The previous owner of this 1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe parked it on stands in this garage in 1982. After forty years of hibernation, the seller coaxed its engine to life, ready for a new home. It is a solid, complete vehicle that promises a straightforward and satisfying build. The new owner could opt for a faithful refurbishment, although the upgraded engine and other changes could prompt a custom project. The Bel Air is listed here on eBay in Corinth, New York. The seller set a BIN of $27,500, although they provide the option to make an offer.
When the seller dragged this Bel Air from hiding, they were pleasantly surprised by their discovery. There is no evidence of previous accident damage or rust repairs, suggesting the car retains its original factory steel. It only got better when they discovered that not only are the panels rust-free but the floors and frame wear nothing but a light dusting of surface corrosion. The only area requiring attention is this spot in a floor brace near the rocker. Repairs should prove straightforward, ensuring this Chevy is as solid as the day it rolled from the factory. The photos suggest the car wore a shade of dark maroon before storage, but the Tag indicates its original owner ordered it in the Code 814 combination of India Ivory and Coronado Yellow. Since it requires a complete repaint, reinstating the original finish would be straightforward. The dry storage environment means the trim and chrome shine nicely, and there are no visible issues with the glass.
The previous owner’s changes continue when we examine this Bel Air’s interior. The seller states it originally featured Code 670 Black and Silver cloth and vinyl upholstery, but everything now wears White vinyl. It looks pretty dirty, and the front seatcover shows stretching. However, a deep clean might return it to a serviceable state while the buyer develops strategies moving forward. Most painted surfaces wear the custom maroon shade, and the wheel has cracked. However, the factory AM radio and clock are intact. A retrim in the correct colors and materials will cost the new owner around $2,000, although if a custom build is on the agenda, they may opt to swap one load of custom upholstery for another.
The seller states this Chevy’s engine bay originally housed a 283ci V8, but which version is unclear. It is fairly safe to assume it wasn’t a Fuelie, meaning the original owner had between 185 and 270hp heading to the road via a two-speed Powerglide transmission. The car retains its modified Powerglide, but the 283 made way for a 327 wearing a 4-barrel carburetor in the 1970s. The original motor is a distant memory, which makes a restoration out of the question. However, locating the correct engine for a faithful refurbishment shouldn’t be challenging. The new owner could also persist with the existing V8 or select something more modern or powerful. Although the seller revived this classic after four decades of hibernation, it isn’t roadworthy. It runs and yard drives okay, but the lack of functioning brakes makes stopping a problem. However, they believe it would take little to return the Bel Air to its rightful place on our roads.
Different phrases can mean different things to different people. The seller describes this 1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe as very complete and unmolested. That description is accurate of its steel, but the upgraded engine, interior, and paint tell a different story. Returning the car to a numbers-matching vehicle for a meticulous restoration seems out of the question, but sourcing a period-correct 283 for a faithful refurbishment would be possible. However, my instincts tell me that the new owner will use these changes as a catalyst for a custom build. With the availability of off-the-shelf parts for such projects, they could choose any path from mild to wild. What would be your vision if you found this old Chevy in your workshop?
I don’t understand people. Why would you leave a pretty nice ’57 Chevy sit on stands in your garage for 40 years?
I’d guess that back in ’82, it would have been pretty easy to use this car as a weekend cruiser, whilst pecking away at a rolling restoration, which, after 40 years, should have been long-since completed.
Instead, the owner got no enjoyment out of the car for 40 years, and probably died before it was sold to the next guy, who appears to be flipping it. I have no problem with flipping; in this case the original guy wasted 40 years to get the car into the right hands, and the current guy is doing just that it would seem, and making some money doing it to boot.
Many classic car owners simply dream of what they’d build if they just had the time to get a project finished. Most of the hoarders just sit on their classic cars and talk about how great their car is going to be someday when they get off their butts and actually do the work that is required to rebuild these cars.
I was the one that finished my classic rebuild whilst everyone lese just talked about their rebuilds until they finally sold the cars off because they never found the time. First off you have to make the time to rebuild.
It takes approximately three months to do a rebuild if one is working five days per week at 10 hours per day.
Most people don’t make the time.
Bob
I’ve had similar experiences. Guys nit picking my (admittedly amateur) restoration and I find out later they are known as the guy with the 58 corvette project that he hasn’t quite gotten around to starting or the guy with the classic truck project in their carport for 15 years. The memories I’ve had driving around my works in progress have been priceless. I’ve made friends and learned life lessons along the way.
I’ve had similar experiences. Guys nit picking my (admittedly amateur) restoration and I find out later they are known as the guy with the 58 corvette project that he hasn’t quite gotten around to starting or the guy with the classic truck project in their carport for 15 years. The memories I’ve had driving around my works in progress have been priceless. I’ve made friends and learned life lessons along the way.
Wasn’t the 265 still available in 57?
Things that make you go hmmmmm.
How do we know it was a 283?
I’ve always said this about all hobbies. It seems even more applicable to the car hobby. There’s three things you need:
1. Time
2. Space
3. Money
Usually, you have one of the three. Eventually, with hard work and good fortune, you might acquire two out of the three.
For most of us, you usually don’t have the luxury of all three until either the day before you pass on or are too ill to take advantage of the situation.
MGSteve, so very true !!
Other than fixing the mentioned rust area I wouldn’t do anything to the drive train but clean and work any problems that exist. Paint the outside any color wanted and maybe put the interior back to original. Nice project car.
Put a 4 speed behind that 327 and letter rip. hard to tell if thats all surface rust or the oxidized color. Very nice 57. Good luck.
Cheers
GPC
Not sure why a car with very little rust elsewhere would have a “surface rust” finish unless they had stripped it and not primered well. I’m guessing that there is paint under there, and it’s not maroon as described. Maybe that beautiful copper color from ’57? Time to start wet sanding and see what is there underneath.
Sold for BIN price
That ‘57, looks good from any angle despite a jacket of rust! There are more of these finds out there, just waiting. If you look, you will see. If you see, you will know where to look.
Rex is way out of bounds-not his car and has no right to suggest anything to how or why this ’57 has been in storage for 40 years. Multitude of reasons it was stored while no right to suggest or ridicule the owner’s decision. Period. Spend more time on your ride than suggesting what someone else should do with theirs. Get a grip!
I just finished a restoration on a 1968 Pontiac Lemans that the previous owner let sit in a storage unit for 39 Years. He bought it in 1972- drove it for 10 years- the parked it. Paid 11k to store it- then gave it up as he was getting to old to ever do anything. Overall very solid- much like this 57. He hung on to it for a “someday” that never came. Felt kind of bad for him-I just sent him pictures this week-
Very nice project car but overpriced imo.
This is one of the most complete 57’s I seen lately. I do think the seller is a bit optimistic about the price tag. If he were to offer it at $10K I think he’d make a fast sale. $27.5K is pretty much on the high side for what you are getting. For $27K I’d expect a lot nicer finished car.
I am surprised it even made it in the garage. In 1982, the car was still pretty easy to obtain at a cheap price. I had a buddy who bought a 57 around that time, running with a presentable paint job for like a 100 bucks. He drove it around one summer and decided it wasn’t as fun to drive as he remembered from his youth. Sold it to some high school kid for 75 bucks who promptly ran it into a ditch and that was that.
regarding those who are self-appointed Nit Pickers of other peoples’ restorations. I know one in particular. He has been searching, let’s call it for 15 – 20 years, for every perfect nut, bolt, lock washer, etc. During that time, I’ve restored four cars, but I’m sure none would pass his inspection. I just answer “So, how’s your car coming?”