GENERAL:

The ‘57 looked nothing like the ‘56 or the ‘58 that would follow and that may be why it became a classic...that and the fact that it’s just a damn good-looking beautifully-designed car. Nothing says more about the ‘Fabulous 50s’ than the ‘57 Chevy Bel-Air convertible.

 

Amazingly, Chevrolet produced 1.5 million 1957 model automobiles. As noted above, only 47,652 of those were convertibles. And of those convertibles, only 68 were ordered with fuel-injection. Commonly called ‘fuelies,' this car is one of them.

 

By the fall of 2006, when the 2007 Chevys were hitting showroom floors, the ‘57 Chevy Bel-Air convertible was celebrating its 50th anniversary and racking up values for fully-restored versions of between 25 and 65 times their original cost.

 

THIS CAR:

Added to the collection in the spring of 2007, it was shipped via covered transport from its temporary home in Toronto, Canada to Texas. In addition to the 283ci v-8 with fuel-injection, it is equipped with power steering, power brakes, power top, dual rear antennas, dual external mirrors, spinner wheel covers, fender skirts and a continental kit.

 

A California vehicle originally, it has had a complete rotisserie frame-off restoration and is extremely rare. As such, it’s at the top end of appreciating values for restored ‘57 Chevy Bel Air convertibles.

 

1955 BEL AIR TRIVIA:

 

 

 The 1957 Bel Air came in a variety of trim levels and styles. However, no matter how many doors it had or whether or not it was a sport model, it had the famous fins and front grill. The car sat on a 115-inch wheelbase.

 

The 1957 Chevy Bel Air with the 283 engine went from a standing start to 60 miles per hour in 9.9 seconds and cleared the quarter mile in 17.5 seconds. While slow by today's standards, these times were exceptional in 1957, when rock hard tires, slushy transmissions and overly soft suspensions were the norm.

 

The radio was optional, as were the 10 different interior color combinations and 23 different seat and door trim combinations. The 1957 Bel Air was also the first model that came fully-carpeted.