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Restomod 350 V8: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

This 1957 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe has had just two owners since 1976 and the latter may have treated it to some modern upgrades. Instead of what was likely a 265 or 283 cubic-inch V8 with a 2-speed Powerglide is now a 350 with a 700 R4 automatic transmission. And it wears a seldom-seen color combination (at least to me), Sierra Gold over Adobe Beige. Located in Opa-Locka, Florida, this beauty is available here on eBay where the reserve is unmet at $20,400. Another spirited tip brought to us by Larry D!

Chevrolet practically ruled the auto industry in 1955-57 with its “Tri-Five” Chevies (although Ford would beat them out for 1st place in ’57). The better part of five million automobiles rolled off the assembly lines during that time wearing the Chevy Bow-Tie. Buyers who wanted style and comfort ordered the Bel Air Sport Coupe and the company sold more than 168,000 of them in 1957, the year that Chevies wore fins for the first time.

We’re not privy to much in the way of history on the seller’s car. It’s said to be “an original” which implies that sheet metal and paint are as the auto left the factory 65 years ago. But it presents too well for the paint and interior to not have been redone at some point. The seller has had it for about a year, securing it from the “Florida car preview owner” (what does that mean?) who had it for 45 years. Of late, the vehicle has served as transportation to various car shows.

The odometer reading is said to be 45,000 miles and about 2,000 miles ago a new 350 V8 was dropped in under the hood along with a modern automatic transmission. We don’t know why the decision was made to ditch the original components as the car immediately lost its status as numbers-matching. But if you don’t care about that and just want to sharp-looking ’57 Chevy to tool around in, this one may be hard to beat.

Comments

  1. Avatar Harvey Member

    All this needs is a set of fender skirts.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Chuck Dickinson

      ONLY if you want to ruin it! An extended-bumper continental kit would be next along with a sunvisor!

      Like 4
  2. Avatar TheOldRanger

    This is a beautiful car….

    Like 10
  3. Avatar Doone

    That decal on the valve cover doesn’t say 350. Does anyone else catch that?

    Like 10
    • Avatar Brian Pinkey

      Yeah, bit hard to read with the light flare, but I see 305?

      Like 7
      • Avatar Kerry Noonan

        It’s 300 HP

        Like 2
    • Avatar Bob

      Yep 305

      Like 4
      • Avatar Camaro guy

        The valve cover says 300 horsepower those are 300 HP 327 cu.in. covers

        Like 2
    • Avatar Bob

      He’s lost many thousands of $$ replacing the engine and transmission, all it is now is a nice driver.

      Like 9
      • Avatar chuck

        Maybe the original engine already gone?

        Like 5
    • Avatar Joe

      It says 300 horsepower

      Like 1
    • Avatar DC

      Doone, it reads HORSEPOWER, not cubic inches

      Like 4
    • Avatar Harold

      Maybe 300 HP

      Like 1
    • Avatar BajaPFE Member

      Says 300 horsepower.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Steve

    The valve cover reads 300 HP

    Like 11
  5. Avatar Doug

    This car is also listed on craigslist. Asking price is $43,500.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Chris

    What,you mean they didn’t put an LS in it like everyone seems to like to do? Too bad the original power train isn’t available. Nice looking ‘57. Reminds me of two brothers I know. Back in the day one had a ‘57 Chevy with a 350 in it ( he still owns it ), the other had a ‘74 Monte Carlo that he put a mildly built 283 in. Their dad pointed out that each car should have had the others’ engine in it lol.

    Like 8
  7. Avatar Michael J Patula

    Yeah, I saw 306 or 308.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Scott

    Very nice. I have a 57 Belair that is Irok blue. The only thing original is the outer shell. It is a 327 ci with a 4 speed and posi.it loves to run and has 23000 miles on it. I have always loved the 57,s.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Ron

    Is original engine available?

    Like 3
  10. Avatar Steve

    Love the color combination.

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Geoff C

    350 cubic inch with 300 horse power… that’s what I read from the text and the sticker on the motor.

    Like 7
  12. Avatar Jack Quantrill

    Had a HS friend that had a white ‘57 with 6 cylinder stick shift. A little slow, but looked good! Another, had a ‘57, black, with F.I. 283. Those were the days.

    Like 4
  13. Avatar Neil

    I’m thinking there is a pretty large market for an auto set up like this. Especially someone with money and not a care about resale value. I’ll take a modern drive train and stopping power anyday. A car you can truly enjoy and be comfortable driving. Yeah, the purists will vilify, but it is a sweet set up in my eyes.

    Like 15
  14. Avatar Bob

    If I had one I would completely modernize but it would be for my pleasure and I wouldn’t be trying to sell it for an arm and a leg. Right now it might be worth $5000-$6000, the cost of a good clean used car.

    Like 0
    • Avatar chuck

      $5000-$6000 ? For a 57 Chevy as nice as this one?

      Like 6
    • Avatar MLM

      Not this one! Even with the resto-mod treatment it is still worth a lot more.

      Like 4
    • Avatar Frank

      Hahahahaha, 6k for that? You are smoking some good crack Bob.

      Like 8
  15. Avatar Gary

    Hell, I’d buy every 57 like this for 5k that I could find! Those prices were gone in the 80’s

    Like 7
  16. Avatar John

    Is that an Oldsmobile back bumper? It does not look like a 57 chevy part.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar David R Member

    Beige is the worst car color of all time but the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is so beautiful it looks great even in beige.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Jack Quantrill

      I agree. Beige is only eclipsed by gold, as the worst color!

      Like 2
      • Avatar Simpleton

        Probably what helped preserve this car. So unattractive, owners didn’t take it out much.

        Like 1
  18. Avatar Camaro guy

    The valve cover says 300 horsepower those are 300 HP 327 cu.in. covers

    Like 0
  19. Avatar George Birth

    Beautiful car with a whopper of a price tag.

    Like 0

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