1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop While Ford actually sold more full sized cars for the 1957 model year than Chevrolet, the more than 700,000 Bel Airs built during that time confirm its popularity. In fact, Chevrolet sold more than 1.5 million A body cars for 1957 when you include the 150 and 210 models. The '55 and '56 models had developed a reputation for reliability and, when needed, simple and cheap repair. This carried through into 1957. Trustauto.com For consignment, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-door hardtop with a title verified 67,451 actual miles. This garage kept beauty isn't the first '57 we've represented here at the mall. In fact, we've seen more than 50, but this is the first one dressed in teal paint! Exterior Two stage paint and lots of chrome make for a classic ride just dripping with luster and this Dark Teal Blue Metallic takes to the polished trim like a fish to water, and it's the right shade to contrast ideally with the metal parts of the car that include the chrome grille and bumpers, 15-inch Cragar SS wheels, the headlight bezels, the side spear, rocker trim, and the stylistic window trim that end with an expanding width on the C-pillar. Speaking of widths that expand, you can't overlook the legendary wedge trim on the tail, perhaps the single most iconic accoutrement ever added to a car. It makes the car what it is along with chrome framed fins, gold badging, and torpedo-shaped hood ornaments embedded in the stamped steel. Overall, paint and body are very nice with imperfections noted as small inclusions in the paint, a bubbling rust spot on the latch panel, occasional chips throughout, scratches in some upper trim, and bubbling on a door. Interior Black vinyl door panels show vertical tuck and roll pleats all the way across and both doors present nicely. Black vinyl buckets live up front and other than some looseness, also show in good shape. A more modern sport steering wheel fronts a dash that combines old and new with the factory instrument cluster augmented by a tachometer to the left of the column and a triple gauge pod to the right and under the dash. The radio has been updated too and is an AM/FM/Cassette unit with Bluetooth and the complex array of shapes, materials and trim conclude with a clock in the front of the passenger under a black painted dash pad. A T-handle Hurst shifter lives on the transmission tunnel above black loop carpet and Chevrolet Heartbeat branded rubber mats. The rear bench, headliner, and trunk all present in excellent condition. Drivetrain A good looking engine resides in the bay, our consignor states it has 400 cubic inches and we confirm it wears an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor over a Weiand intake manifold. It's backed by a mid 60's Muncie M20 4-speed manual that routes power to the rear axle and 3.55 gears. Headers and power brakes are on board. Undercarriage Solid structure is found underneath as well as a driveshaft loop to keep that rod in check while dual exhaust flow through Warlock mufflers then curve diagonally to exit in front of each rear wheel, hot rod style. Power disc brakes are up front and power drums are in back and suspension consists of coil springs and leaf springs with traction bars, front and rear respectively. We note some rough surfaces under the door that have been painted over. Drive-Ability A press of the gas, a turn of the key, and the V8 comes to life without issue and emits a sweet exhaust note as we roll this teal classic onto the tarmac for testing. It performs well with good power, straight tracking on tires that are a bit dated, and stops on demand. We note the wipers, reverse lights, and radio do not work but all other functions, including the array of gauges, still do. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase. This is a well sorted runner in a unique color an