The ’57 Chevy was never sold in Australia but even allowing for the fact that I am an Australian and by admission a Ford man, I look at them and completely understand their popularity. They are a nice looking car. This 1957 Chevrolet Convertible is for sale here on eBay. It is located in Burlington, New Jersey, and comes with a clear title. Bidding is currently sitting at $30,099. The big question is: How much higher will it go?
This 61 year old Chevy has a lot to commend it. Firstly it is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I think that this may be part of what makes it so attractive. There is little rot or rust to have to deal with at this stage. There are a couple of small holes in the trunk that I would probably deal with before they became bigger issues. There are also a couple of small holes in that convertible top that I would see to before they have the chance to allow moisture into the car that could inflict damage to the floor pans. The external panels and paint are showing some signs of age and the occasional ding and I’m not sure but I think that there may be a small patch of rust in the bottom corner of the passenger side door, but other than that it all looks quite promising. This is a car that you could climb into and drive without having to worry about stone-chips, etc. It is a fun car.
The interior has been refurbished and generally presents quite well. I am a bit surprised that the seats sport new covers, but that some of the padding looks like it might be lacking. This gives those covers an ill-fitting look. I suspect that it would also have an impact on comfort, and I would probably be inclined to address that over Winter so that I could enjoy the car next Summer. This is also true of some of the trim in the rear passenger area. Otherwise everything from the carpet through to the door cards and dash looks good.
Under the hood rests a V8 engine backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. The seller doesn’t indicate what capacity the engine is and I’m not willing to make that call because I am slightly unsure, so I’m hoping that one of the aficionados among our Barn Finds readers will be able to provide a definitive answer. The seller states that he believes that the engine is the original (which would make it the 283), but that it has been rebuilt to run on unleaded. What I will say is that it does look quite clean and tidy under here. It’s really interesting to open the hood on one of these older cars and then do the same with a new car. These engine bays were so uncluttered and uncomplicated. I went to change a headlight bulb in my wife’s car the other day and had to remove a pile of plastic shrouding and the battery to do it. Bring back the old days I say!
As I said right at the beginning, I am a Ford man. That doesn’t mean that I don’t like this Chevy. I really do like it and would park it in my driveway any day. I like the style of the car. I like the uncomplicated mechanical layout of it. I love the fact that it is a convertible. I really like the fact that I could climb into it right now and enjoy it without worrying about minor chips and scrapes. Sadly the price is already out of the reach of my wallet, but it will be interesting to see just how high the price will go.
like lipstick on a pig.
says it needs a paint job, heck it’s already had one. see overspray on door striker and on engine parts.
panel alignment is not great, esp at bottom of doors. ppi is a necessity and bring a magnet, i would wager there’s a bit of bondo on this one.
yeah somebody redid it…looks like whoever is reselling it has no clue. Seats look like covers as they are so ill fitting. That said…….where else you gonna get a basically solid ( he says not knowing for sure) 57 convertible that doesnt look like if you touch it you’ll turn to stone?
redwagon is correct.
Is it me or does the car have an arch front to back? The rusty/pitted steering wheel, shifter, and turn signal chrome suggests it’s been wet inside. Definitely put it on a lift before you buy it.
It does seem to be a bit humped. Corners of the doors don’t look right either. But it’s shiney!
If it is in New Jersey, why does it have California plates with no tags on them?
It always bothers me when somebody doesn’t know how to mount a plate on a car.
Any speed bump is going to rip off that front plate.
What the others have already said, and if that V on the back is the original, then it’s a 265 under the hood.
Actually, Beatnik, it would be a 283; 1957 was the year it was introduced. 265 was ‘55 and ‘56.
See ruxvette’s comments re the availability of the 265 in ’57.
The silver V was used to designate the 265-equipped cars and the gold V on the ones with the 283 installed. I was very much around back in 1957 (Heck, my parents even took my brother and me to ‘E-Day’ at our local Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln dealer).
I sure won’t argue with you. I was around in ‘57 myself but probably not old enough to know the technical details. I always understood the color of the V was a trim detail. According to the information I got the 265 was still available in light trucks in the early production schedule. Anyway, thank you for pointing that out. A person can always learn more…
Beatnik, I believe the 265 ci was 11956 only. 57 should have a283 I think?
My in laws had a”57 Bel Aire with the 265. If this is a stock ’57 283 cu it is a 220 HP Power Pac. PP was 4V with dual exhaust. My friend had this exact car in a hard top.
265 was ’57, too. The Chevrolet script is missing from above the trunk “V” and isn’t all that supposed to be gold on the Bel Air?
Not to be picky …….flipper comment “three on stick” on eBay comments..
But…it’s “three on a tree” or “column shift”
But stick shift is floor shift.
1957 Chevrolet has 283 available as a engine as well as 265 v8s
I love the car !!!
Any truth to the story that the 265’s were yellow rather than orange like the 283’s?
Yes, those seats and door handles look lousy. Untalented seamstress.
Silver V indicates 210 series, V8 irrespective of cubic capacity, gold V indicates Belair V8.
It has trunk floor and side walls from a sedan, and was built in Flint Mi. So it was probably totally rusted out. Someone is going to be disappointed in this one.
Black Magic, How can you tell that the trunk floors and side walls are from a sedan and not a convertible?
This model just never gets old.
“Firstly”?!?!?
I’m always curious as to the reasons behind how people chose to option out the car or truck they bought new. So the original owner of this Chevy bought the top-of-the-line Bel Air convertible, but ordered the car with only 2 options: Radio & Heater. No Powerglide, no power steering or power brakes, & 265 V8.
Perhaps the dealer ordered it this way, so they could advertise a Bel Air convertible for as low as $2,600.00 MSRP.
I remember the local Chrysler Plymouth dealer advertising a 1967 Chrysler 300 4-door hardtop for under $2,900.00. It had a 3-speed column shift, no P/S or P/B, no radio, & no heater in an region where cars needed a heater!
57 Chevs were available in Australia from the Holden dealer, six cylinder, right hand drive and four door sedan only.
Is this the 57 Chevy from the movie “Eddie and The Cruisers “?
She’s a beaut Clarke! Sorry, ive always wanted to say that.
The 265 & 283 had different exhaust manifolds. I think these are the 265
Wow! Way more than I would have paid. Oh well. Ended: Aug 19, 2018 , 10:45PM
Winning bid:US $39,000.00
[ 62 bids ]
That bidder who won on August 19,didn’t go thru with the 39000 so the owner put the car back on ebay and some other bidder won in September for 30000.Just to let everyone know.