The 1957 Chevy was one of the most popular automobiles of its era. And it is still in demand as perhaps the most desirable of the 1955-57 “Tri-Fives”. This shining example has just 247 miles on the odometer because it was recently treated to a frame-off restoration. A few changes have been made to make it better than new (disc brakes, vintage air conditioning, for example). Located with a dealer in Bradenton, Florida, this 1950s carhop classic is available on eBay for $68,997. Once again, Mitchell G. comes through with a great tip from yesteryear!
As with most dealer sales, the history of this car is either unknown or not shared. We don’t know its condition before receiving a frame-off renovation. We assume the redone paint is the original color, Matador Red. The body and chrome look good, with some likely original pieces; a little dimple can be found here and there. The red-and-black interior was completely remade, and the fuzzy dice hanging from the rear-view mirror are a nice touch.
Though not confirmed, the 283 cubic inch V8 under the hood could be numbers-matching. The transmission is an automatic, but is it a correct 2-speed Powerglide or a later Turbo-Hydramatic? The tires look like 1957 era rubber, probably Coker reproductions. The air cleaner is an aftermarket unit, and power disc brakes have been added for improved stopping. The seller says the Chevy has tilt steering (was that even available in ’57?). An aftermarket stereo has also been included.
All-in-all, this is one of the nicest ’57 Bel Air Sport Coupes you’re likely to find. But if you’re a stickler for originality, this might not be the Chevy for you. However, I wouldn’t mind the vintage air when cruising around in Florida on a hot August night.
Beautiful car!
Except for the cheap looking air cleaner
At least it would be easy to switch out.
No fuzzy dice, please
It certainly seems that there are more beautiful ’57’s coming up for sale these days.
The wheel covers don’t do it any favors and make the sides look chunky. Of course they are removable. I would have a nice set of Cragers and some fat meats as optional tires as no car ever looked better riding on them. I like the two tone versions better, but all red is unusual. My big pause is the powerglide. It makes these cars much slower than they need to be and are pretty much in the wrong gear all the time. As long as other nice mods were done, that change out to a 3 or 4 speed would certainly be nice.
This one is exquisite and is probably priced at the lower end of a market for a fully restored car.
My days of owning ’57’s has passed, but this one is a beauty and appears to need nothing but a driver.
That’s because the guys who own them today (and had a special drive-in theatre night in their dad’s years ago), are now in their mid-70s and liquidating due to family pressure, or worse circumstances.
They are not into these for the current asking prices. They are into them for far less money, of course. They’re just fishing for bids hoping to land one.
There’s nobody around to buy them anymore. The last batch of buyers were them, when they were in their late 50s, when they had some extra cash and time to go to cruise nights.
So these are suddenly coming to market in droves, with no interested buyers on the other side at anywhere near these prices. They peaked a while ago, and time does not automatically add 10% per year to the value of old cars. That’s where the “investment car” logic (if there is such a thing) of the last two decades failed badly.
Cars like these, looking this good, will probably settle out in the $10K range for a while, at prices that some guys can’t pass up. Which is a good thing for guys who want to own them and run them.
Very true. Truth be told, I’ve never been a big 57 Chevy fan (I’m almost 76), but this car, and other mid 50s mild restomods like this don’t interest me at any price. IMO, the very long term value would be in a 100% correct restoration. I agree that the age range interested in this particular car is dead/near death (!!).
This is better than a brand new car and the fuzzy dice is just what we had in those days .I was 25 years old and a brand new UDT SEAL in those days.
Santa Approved!!
how about the hokey wiring with the butt connectors at the battery. for 70k this car should be as built IMO. lose the dice they went out of style 70 yrs ago.
I agree, the hokey wiring spoils the under hood experience. Yes, this is nice. But, I’m burned out on ’57 Cheys, Trans Ams and Ferraris.
I agree about the ’57 Chevys and TransAms at car shows. I’ll always gravitate to something that you rarely see. A ’57 Chevy in the wild will get my attention, but it’s a walk by at a show. A ’57 Pontiac, Olds, or Ford would get a walk around. Where I live (Buffalo NY) Ferrari’s are not too common, I have to be careful not to drool on any ’60’s or ’70’s Ferrari. Anything before the ’50’s sparks my imagination – they just aren’t coming out to shows anymore.
For me, all original under the hood, please, including the air-cleaner and its decals. Vintage air-conditioning is okay. But I would want the 1957 “spinner” hubcaps and no fender-skirts, please. And the aftermarket stereo would kill it entirely for me. I would restore the original mechanical electric clock (even though it was a cheapie Westclox unit), and I would want the original A.M. radio in perfectly restored condition — nothing aftermarket, stereo or otherwise. But a concealed signal-booster for greater long-distance reception would be okay. This one appears to have the back-up lights, which is good. But it cannot command this price — especially not being “as original”. And LOSE THE FUZZY DICE!!! I’m not the “American Grafitti” type: I like my ’57 Chevys as adults in 1957 drove them, please. The Matador Red would be nicer with a white top.
Lose the fender skirts they look like dodo on a 57
You are both right loose the fuzzy dice and fender skirts.
They weren’t cool when it was new and they still aren’t I am in my eighties and I am dying if I am lying.
To Joe Haska: YOU’re in your eighties, TOO?? (smile). Is our AGE why they no longer play songs such as “Hernando’s Hideaway” or “Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely When I Dream About you)” or “It’s Almost Tomorrow” on the radio anymore, and why whatever they DO play is such hideous noise?
I gave my 57 to my son a few years ago, It was completely renevated , to say the least, back in the late 80’s had 2 57’s , 1 four door, 1 2 door, cut them up to make one similar to this Red one, only white, after a couple of years came up with a pretty sharp car, won a few shows, then it sits, 30 years later it comes back, I only drove it for about 3hrs in all those years, now my son is a lot older, Here son, it’s Yours. Now we are up to date, he has waved his Magic Wand again, and it’s Just Drop Dead Gorgeous, also In my 80s too, but as before like someone once said ——-
The World Always seems Brighter when you just Brought something back to life, that should have been gone long ago, “Thanks Kid”.
Fortunately the dice are just a scissors snip away from fixed. I believe tilt steering column first appeared with the ’63 Riviera.
We restored a 1962 Chevy wagon for a customer with a rebuilt 283 and a fresh power-glide. what a dog. I drove a 283 with a 3 speed on the floor in a 64 Elcamino in high school and thought it was alright. But this package is gutless in a full size car with an automatic. I would never want to put that setup in another car. And why would you with 350’s being so plentiful?
Simple: many people are pleased with a family-type vehicle which gets them to where they are going and can cruise at or just above the legal speed limit on any highway. We don’t need, seek, or want “performance” — for WHAT??? As along as a car will go from 0 to 70 without strain, and can pass slower vehicles safely, I’m not concerned with how many seconds that takes, or how aggressive the acceleration. A 283 has all the power I need (I speak as one who spent many joyful hours behind the wheel of a 1957 Chevrolet four-door Two-Ten station wagon equipped with a 283 2-barrel and Powerglide: ran fine as wine, and took me anyplace I wanted to go. That one was the ubiquitous Matador Red and white (forgot what the white was called). But I would drive it gladly to-day. I also had the rather rare factory air-conditioning package (which didn’t hold up as well as the rest of the car, unfortunately). It was a great car for long trips. But WATCH OUT FOR RUST!