I hardly need to tell members of our Barn Finds community how popular Chevrolet’s 1957 Bel Air is. However, this Convertible demonstrates that fact beyond doubt. It presents beautifully and has only accumulated 3,000 miles since the previous owner treated its engine and transmission to a rebuild. It appears to be a turnkey classic, but there are a few minor details that the buyer might want to address if they seek perfection. Located in Boise, Idaho, you will find the Bel Air listed for sale here on eBay. Its legendary status is confirmed because it has already received an incredible ninety-five bids. There’s still plenty of time left on the listing for that number to grow substantially larger. This action has pushed the price to $47,900, although this figure remains short of the reserve.
While it presents nicely, this Bel Air features some custom touches. The seller indicates that it rolled off the line wearing Matador Red paint, but a previous owner treated it to a color change to its current shade of Hawks Red. This color is deeper than the original but suits the lines of the Bel Air perfectly. It holds an impressive shine, with no significant flaws or problems. The panels are straight, and there’s no evidence of exterior rust. The Beige power top works as it should, but the seller says it is slow when raised. He believes it needs more fluid, which is an easy issue to fix. The frame is solid, but the seller states that there is some rust below decks. It is hard to spot in the supplied photos, but I can see some present in the outer floors and inner rockers. That isn’t the end of the world because replacement pieces are easy to find, and the buyer could tackle the problem as time and circumstances allow. The exterior trim is excellent, although the bumpers may benefit from a trip to the platers to raise the presentation to the next level. The glass appears flawless, with no visible problems.
Chevrolet offered potential buyers in 1957 a wide variety of engines to drop into their new Bel Air. It appears that the original owner of this car selected the 283ci V8 backed by a two-speed Powerglide transmission. Performance figures would not put this classic in muscle car territory, but with 185hp on tap, it should still be capable of storming the ¼ mile in 18.9 seconds. That may not seem that impressive by today’s standards, but for a family car capable of seating six that rolled off the line in 1957, it offered its original owner reasonable bragging rights. It isn’t clear whether this classic is numbers-matching, but it seems that it is in sound mechanical health. A previous owner rebuilt the engine and transmission and replaced the brakes and tires. The car runs and drives perfectly and is ready to hit the road for those longer journeys.
When I first spotted the interior shots of this Bel Air, I admit that I found them a bit shocking. Starting with the positive points, the dash is excellent, the painted surfaces appear perfect, the carpet shows no significant wear or problems, and the wheel is in good condition. What threw me was the upholstery. The seller indicates that the car rolled off the production line trimmed in Code 683 Red and Silver. This was an attractive combination, but a previous owner has swapped in custom white diamond-pattern vinyl. It does not appeal to me, but it may be to your liking. If I were to buy this car, I would probably seek to reinstate the original combination or something more appropriate. I admit that this would probably lighten the bank balance by about $1,700, but the finished product would look stunning. However, with no rips or physical damage, the existing trim remains fine for those who aren’t keen on change. Otherwise, there are no other aftermarket additions.
For decades, the 1957 Bel Air has been a staple of the classic car scene. It is not a trend that is likely to change in the near future, making them a solid long-term investment. This car isn’t original, but it presents well. Would you leave it largely untouched if you were to buy it, or would you replace the interior trim with something more period-correct? The bidding has been frantic, which is hardly surprising. It will be interesting to watch this auction to see how high it goes before it hits the reserve. Are you tempted to pursue this one further, or is it a bit rich for your blood?
Most of those bids look like a low feedback shill bidder. They took the the price from $3.00 to $30000.
All this guy’s auctions have some funny bidding.
Radiator in 6cyl location,grill and hood vee and script not gold,run vin before you buy sumpin you think is sumpin else.
I noticed the radiator location also as for a 6 cylinder.
There are a LOT of questions about the motor on this one. As Rw said, the radiator is in the place that it would have been for a six cylinder. It could be there because the small block has a long water pump where it should have a short water pump and the radiator would be behind the core support.
The alternator isn’t original, Chevys had a generator through 1962, The intake manifold and carb look (at least close) to be correct to me. The valve covers are not correct, I believe they’re early 1960’s Corvette. Obviously you can sell them and buy the correct orange stamped valve covers and pocket some cash if they’re correct and original. I’m not sure what the air cleaner is, but it’s not for a 57.
That whole thing makes me question what the motor really is. Find out if it’s what is should be before you pay good money for this one. It appears to be a decent car, but the details can affect the price a LOT.
The VIN indicates this car was assembled in Janesville OH with a V-8 under the hood.
Janesville Wisconsin?
My error … thanks for the correction
It might be in Boise now but it’s been in Tijuana at some time in its life…
VIN tag shows it to be a V-8 ( 265/283) but pictures show a six cyl. core support, radiator, and shift linkage. I would want to see the VIN tag and how it’s mounted. Body looks to be full of bondo all around, or it maybe just shadows. Still a very desirable car.
If this is a 185 hp engine, then it would only have a single exhaust and a 2 barrel carb. At least that’s my recollection. My 57 had the powerpak option with 220hp, a 4 barrel, and dual exhaust.
This certainly isn’t an absolute cream puff, but if you wanted to do a driver quality 57 convertible this could be it. Bid is at 50 and I think that is all the money, to make it worth while. I love the valve covers in H.S. and collage the first thing we did when we got a Tri-Five was go to the dealer parts counter and buy a set of corvette valve covers, for 7 bucks. I think they got a little more expensive and then they were gone
I hate to be negative, but this writeup is waaaayyy too flattering . . . A white car but they couldn’t bother to paint the trunk red, awful masking in the engine compartment, wrong color . . . all leads me to guarantee that the repaint is not good quality. If they couldn’t bother to tape correctly under hood, what DID they do?
And $1,700 for an interior? Seat covers, door panels, kick panels, foam, labor???? Uh, no.
And the top is slow but it just needs fluid. Sure. And, apparently, the seller is too busy to take the 10 minutes to address that? Sure. Plan on new cylinders, lines and rams. Any less and you got lucky.
And the glass is flawless? Really? Seems a pretty strong word for a car not seen in person.
I understand some optimism for the cars on here, but this was just cheerleading. . . .
I’d want to look this one over carefully in person. In addition to the question of the engine, are there rusted rockers and floor boards showing? Hard to see clearly in the photos.
The engine I do not believe is a 57 engine looking at the intake, heads and how the alternator mounts on the exhaust manifold and the oil pan I would say the engine is 66-67 vintage
I wouldn’t get too wound up about what isn’t factory correct. The seller makes no claims of originality. After 65 years and multiple owners changes are bound to have been made. Some for the good and others such as the interior not so good.
At the current bid of $50k this car is over-priced considering the overspray, the interior, the non-working wipers, the slow top etc.
The back bumperettes are on the front and the fronts are on the back! Oh, the humanity!!!