1957 was the last year of the generation of Chevrolets that would become known as the “Tri Fives.” Styling differed some from the two earlier years, growing tailfins and twin rocket/bullet horn ornaments. Which often makes them more popular with collectors. This ’57 Bel Air 4-door station wagon, dubbed the “Townsman,” is a running restoration project. And it received an engine and transmission transplant at some point in the past. Located in Strasburg, Colorado, this Chevy is available here on craigslist for $12,500. Thanks, Pat L., for alerting us to this opportunity!

Have you ever wondered why the ’57 Chevy is such an iconic vehicle today? There’s really no one reason, but actually several. These could include:

• They include all the major styling cues from the 1950s without going overboard
• The cars could be had with a potent small-block V8, the 283; they were quick and nimble autos; factory fuel injection was available for even more speed
• The Bel Air lineup included the Nomad, perhaps the most attractive station wagon ever built
• The ’57 Chevies, with their Body by Fisher construction, were better built than their competitors; Chrysler’s “Forward Look” cars were cool to look at, but had quality issues; the Bow Ties were strong mechanically, too
• At more than 1.5 million units built, the numbers that have survived is not small, making them accessible to first-time collectors as well as die-hards

The seller’s ’57 Bel Air wagon will need more than its fair share of cosmetic work, although rust doesn’t seem overwhelmingly present. The main concerns might be the floorboards given the condition of the deteriorating carpeting which has to make you wonder what’s down below. There are a few dings and dents in the sheet metal and chrome pieces and the turquoise/white two-tone paint is nice to look at, from 20 feet away. The interior will require a complete restoration, especially the dashboard as this one is thoroughly baked. The door panels are falling apart, and the carpeting is toast. The storage area will need attention with both fabric and paint and the windshield appears cracked.

An easy assumption is that this car left with factory with a 283 V8 and a Powerglide automatic. What resides there now is a later 350 with a Turbo-Hyrdramatic. There is no mention how long ago this transplant took place, but given the lack of cleanliness under the hood, I would say the car hasn’t been on the road much lately. The seller says the car runs and drives but uses no adjectives to describe how well it performs these functions. The wagon wears a set of later model Rally wheels, something from 1971 on.

Out of 1.5 million Chevies built for 1957, nearly half of them were the high-end Bel Air models. And of those numbers, nearly 28,000 were the 4-door Townsman wagon like the seller’s car. According to NADA, these wagons are worth at least $30,000 and considerably more for pristine examples. At the seller’s asking price, there should be some room for the restoration costs, but will the engine/transmission change put a ding in its resale value?