Beautiful body-off restoration in original colors. Correct Power Pack V8 with PowerGlide automatic. Power top, power steering, power brakes. Nicely detailed engine and chassis. A gorgeous 57 Bel Air ragtop thats ready to enjoy.
If youre going to own a 1957 Chevy, it may as well be a top-of-the-line Bel Air convertible. And as long as youre doing top-of-the-line, how about a stunning 50s pastel color combination? Better yet code 799 Tropical Turquoise over code 680 Ivory and Turquoise vinyl is the cars original combination, so it hasnt been re-made to be someone elses idea of greatness, it was great from the very beginning. Thanks to a frame-off, rotisserie restoration that was completed in a few years ago, this Chevy is in fantastic condition. The lovely turquoise paint is wonderfully deep and bright, with no distortions in the final finish, a result that only comes from a professional color sand and buff, and the gaps are very good throughout the car. All the original Bel Air trim was either restored or replaced, with one or two exceptions that show just a bit of age-notable only because of how nice everything else is. The big anodized billboards on the quarters are excellent, the gold grille and Chevrolet emblems are vivid, and the massive bumpers show better chrome than they were putting on the cars in 1957. The car has been driven and enjoyed since it was finished (which was the whole point of the restoration) but it remains in very, very good condition overall. And its kind of nice to see a 57 Chevy convertible that isnt over-dressed with accessories-this one is just clean and as the designers intended.
As I mentioned, the code 680 Ivory and Turquoise vinyl interior is also how this car was originally ordered, and it has been exactly reproduced for this ragtop. The 57 Chevy interiors were arguably the most artistic of all of GMs offerings in 1957, with a blend of colors and textures that led the industry. The interior remains in like-new condition with hardly any signs of use beyond some extremely minor stretching of the lower cushion upholstery. Matching door panels are as dramatic as the exterior trim and the big steering wheel with horn ring is so iconic that there are billet reproductions made for hot rods. Simple gauges are all fully operational and theyve thankfully chosen not to add extra dials on or under the dash, so it looks clean and OEM. The bright trim is excellent, the steering wheel is beautifully restored, and when you settle in behind the wheel, its hard not to feel like a million bucks. The only notable deviations from stock are a set of seat belts and the digital AM/FM radio slotted into the dash, but if youre doing it right, the radio wont be an issue-this car is about the drive! Overhead, theres a crisp white power convertible top that folds easily and stows under a contrast white boot and the trunk is correctly finished with a rubber mat, full-sized spare tire, and a correct jack assembly with instruction card.
While they built plenty of 6-cylinder 1957 Chevrolets, this wasnt one of them. Under the hood, youll find a correct 283 cubic inch V8 with the 4-barrel/dual exhaust "Power Pack" option, including the correct heads. Chevy wasnt doing "matching numbers" in the traditional sense, but this is the right motor for this car and it was fully rebuilt when the car was restored a few years ago. Turn the key and it fires easily and idles well, and youll be surprised by the performance if delivers on the open road. Obviously it was fully detailed before it was dropped back into the glossy black engine bay, with correct stamped valve covers with "Chevrolet" script, a heavy-duty air cleaner, and, of course, Chevy Orange paint. Little things like the GM-stamped hoses and correct wire clamps, a reproduction battery topper, and proper Delco generator help with the very authentic look. Under the big air cleaner theres a correct Carter WCFB 4-barrel carburetor and a new wiring harness ensures reliability. In fact, just about everything under the hood is new and it presents zero issues for the new owner who wants to drive his 57 Chevy, because thats exactly what this car was restored to do. The 2-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission shifts properly and should be virtually indestructible and with 3.23 gears in the rear end, its a comfortable highway cruiser thatll go anywhere without complaint. The floors show correct red oxide primer and just the right amount of overspray, while the front end was fully rebuilt with new bushings, tie rods, and ball joints. A reproduction exhaust system gives it a nice V8 burble and youll note it even has correct spiral shocks, a nice detail. It sits on correct 14-inch steel wheels with spinner hubcaps, as well as a set of authentic-looking 7.50-14 Goodyear wide whites that are just about ideal for a car like this.
We know there are a lot of 57 Chevys out there, but you will not find many restored to this level with this attention to detail. Its fully sorted and built to drive, which is really what you should be doing with any vintage car. Few will attract the attention of this 57 and almost everyone who sees it will not only have a great memory, but theyll envy the person behind the wheel. This is a flat-out awesome car. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
