The Bel Air was the top-of-the-line trim level for the 1957 Chevrolet, with the Sport Coupe body style eliminating the pillar between the side glass when the windows were rolled down, adding even more great styling to an already attractive exterior. While this one is currently still billed as a project, the seller believes it could become a daily driver with minimal additional effort. However, it also seems like a good candidate to go beyond just turning it into a capable cruiser. If you’re already getting ideas on how to move forward, this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe is located in the ski resort town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and can be found here on eBay. You’ll have no competition so far, as the opening bid of $13,000 has yet to be placed at the time of this writing.
The owner says this one started out wearing Sierra Gold outside, but the finish now consists of a combination of red, primer, and patina, with the sheet metal appearing as if decades may have passed since it received very much serious attention. It’s unknown what sort of body repairs have been made in the past, but there are still some imperfections, plus a few areas where rust is showing through, along with a non-existent section on the driver’s side fender. However, this one sort of has a mean appearance, so leaving things the way they are for a while is a viable option. Another and probably better one would be to smooth things out quickly, then spray on a fresh coat of Gold.
This Chevy was originally powered by a 283, the largest displacement available in ’57, though it’s not specified if it was one of the basic engines or a more souped-up variant. This really doesn’t matter much anymore, as the factory component has been replaced with a 350 sourced from a 1970 Caprice, and the Powerglide has been swapped in favor of a Saginaw 4-speed manual. The small block features high-performance heads, an Edelbrock carburetor with a Streetmaster aluminum intake, along with a set of headers. While the Bel Air is presently running and driving, the seller says it would benefit greatly from a major tune-up.
In my youth, I was as guilty as anybody for popping off factory steering wheels and replacing them with cheap aftermarket helms, even on cars where they didn’t blend properly. This one works well inside, and the instrument cluster behind it still looks pretty good cosmetically. Much of the interior could use a thorough refreshing, plus a new Stereo if you want to hear any tunes while cruising. It’s a difficult decision whether to just give this ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe a tune-up and drive it for a few seasons, or go ahead and immediately perform a complete restoration. Which path would you follow here?
Grungy car for too much money.
Have 57 Chevys fallen off the ledge?
It’s more likely potential buyers are becoming more picky. I think if a particular make or model is relatively common buyers are finally becoming more selective.
Prices of parts and labor are becoming cost prohibitive. There is an often ignored saying, buy the best car you can afford, many buyers learn this lesson the hard way, I think it might finally be sinking it. On the other hand, it is summer and people are busy spending money on things like vacations and back to school. Time will tell, there is generally a slow down, see what it’s like come January and February before drawing a conclusion.
Steve R
A supposedly running and driving ’57 Bel Air coupe, for less than $15k. And folks are paying that for carcasses of other “gold status” collector cars.
I wouldn’t buy this or one of those carcasses for $15k. There have been enough interesting cars built over the last 50+ years that are still reasonably priced to do so.
Steve R
Don’t see how it’s running with that air filter. Simple things like replacing that would go a long way in selling it in my opinion!
Agree with someone else’s comment. Parts, and shipping add up quick. Not like you can run down to the junkyard and find parts anymore.
Yes $15,000 sounds a little steep but you don’t see many BelAir sport coupes any more and this one isn’t in bad shape considering.
It’s hard for my generation to get used to todays prices considering we used to buy cars in better shape than this for less than a $1,000.
This and the the Sports coupe 4 door are the nicest looking 57’s. A 10 years ago this would have been sold. Have they gone off the ledge? Not quite, but they are teetering.
I can see $5000.00+ in the interior just to make it suitable to drive. Seat, floor carpet, seals, gauges,
The brakes are a nice addition as are engine, 4 speed and 12 bolt. But the exterior and interior are many, many thousands away from anything but a beater. Even if you do it yourself. So this is still priced too high to really be considered an entry level car. There are waaay too many nice ones for sale for just a bit more .
I just looked at it on EBAY and I found a couple of restored Bel Airs for the same money.
It would probably be good at 9-10K in this condition..
Steve R summed it up pretty well. Another issue is that if you have aged out of being able to do the work yourself you will have a hard time finding a shop willing to do it.
$13K starting bid???…..Hmmmm…think not!
Will take thousands to make this 57’ presentable. $2K at the most for this forlorn Chevy!
$2K? The 12 bolt rear alone is worth an easy $1000, a decent running small block is around $500, unfortunately the trans is not a Muncie but a Saginaw, but even then they are now going for $500 and more. New fuel system, disc brake conversion, in other words, there is value way beyond $2k… those days are long, long gone. Heck an “vintage” Hurst T-handles are bringing $50 and up!
You are right, people don’t consider the value of the parts. I think you undervalued the Hurst shifter as an assembly, Holley gutted most of the Hurst catalog (as well as MSD, Accell and Mallory) when they bought them, the Competition plus for a Saginaw is long gone and the shifters that remain start around $800 for the shifter and installation kit, but are now outsourced to China with an associated decline in quality.
Steve R
No restoration for me. And overpriced as well, by about 2/3’s. If it is running as stated I’d make it a driver. Clean it up, make it solid and refurbish that seat. Then just drive it. Isn’t that what these are all about? The driving …
I like that steering wheel right there.
It’s always been about what the car is worth.Not what each part is worth.if you want to part out cars ,well go ahead enjoy yourselves.you can’t sell a car like this for Marilyn Monroe money just because it has a new air cleaner.got that?
So true.
What you aren’t considering is what it would cost to upgrade from original parts. If a car, like this has items such as the 12 bolt or Hurst shifter its money you don’t have to spend later. If you made changeds and no longer need the rear end or shifter, selling those items can be used towards the restoration or different modification. The only way they have no value is if they are removed and thrown into a dumpster.
Steve R
I agree with all the commenters – yes it seems over priced, but there is significant value in all the hardware. The hobby overall is seeing price softening because the potential buyer pool is shrinking.
Sold 8/5/2025 for the opening bid of $13,000.
Steve R
still available?