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. Since it’s been 19 weeks already, not as much as the seller thinks what someone is willing to pay.
55k and doesn’t run? I think the owner came down with Moparitis.
And many that got myocarditis are not here anymore, the demand is now lower !
Nice body to drop on a new frame , engine and suspension and enjoy but the seller will have to cool down
What happened to the chrome work that should be on the bonnet/hood, or is this a modification? If it is a mod. then it doesn’t suit the car at all!
As with both ’57 Chevy’s listed I think the sellers are asking for money of earlier times. The market is much lower today for the quality of both those cars.
I get the impression that reality hasn’t gotten to the seller. I would like some of what he’s smokin’.
The seller is not yet a seller. At this price, he’s probably never going to be a seller until it’s not his decision to sell it. Then it will sell for what the market will pay, which is maybe $10k on a good day.
Indeed, on a really fantastic fabulous most wonderful day of a dAY!!
55K? Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
tap, yeah, exactly.
You gotta come here for the entertainment value of all of this. I think sometimes they select stuff to post that is priced way over the top, just to get the comments going.
This one is ripe. It does provide insight in to the state of mind of the seller, though, they come in several flavors.
You get the “I know what I’ve got” crowd, which means they don’t. These are usually muscle car guys with a worn-out matching-numbers car and think it’s worth six figures.
Then there is the “I watch Mecum and Barrett-Jackson on TV, so I know that the prices for everything are through the roof” crowd. No, they’re not. They only show a sliver of the market on TV. The decent stuff.
Then there’s the guy who’s had the car for 30 years. He actually paid next to nothing, and did a little work and bought a few parts. He’s been counting on getting out at a high price for his retirement nest egg. Otherwise, he’ll keep it. So they test the waters and come up dry.
None of them are ready to sell. They are merely entertaining themselves, and maybe also satisfying the wife that they tried to get rid of the thing.
So you can’t take any of this very seriously when the sellers are in a dream-like state of mind.
So you’re basically buying a roller because they’re no telling when or if that motor last ran.. Nice body n top n that’s a great start but probably worth maybe 20k? Just my opinion folks
You’re still being overly generous. Decent drivers are less than $20k. This car has a non-original motor that doesn’t even run.
Original fuelies in OK shape are *maybe* worth what the seller is asking for this.
Youight find a decent 4 door under $20k.
I think anybody with any sense can see that you can buy a restored one for that much money and turn key drive it. Why would you buy that sloppy mess for that kind of money?
I’ve restored these cars. Why would you go through all at work and pay all that money on top of the purchase price here?
I could see someone wanting to restore it and say, “I did that” just for the joy of it. But not for 55k. No joy in wasting that kinda money and looking foolish afterwards.
Where are you buying a restored 57 convertible for $55k?
It’s all about how you define “restored”, I suppose. A fresh canvas, new seat covers, and a quickie paint job to hide the road rash is not really restored. It’s lipstick and a new dress.
The froth is coming off the tri-Chevies, except for the convertible fuelies in absolute top notch, original or restored-original condition. Those will continue to be investment-grade (if there is such a thing), but they have to check every box to get the six-digit money. Not many cars can do that.
Those cars appeal to the “car investor” mindset and it is now a totally different approach to owning cars. These guys are not some Joe Blow looking to go to a local meetup. They could give a crap about the hobbyist and they avoid most shows except the ones that might add some value to their chess pieces, in the form of exposure and trophies. They really just want to mix it up with other big money boys at big money shows. They’re not going to sit in a lawn chair all day long at the fairgrounds, eating hot dogs and talking BS about whether it’s a 210 or a Bel Air.
It’s a separate market now and very discriminating. These buyers will likely stuff their toys in a private garage or their tax-ploy “car museum”, never to be seen on the road again unless it’s in a trailer. They show them off to their buddies who come over for drinks after a day on the boat. Maybe they tool around the estate a bit just to keep the oil thinned out and the seals wet.
If a car is rough around the edges and missing original parts, then it’s no longer an investment grade car and the investor pool disappears fast. Restoration “headroom value” is just not there with most American iron, as the cost to get there easily outruns the end value, unless it’s your own shop and in-house labor doing the work.
That creates a huge dividing line between “investment grade” and the rest of it, and that gap is getting wider by the day.
The avid fans of 1950s cars are now at least 75 years old, and they (or their estates) are selling what’s in their garage. Maybe they did prop up the prices of the second-tier cars when they were in their 50s, by buying a retirement toy or two, but that is over. If they were smart, they bought stuff that would later become investment grade.
Muscle cars are right now in the middle of that process. Younger boomers flush with retirement cash are still buying toys from their youth. Older boomers aren’t anymore. A select few muscle cars are making big numbers. Again, the piece has to be worthy or it’s a hard pass.
Younger guys who might like the 1950s style usually just want a good looking driver as cheap as possible just to have some fun with it. They know it’s not an investment and they refuse to pay as if it is. Nor are they going to “restore” it.
Nor do they don’t give a rats-butt about matching numbers and this upgrade or that version or trim level. All of that noise is just old gearhead chatter, blah blah blah.
When they guys who care about that kind of trivia stuff fade out, then there’s no one left to assign any value to it. All you have left is “does it look good and does it run well?” as the primary value basis. That pushes prices for even nice examples down into the $20k range, tops. I’d say we’re headed for $10k pretty soon for most decent drivers.
Then the hobby becomes a hobby again, not this false investment game that’s been played for the last 20 years, propped up by matching number paranoia and trim level distinctions that are minor.
Anything more than that baseline number is a hard pass. Buyer’s now can simply wait until some other piece comes along for the price they want to pay.
Older owners are downsizing their property footprint or selling their inventory because the family says it has to go out the door instead of sitting in the garage nesting mice. Estates are liquidating it if it comes to that.
This puts all kind of inventory on the market that must sell quickly. Buyers just have to wait for it to get a sweet deal, since there are a limited number of buyers out there ready to write checks today.
The days of all ships rising with the tide are over. The dividing line is widening in the car hobby. There are investors buying art objects, and then there are hobbyists. The two live in very different worlds and have very different circumstances and really, no longer associate with each other.
Anyone stuck in the middle ground, thinking that all cars are investments and buying and holding mid-priced inventory is going to take a beating going forward. The middle ground is vanishing. There’s no support for it.
55k no way. he needs a visit from marshal lucky to set him straight. he hates high prices
Sounds like one of those “I know what I got “ sellers
Wow, maybe 10k.
If I’m not mistaken, removing the “rockets” from the hood of a ’57 was a pretty popular little bit of “customization” during the ’60s.
As far as this car is concerned, I’m afraid that 55K is a fantasy number with no basis in reality.
This seller needs a ride to the hospital.hes out of his mind.