turboglide which was new in ’57. There are a couple of nice upgrades to consider including an aluminum radiator and front disc brakes with a new two-compartment master cylinder. The brake improvement, in particular, will be supremely appreciated by the new owner. Rounding out the mechanicals are new shocks and tires.
It would seem that the only weak spot in this mostly original Bel Air is the interior and the seller freely admits it. The front seat obviously has something going on under the JC Whitney-style added seat cover, it does need to be reupholstered along with the door cards. The seller states that the headliner needs to be replaced though there are no clear images of it included in the listing. The glimpse that can be spied in this image would attest to it being missing, however, and the seller states that a new boxed one is included in the sale. The dash and instrument panel looks fine, as the seller adds, “It hasn’t been cut.”
If I were interested in this Bel Air, I’ll tell you what I would do with it, nothing! It’s fine the way it is. Sure, the interior can be straightened out but that’s minor in the scheme of things and not a necessity. No mention is made of the mileage and I can’t quite make out the odometer so depending on its count, the engine may eventually need some help. That, however, can wait and a decision as to what to do with it, stock or mod, can be made another day. It’s tough to find a mostly non-modified tri-five Chevy in this condition. If you ever wanted one, this would be the one to consider, don’t you think?
Nice 57 looks right out of my high school parking lot circa 1972.
Love that vanity plate.
Bought a ’57 Bel Air two door sedan in ’71 for $125, cheap because the Powerglide had only park and forward gears, no reverse or neutral, so had to be careful where I parked. It was a 283 in that strange lime green/chartreuse color combo. My dad sold it for $25 in ’73 while I was in the army and he moved from the farm into town and had no place to put it. He couldn’t find the title so sold it as a parts car, I found the title when I got out of the army and still have it. This looks like a nice one, and I bet it has neutral and reverse!
The chartreuse coloured engine was a 265. The 283s were Chevy orange.
Bob
I thought all Chevy engines were orange. Never in all my years have seen any other color then orange I had a 265 it was orange.
You are right. Pretty sure all the 265’s were leftovers from 56 until they were rid of them. They were chartreuse. 283 was also a standard engine and it was red orange
Looks like a sweetie. Paint and color perfect. I’d be worried a little about the underbelly as it looks like a dirt floor in the First pic and rust on the original wheels. 283 and a glide sounds cool, would prefer a 4 speed but leave the 283. Worth 25k?? Let the buyer set the market price. Good luck!! buy and cruise!
Cheers
GPC
First thing I’d do is get rid of those Torque Thrusts. Not sure what I’d put on but A) I don’t think they look right on this car and B) if you took it to a show there’d be ten other cars with the same wheels. JMO. A lot of potential in this car.
Come to think of it, if I had my choice I’d throw it on some Truespoke 50s.
Torque Thrust’s are my favorite style of aftermarket wheels probably because I grew up when they were extremely popular. Saying that I agree , they do not look good on this 57 whether its the color, stance or tires.
Yes, in 68 I paid $95 for my 210 2dr. That was in my sophomore year in high school. Came with a six stick. I located a 283 out of a 61 or 62 impala. Changed to a floor shift which if you guys remember using a ‘ Spark o-matic’ floor shifter. I did all the paint and bodywork and proceeded to paint it AMC Big Bad Green in enamel. Turned out okay. In about two years I repainted it in a Fiat lime green which was a little more yellow green. Interior was black Naugahide with buttons which I also did myself on my moms little singer sewing machine. Wheels and tires. 5 spoke in the rear and the stock wheels in the front with the dog dish caps. At the time I thought I was the coolest kid in high school with that 57. I sold it locally and have no idea where it ended up. Police officer friend of mine did a title search in all 50 states, came up zero. Has anybody seen it.? LOL
I was hoping that I could post a picture. I guess not.
Bought mine for $850 in 1980. Sold unfinished for $1500 in 97. He restored it and wanted $20k. I don’t know where it is now. He dropped a 400 SBC with an automatic.
Nice car, but it’s prices like this that keep a lot of folks out of the
hobby. Sure, I like it, but I’ve got better things to do with $25K.
For that price, I could buy Mom a nice Buick LeSabre and replace our cenrall A/C unit with a more powerful one and bank
what’s left for a rainy day. Kudos to the seller for taking the time
to clean the car entirely before posting it here. I wish him luck
when it comes to getting his price especially since the economy
is about to tank again. After seeing the stock market lose 10K
points yesterday, now is not the time to spend your cash on
something this expensive. Better hang onto it as there might be
rough times ahead.
I think that paint might buff out real nice.
This is actually a 210, not a Bel Air, which is the more desirable model as you mentioned. Several very nice, fully sorted Bel Airs just sold at Mecum Glendale for about what this seller is asking for his 210. The market for 50’s classics seems to be in a downward trend at the moment.
Actually, if you look, it IS a Bel-Air. It has ALL of the Gold Bel-Air trim, and the long tail-fin chrome, and the anodized side trim. Plus, it has the trim on the dash, too. The ONLY thing that I see wrong is the instrument cluster has been changed out for one of the wrong color. I have had a ’57 210 2-dr. sedan and a ’57 Bel-Air hardtop. What makes you think that it’s not a Bel-Air?
I have to agree, yes it is a belair and they came in either the post which was the lesser priced or the more expensive hardtop.
Seems like more than the instrument cluster came from another Chevy…steering column, wheel etc……kinda strange. As I recall, werent most of the dashboards black? My yellow ’56 4 door hardtop had a black dash at least. Oh for the day of 250 buck Tri Five;s!
BelAirs had rocker panel stainless moldings. If it’s Bel Air, it’s likely the rocker panels have been replaced due to rust sometime in it’s lifetime.
It was actually 8 you forgot Sedan delivery
There is also a Handyman wagon which is a 2 Dr wagon but different than Nomad. Handyman has sedan style doors where as Nomad is a hardtop style door, although sloped back, without the sedan door post. Handyman and panel/Delivery look similar except Handyman has side windows.
Bought mine in 1965. Black Bel Air convertible with white top. $70. It ran OK. The top, interior and the quarter panels were good. Nasty trash in the back seat. (use your imagination). Headers with dump tubes with sewer caps. Was powerglide, now had a broken Foxcraft floor shifter. I drove it hard enough to stick the distributor plates in advanced position. Good times. If I had the money and the sense, i would have replaced the worn out engine and ditched the headers.
Nice to see a 57 driver here. The market for these has softened recently and this one is caught in the middle between the restored/ painted ones for 30K ( and up!) and drivers for 20K. If it were a hardtop I think he would get it. Post, not so much. But finishing this with paint would easily surpass an already done one price. I think its still a bit too high, it would be gone at 20.
Love 57’s, torque thrusts look great. The beauty of 57’s is that there is one out there for every budget if you look long enough.
When I first started noticing cars in 1961 while in Kindergarten, I remember seeing more 1955-1956 Chevrolet cars than the 1957, along with a lot of 1947-53 unusual cars on the road, like the DeSoto. Back then there were many station-wagons in our town, though mostly Plymouths and Buicks.
It wasn’t until about 1966 that I noticed my first ’57, with the front bumper off and mag-wheels instead of wheels with hubcaps. My uncle had replaced his Corvair hubcaps with moon caps in 1963 – the first special modification I had ever seen – and he took extra good care of the car which was different than the typical car washing every few Saturdays, as I observed.
When was the first case of the ’57 Bel Air/210/Nomad being hot-rodded? By 1960 maybe, and in California? Does anyone have a collection of Rod & Custom magazines to determine who first modified the ’57 with headers and glass-pacs, mags, bucket seats and a four-speed?
I actually think $25,000 is s little steep for a sedan , I wouldn’t pay that much , but then I have all ways been cheap !!!! what do I know ???
Agree, this price seems to be a it steep. Especially with the market doing what it has been doing lately.
If rust is not an issue, it may be worth it.
The wheels are fine… it’s those ugly-butt raised white letters on the tires that draw a vacuum. The paint is perfect as is. Doll-up the interior, detail the engine & compartment… oh… another over priced ’57 Chevy… never mind.
This one’s got the rubber nipples on the front bumper. I believe most of them don’t.
No way is this a 210. This is a post Bel Air. Engine is a orange 283 on my PC. He’s done some very good things to it but just not enough to warrant 25k. If he wants to cash this car out now, gotta get below 18k. Later………………………………………………………JIMMY
Well Jimmy that’s what it is a 210 belair. And I have to agree, the price is a tad too high. High teens maybe but not 25,000
You have to remember that back then there weren’t a lot of wheel choices!