The phenomenon that later became known as the Tri-Five craze wrapped up near the end of 1957, but not before producing three years of memorable Chevys, all of which remain sought-after commodities in collector circles to this day. The desirability of this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air here on Facebook Marketplace is twofold, as it’s the most upscale model available, and this one is also a convertible. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this cool ’57 is said to have been stored for more than 30 years, and we’d like to thank reader Zappenduster for finding it and providing the tip here! This one’s not a cheap example, with the seller hoping to pocket $55,000 from the sale.
Besides the seller pulling this Chevy out of a storage period that lasted more than three decades, we don’t get any other details about the car’s history, other than the current owner possesses the original purchase order dated 1957. Although the photo shown from the hibernation stage shows a bit of soot built up on the exterior, the finish cleaned up nicely, though the paint itself is described as old and worn. Fortunately, the panels appear reasonably solid for the most part, as the ad states, so the body likely wouldn’t require extensive work to prepare for a respray.
For 1957, the entry-level engine here was an inline-6, with the V8 topping out at 283 cubic inches. It’s not disclosed which one this Bel Air started with, but under the hood now is a 327, which the owner says has just recently been set in the bay. He mentions that it still needs to be hooked up, but that’s literally the extent of the information provided, with the source and other details remaining a mystery. Hopefully, the internals have either been rebuilt or were in fine order to begin with, and just adding the finishing touches will be all that’s necessary before this small block is ready to perform.
No information about the interior is provided, but a trio of photos suggests that most components inside remain in good condition and are probably adequate if you’re just seeking a decent driver. This one sounds like it offers mostly positives, with the biggest negative likely being that the cost might be a bit prohibitive for attracting multiple prospective buyers to a non-running car. What are your thoughts on this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air ragtop, and its asking price of $55k?
Hmmm, nasty looking engine bay with obviously a non-running, not original mill…needs a repaint…things like L sill plate MIA…asking for Lots-O-Moolah for this one…
As the saying goes, it’s worth exactly what someone is willing to pay. In this case, not as much as the seller thinks what someone is willing to pay.