We don’t typically feature restored cars here, but there are some models that are just too special to pass up. Bidding ends later today for this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air that has yet to clear its reserve despite looking exactly as you’d expect one of these iconic cruisers to appear. Black over red with ample chrome and giant whitewalls is just what the doctor ordered, but bidding is just over $28,000 with the reserve unmet. It’s powered by a healthy 283 paired to a three-speed automatic transmission. Find it here on eBay and located in Woburn, Massachusetts.
The Bel Air has been completely restored according to the seller. While details of the project scope aren’t disclosed, the paint and chrome certainly look quite nice. The same goes for the wheels and tires, almost looking better than new. The thing about Bel Airs is that generally speaking, they’re good cars to restore. Values have always been high, and the two-door, pillarless design is irresistible to collectors of a certain age. This was the car to have growing up, so until that demographic exits the collector car scene, I suspect Bel Airs will always be restored when not past the point of saving.
The interior has clearly been redone, and if anything, it looks a bit over-the-top inside. It’s almost too new, to the point it looks better than what the factory would have installed. I’m sure that’s not true, but I also hope that whatever came out was truly past the point of saving. The interior also shows some modern elements which I consider a distraction, including aftermarket speakers cut into the rear parcel shelf and a radio head unit that appears to have come from a later GM product. Of course, those additions will surely make driving this Bel Air long distances more enjoyable, but a concours judge would likely take issue with it.
The engine bay, curiously, is not overly detailed. Also, the chrome air cleaner clearly isn’t to factory spec. It looks like the radiator was either replaced or sandblasted and painted (hopefully both), so hopefully the seller can provide a list of all the new parts installed as part of the restoration. The engine was clearly painted, but it’s not mentioned if a rebuild was part of the restoration as well. Still, it’s hard to go wrong with a 283 in a vintage Chevrolet, and given the money clearly spent elsewhere, it seems likely the drivetrain got a refresh as well. Where do you think bidding will end up on this restored ’57 Bel Air?
What’s not to like? Pretty darn great.
Lot to like on this car but a few odd things to. It appears very period correct with the interior, wide whites and the 283. Then again, modern stereo, speaker cut in the rear, the engine has the wrong intake and the wrong carburator. Also, if you look closely at the pictures on the Ebay add you can see scratches and swirls in the paint in a few places. My guess is it is a nice car from 10 feet out. Still if the reserve is under $35K it would be a decent buy. Oh yeah, for the love of PETE lose the rear fender skirts, nothing makes these 50’s cars look uglier than those things.
the photographer probably used that awful “gleam / Shine” filter to make an effort to hide the scratches and swirl marks – It’s annoying when people don’t take honest pictures.
Odd that he added bumper guards and fender skirts but went with the cheap hubcaps?
They’re not the “cheap hubcaps”, they’re the std. full wheelcovers, but whomever restored it, did not see fit to add the optional spinners to them (but they did muck it up w/fender skirts!).
I would not use the word ‘restored’ to describe this car. In 1957 available automatic transmissions were two speeds, either a Powerglide or a Turboglide. The trim tag indicates the car was originally a two-tone in Onyx Black and India Ivory.
This a nice looking car but to my eye the two-tone paint would look better. It’s unfortunate the dash and package tray have been hacked up. The same can be about the driver’s side A pillar. The spotlight might be period-correct but it wasn’t a RPO. There is one flaw I could not live with which is the stainless below the clock.