Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/eBay seller roket425
The Bel Air was already a superstar in the '50s, but it's not a secret Ford was the king of the automotive castle in the United States.
The Bel Air, and the plethora of celebrities driving and owning it, just couldn't bring Chevrolet back on the table. This is how the Impala came to be, and once again, the Bel Air was responsible for all of it.
Impala debuted as a Bel Air version in 1958, eventually gaining series status a year later. It was the moment when the Bel Air also became a second-class citizen of Chevy's lineup.
Before the Impala, the Bel Air was the icing of the Chevrolet cake. And this 1957 convertible struggles to remind everybody about it despite a rough shape caused by a long tenure in storage.
The car was last registered in 1973, so it's safe to assume it hasn't seen the road in approximately 50 years. That's a lot, so the convertible comes with the typical metal problems, including occasion rust. However, it's far from becoming a rust bucket, which sets it apart from the rest of the Bel Airs currently looking for a new owner. A 1957 Bel Air, still unrestored and with minor rust issues, is rare, and I don't expect this convertible to remain available for too long.
Another major selling point is how original the car remains after 66 years. The owner says the vehicle has already received some changes, including the shifter moved from the column to the floor and dual exhausts, but all of them were performed by the original owner at some point during the '60s. The car was recently purchased from the 78-year-old man who had owned it for decades.
The engine under the hood is likely to be a correct 283 (though it's unclear if it's also the original unit) that came with the car when it left the factory. eBay seller roket425 claims it's free, though nobody knows if it starts. "I have not tried to start it yet," the seller says, so you'll have to figure this out on your own as part of a life inspection.
It's not hard to determine that this Bel Air requires a full restoration, so it comes with problems that aren't at all surprising for a vehicle so old. However, it comes with so many original parts that it's hard to find a similar restoration candidate elsewhere – for example, you still get the factory space, jack, and wheel covers.
The battle for this Bel Air could become fierce once the listing gets enough exposure. The owner is ready to let the car go for $25,000, but the Make Offer button has also been enabled, so contact them to discuss additional if you want to save this convertible.
Impala debuted as a Bel Air version in 1958, eventually gaining series status a year later. It was the moment when the Bel Air also became a second-class citizen of Chevy's lineup.
Before the Impala, the Bel Air was the icing of the Chevrolet cake. And this 1957 convertible struggles to remind everybody about it despite a rough shape caused by a long tenure in storage.
The car was last registered in 1973, so it's safe to assume it hasn't seen the road in approximately 50 years. That's a lot, so the convertible comes with the typical metal problems, including occasion rust. However, it's far from becoming a rust bucket, which sets it apart from the rest of the Bel Airs currently looking for a new owner. A 1957 Bel Air, still unrestored and with minor rust issues, is rare, and I don't expect this convertible to remain available for too long.
Another major selling point is how original the car remains after 66 years. The owner says the vehicle has already received some changes, including the shifter moved from the column to the floor and dual exhausts, but all of them were performed by the original owner at some point during the '60s. The car was recently purchased from the 78-year-old man who had owned it for decades.
The engine under the hood is likely to be a correct 283 (though it's unclear if it's also the original unit) that came with the car when it left the factory. eBay seller roket425 claims it's free, though nobody knows if it starts. "I have not tried to start it yet," the seller says, so you'll have to figure this out on your own as part of a life inspection.
It's not hard to determine that this Bel Air requires a full restoration, so it comes with problems that aren't at all surprising for a vehicle so old. However, it comes with so many original parts that it's hard to find a similar restoration candidate elsewhere – for example, you still get the factory space, jack, and wheel covers.
The battle for this Bel Air could become fierce once the listing gets enough exposure. The owner is ready to let the car go for $25,000, but the Make Offer button has also been enabled, so contact them to discuss additional if you want to save this convertible.
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