Finding a solid and unmolested ’57 Chevrolet has become only more difficult as time marches on. Although this 2 door hardtop looks to be quite a promising project that could be assembled and enjoyed in its current state, or you could finish the restoration to make the ’57 of your dreams. Either way you cut it, this Chevrolet is a great start. With a couple of days remaining in the auction, bidding has risen to $5,900 with the reserve not yet met. Check it out here on eBay out of Gilman, Vermont.
After 25 years of storage, this engine compartment is mighty clean. The previous owner was a “body man” so if you look closely you can see some over spray on some of the electrical wires in the engine bay. The current drive-train is a 283 V8 paired with a 3 speed manual transmission. According the previous owner the engine has been rebuilt, but the engine is not currently in running condition. The seller is confident that this engine will be a runner with some time and elbow grease. The frame has been sandblasted and painted, so this stalled restoration has already had a fair amount of effort put into it.
More of a “catch all”, the interior needs to be reassembled and sorted. The headliner is ripped and hanging from the roof, and the dash looks fair from what can be seen in the photos. It is unclear how complete the interior may be, and what the seller may have.
With any old car rust is always a concern, and with being a Vermont based car it can really send your mind wandering. The previous owner was a body man, and the current seller mentions that there are a few patches on the car, but it would seem the patch work is limited to the floors. If that is the case, then this ’57 is an excellent find, and a great project to take on. With much of the glass and trim included, it looks like you would be left with finding interior components, perhaps some trim, a few mechanical parts, and possibly a fresh paint job. With as many of these cars that were chopped, cut, hot rodded, and modified, this car in particular is a sweet find in its current state. What do you think this ’57 Chevy will sell for?
Could be a good start for someone. Thing is, it just doesn’t quite look right to me. I don’t know if they tried to lower the rear or there’s been some mods to the rear fenders but just isn’t quite there IMO.
Looks like the fins have been lowered…thought it was a Dodge at first…
Nawwwwww…they tried to make a 55/56 Plymouth out of it. But at least there are no red hoses in the engine bay.
Now if a person could get a Rochester unit and bump the powerplant a bit…
Headlight area of the front fenders doesn’t look right to me, either.
The next owner is going to end up with someone’s incomplete Kustom Kar.
My worst fear is getting the rusted out ‘eyebrow’ replacements to look right. My first attempt at welding in the patches looked like Daffy Duck’s bill had been pasted onto the fenders.
I think it looks that way because we always see 57 Chev’s with either the shorter or full-quarter-length chrome sitting on top. It’s pretty substantial and we never see these cars without it.
Old springs and/or parts stored in the trunk might cause the rear to sag.
The rear fins have definitely been modified. It looks way off. Looks like a very bad attempt to a 1980’s cusom. I would stay away.
Fins look just fine. It just looks different when there is no trim or 150 trim on the car. headlight area is stock looking as well. Stop attacking a car and thinking you are an expert.
Yep,lot of “experts” on here.
Not seeing it. Looks like a stock 150/210 to me. I’m pretty familiar with these, being a ’57 model myself.
This is a stock 57 hardtop, no “fin work, no head light bucket work ”
RayT and MH…..try sticking to what you know,not sure what that is but its certainly not 55-57 Chevrolets. Sorry
Im an not an expert on anything. Im sorry i have upset you all. I will never post anything again. Again im sorry.
@MH. Don’t concern yourself too much with other peoples comments. NONE of us are perfect and I must say that my first reaction was that there was something not quite right about the rear fins, but stand corrected. It’s all a learning curve, so no apologies necessary.
@MH Dont worry about these people…..I have notice over half are always negative or have something negative towards others comments. I absolutely love 57’s and I first thought the fins looked off.
MH, no need to leave and not post. Some of these folks have VERY extensive knowledge of specific vehicles. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
As a youngster, I used to Hang out in a garage populated with dirt track racers and hot rod guys. They would gather around the stove on winter afternoons and “bench race”. Boy did I learn a lot.
“ Hey Kid, run down to the general store and get a loaf of bread, mustard and baloney” sometimes they even gave me $ but I sure gained a lot of knowledge.
Tim, your fIrst sentence was perfect. Your next sentence was designed to denigrate these folks. Not cool.
@MH. Don’t concern yourself too much with other peoples comments. NONE of us are perfect and I must say that my first reaction was that there was something not quite right about the rear fins, but stand corrected. It’s all a learning curve so no apologies necessary.
Sometimes us old codgers forget that not everyone grew up with these cars. Don’t hesitate to post, keeps things interesting!
Please stop apologizing…please stop accepting apologies…please stop all the political correctness crap. Thanks.
MH and RayT, My advice would be to not post strong decisive derogatory remarks about a vehicle that you are not particularly familiar with. If you would have instead perhaps asked the community if these areas of the cars look off to anybody else, then perhaps people who are more familiar can offer informed opinions and feedback.
It’s easy to believe the quarters, (not fenders) have been altered when the trim is not present. It’s quite the optical illusion. Take a look at some 57 pics and the top of the fins almost appear curved or going up somewhat.
Exactly. How many posted pics on other sites ‘shrink’ the appearance? That’s the only thing all of us have to go by. My phone distorts pics worse than my yo’ pad.
Our ’56 Belvedere looks the same line-wise with or without the trim. The ’55 Dodge does not.
My dad had a 56 bel air hardtop. I thought 150/210 were only sedans?
When I first looked at the first photo I also thought it was a Dodge. It looks like the trim holes were filled in and does nothing for the appearance. I do not want Tim to get on my case but is this a Belair or 210? As I recall GM offered a 210 dr. HT. along with the Belair but was not near as popular and fairly rare today. If I remember correctly the 210 used the same windshield and back window as the sedans where the Belair’s was shorter that gave it a more of a streamlined look.
Look closer, you can see the holes for the BelAir style trim are still there.
The 210 2-door hardtop (no post) used the same body, top, and side trim holes as the Bel Air.
The 210 used the short fin-top trim, no gold insert on the rear side trim, and no trim on the front fender louver indents, and silver rather than gold grille.
My dads 1st new car, and what I used to get my D/L.
In 1970 I bought a really cherry & well optioned 1955 Bel Air 2 dr.ht. It was a 265 4bbl, 3spd with overdrive, tissue dispenser, rear seat speaker, finger nail guards, gas door guard, traffic light viewer. Power steering. & brakes. It was 2 tone green with a matching interior. It ran extremely well except for the cloud of blue smoke when it drove down the road.
The body was rust & rot free except for the eyebrow rot on the r/s fender. Started accumulating parts to hot rod it. 350/350 Vette motor with the matching Muncie 4 speed. A new fender, etc.etc. Before I could start working on it a friend pestered the hell outa me to sell it to him, When the bid got to $1500 more then I paid for it minus all my accumulated parts I sold it to him.
He fixed the rotten eyebrow with screen and concrete . Swapped in a power Pac 283 and was happy as a bird picking at a manure pile. I wish I woulda kept it and built it my way.
Concrete?!
These ‘57’s look good in any condition! Wish I had my Nomad back.
Own a 1956 Fury and take offense….just kidding….the 57 Chevy were close and had better looking tail treatment I must add.
Wow that woke the boys up. No matter how you cut it it’s a 57 Chev HT. The value is what someone thinks is fair to him for what ever he wants to do with it. This is why I follow BF . Makes my Day.
1957 Brochure https://www.myclassicgarage.com/knowledge-base/1957-Chevrolet-Bel-Air