Choosing to part with a classic car can be difficult. The longer you own that car, the harder the choice becomes. Imagine how the owner of this 1957 Bel Air feels. They purchased the vehicle in 1975 before they’d even made it to high school. It has been part of their life for more than four decades, but they feel the time is right for it to find a new home. The Bel Air is listed for sale here on eBay in Janesville, California. Bidding has hit $14,100, although it is yet to reach the reserve.
Determining what paint shade this Bel Air wore when new is difficult because there are multiple colors across various aspects of the vehicle. The only thing that seems certain is that it wasn’t white! The paint looks tired, and when a car has the potential value of this Chevy, stripping the panels to bare metal would be worth the time and effort. For potential buyers, the fact this Bel Air has spent its life in California is great news. There may be a couple of tiny patchable rust holes in the front floor, but nothing requires wholesale steel replacement. Any trim pieces that won’t respond to polish are a restorable prospect while the car rolls on a set of Rally wheels. Most of the glass is respectable, although the door glass on both sides is cracked. When you assess the supplied photos, this Bel Air shows promise as a project build.
The buyer will face decisions when electing how to tackle this interior. The dash is unmolested, housing the original AM radio and clock. Aftermarket additions include extra gauges under the dash, a sports wheel, and a set of vintage racing bucket seats. The seats are pretty cool, although I would probably “lose” those as part of the build. The seller includes the original front and rear seats and most of the hard trim. There are no door trims, but upholstered components are easy to find. If a faithful refurbishment is the buyer’s aim, complete trim kits in the correct colors and materials to match the Tag sell for around $2,000. That would return the inside of this classic to its former glory and be worth the expense, considering its potential value.
The seller doesn’t indicate what drivetrain combination this Bel Air featured when they purchased it, but its engine bay now houses a 327ci V8. Backing the V8 is a four-speed manual transmission, while there is no power assistance for the steering or brakes. The specifications of the 327 are unclear, so gauging its performance potential is impossible. However, the car is in sound mechanical health. The listing indicates the owner hits the road occasionally and doesn’t mention any mechanical issues. That suggests the buyer might be able to enjoy this classic immediately while they contemplate the build process and what they wish to achieve.
I’ve discussed in previous articles how the 1957 Bel Air has remained an integral part of the classic scene for decades, and it is easy to see why. If you look at all of the cars to roll off American production lines during the 1950s, the ’57 is one of the best looking. The company combined aggression and elegance in a package offering excellent performance potential. While many owners during the 1970s and 1980s modified these classics, a growing number today opt for the preservation route. This car can never be numbers-matching, but returning it to factory specifications as part of a faithful refurbishment is a possible path the buyer might follow. Would that be your preference, or would you opt for something entirely different?
I say take what you’ve got and refresh it. May not be numbers matching but it’s modifications are part of it’s long history. Besides, that 327 ought to up the fun factor of the car.
This is a car that should remain just about as is. The best part of this vehicle is it’s not finished or hacked up. A 327 with a 3 or 4 speed is where its at. Who needs a LS with Tremec 5 or 6 speed!
I prefer post ,but I like this hot rod hard top.
That’s a nice looking project. My cousin bought the 57 that I have from the original owner in 1963 in LA. My Dad bought it in 1978, drove it to PA, and traded it to me for cash and my low mile original 62 Impala. I don’t think there are a lot of people with one that they’ve had longer than I’ve had mine, but this guy would have me beat . . . . except unfortunately he’s selling his. Somebody’s going to get a really nice project.
I have two pieces of advice for the seller and/or buyer. The one piece front bumper is a California only item. It’s a big deal and worth a lot of money. If somebody ever sends it to a plater, make sure that whoever gets it understands that THAT bumper is valuable and it needs to come back, or really bad stuff will happen. Average platers lose or confuse bumpers and replace them whatever they have laying around. I use Paul’s from Evans City PA, they aren’t cheap but their work is world class and they never lose anything.
The other thing is the original front seat for a 55/57 2 door is now expensive; the hot rodders threw them away in the 1960’s and put in bucket seats. Now if you want to restore one, the going price for a 2 door bench seat is $500 to $700 (Gulp), and it’s expensive to ship.
The 327/4 speed drivetrain in this one doesn’t bother me, the 283 in my 57 was exploded by one of my cousins in the early 1970’s. Mine has a DZ block 302 Camaro motor in it, so I can’t say anything bad about this one except I wouldn’t have cut the hole in the floorboards for the shifter. Mine runs a TH-350 with a high stall converter because I have an extra Muncie but haven’t cut or drilled a hole in the car since I got it in 1978.
Great suggestions and advise. I do think though, that its perfectly acceptable to cut a hole in the floor for a 4 speed. A 57 Chevy does not have to be “”numbers matching or how it was built” . These cars have such a history as hot rods that you can do what you want. I totally agree on keeping a sbc , bench seat and that 1 piece bumper Your 57 sounds awesome and that 302 is sweet.
I’d give that 327 a chestier cam to produce the kind of horsepower they are known for. I’d find a more plush and comfortable set of bucket seats and pad and re-upholster the back seat to match the buckets in the front. I’d sand the body down to bare metal and re-paint. I’d put all the re-chromed or re-polished brightwork back on it and drive that beautiful car everywhere I wanted to go. Accompanied no doubt with many a thumbs up!