The Tri-Five Chevrolets of 1955-57 took the industry by storm selling just shy of five million cars in three years. They were both stylish and powerful, which has created continuous consumer interest over the past 65 years. This ’57 Bel Air sedan, one of the marque’s biggest sellers, looks to have been off the road for a while. Originally from Texas, it may have been in Front Royal, Virginia for the past decade. It looks like a solid restoration project, although its 283 V8 isn’t currently under the hood. The Bel Air is available here on eBay where the no reserve bidding has reached $7,000.
Chevy built more than 1.5 million cars in 1957 and nearly 265,000 were Bel Air 4-door sedans, the premium family model that year. There was no better way to “see the USA” except in a Chevrolet, or at least that’s how it seemed. From the twin rockets as hood ornaments to the pointed fins in the rear, the ’57 Chevy has arguably become the most popular of the three model years that made up the Tri Fives. This car looks pretty solid overall with no major rust issues sticking out, but the color of the car is confusing. The listing says it’s original except for the driver’s front fender, but it looks to be the same light blue the passenger side of the car looks like. But on the driver’s side from the doors back, it looks green. Either way, the top is white.
People like the bring up the subject of patina as often as they can, but on this car, it just looks like surface rust, and a new coat of paint is needed. Not all the chrome trim is present and there is no mention if it has survived and will come with the car. The interior is complete but will need refurbishing in all the usual ways, i.e., upholstery, carpeting, and headliner. The odometer reading is said to be 88,000 miles and the general condition of the car suggests that could be accurate.
This Chevy was powered by a 283 V8 which was a bigger version of the 265 and in its first year in 1957. It was pulled out at some point and rebuilt but never put back in. The motor and its Powerglide automatic will come with the car when it changes hands. These cars are known to trade for as much as $50,000 in stellar condition, but that universe typically applies to hardtops and convertibles. By the time you restored this car, you’d probably have that much invested in the Bel Air, making for a nice weekend car to book around in.
Kinda pricey for a worn out sedan with no motor. Pass.
The write up in this site states bidding has reached $7,000, that’s incorrect. The starting bid, which so far has no takers, is $7,000. I doubt it will get any. The car is too rough and uninspiring. Potential buyers, that want a 4 door can and will do better, if they put in the effort to find a better car.
Steve R
I’ll agree with you Steve R on the price; $7,000 is a lot of money for the condition it’s in. Restoration costs on this one will be high, even if you do most of the work yourself. The re-built 283 is a plus but body work, paint, interior, chrome/trim restoration and freshening up the mechanicals will go through your wallet like Grant through Richmond. I had a ’57 210 four door sedan with the 283, Powerglide and power steering and it was a wonderful car that I did enjoy. It got a lot of attention at locals shows, mostly because it was a 4-door. You just don’t see too many of them. I wish the seller luck but I think he may be disappointed considering the ask.
Agree with Steve. The price of 4 doors is on the rise, but only for premium conditions or really nice original cars. It seems new buyers want to own and drive them, but don’t have the time or skills to do the work themselves. Rising prices are not translating to a car like this pedestrian sedan, which is twice was high as it should be.
Amazing a four door tri five anything in this condition the seller has the stones to ask this much. I get it you can ask anything you want. These were typically worthless. I know a guy that has 7 in his field. May need to revisit.
Generally those that have them now can’t afford a two door hardtop or simply get them cheap. Many were scrapped and parted to fix up the two doors.
Hard pass @ $7K more like $1200. and that is too much. Give me the Airport car featured a week ago. If I have to have two too many doors may have as many as I can!
Put the engine back in it and drive it until the wheels fall off.
Probably wouldn’t take long.
When I was sixteen in 1963, I passed on a similar car for free at my granddad’s used car lot. I just didn’t think it was good looking as a four door. He had a ’55 Caddy with doors that curved into the roof like an airplane, and a ’55 Lincoln, that both looked very sharp as 4drs, but had engine problems.
When the ’57 Chevy came out, I thought it was ugly, and looked like a narrow, tall car from pre 1957. The neighbors across the street got a new Bel Air in triple black, and then I could understand why many thought they were very sharp.
The weird thing is someone out there will pay way more than they should for this just because its a Tri 5. There was a time when only your great great grandmother would be caught dead in a 4 door like this.
5 million cars in 3 years?There could not have been much going on
in quality control and I will never understand the interest in these cars.
I rode in a new 1956 and the seat was not comfortable and the noise level
from the tires and chassis was to me,UNacceptable.I was driving a 1953 Packard then and there was a big difference.
Big difference in price too.
I drove a ’56 from new to 1968 when it died from the tin worm. They actually drove very well for the time, the 6 was even happy all day at 70 mph, but the 4 door sedan, although very fine for 6 adult passengers, was, to my mind, the worst looking of all there were – in order of ” attractiveness”: Nomad, convertible, 4 door “hardtop”, 2 door hardtop, regular station wagon, 2 door post sedan, and lastly the regular 4 door sedan which as cars go, from the side, was, to me, butt ugly. “You couldn’t give them away” in 1968, but I sold mine for $50 to a guy who took out the 6 and put in a big V8 and raced it as a local “amateur” stock car. The frame was solid, he welded the doors and gutted the interior, took out all the glass except the windshield. A mutual friend told me he had dropped it into a local big river, and I feared someone finding it and the authorities coming after me, since he never registered it.
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’57 Chevy’s keep coming out of the woodwork, like cockroaches, at night. They weren’t even supposed to be made, as the ’58’s were supposed to be ’57’s.
The 18th of March my Granddaughter bought a complete ( some pieces weren’t attached at the time) 57 Bel Aire with 283 and power glide. It’s numbers matching and her and her Dad have done fluids, fuel system, brakes and some upgrades to make it more driveable. This evening they took it on its first cruise in over 20 years and she had the biggest grin on her face!
Not too bad for a girl that hasn’t graduated high school and spent her own $5,500 to buy the car of her dreams.
Good job young lady and we hope you enjoy both the car and your sense of accomplishment in attaining your goal in getting it going again.
For about $9000 you can get a very very nice 4dr all done, this one at 7k is ridiculous
$7000.00 start is crazy. A two door I can see, or a four door hardtop but not a four door sedan. $1000.00-2000.00 maybe. Put the frt fender spears back on it, widened rear wheels, leave the paint as is, stick a hot LS and a five speed in it, some 3:90s or 4:11s in the rearend and blow the Mustangs and Camaros doors off, great sleeper. It would be even better as a 150, like the airport limo the other day.