Make: | Chevrolet |
Model: | Bel Air/150/210 |
SubModel: | Resto-Mod |
Type: | Other |
Doors: | 2 |
Year: | 1957 |
Mileage: | 5,680 |
VIN: | VC57K107527 |
Color: | Red |
Engine: | 383 Stroker V8 |
Transmission: | Manual |
Interior color: | Black |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Local pick-up only |
All 1957 Chevys are alike, right? Wrong! This gorgeous Bel Air breaks every stereotype and delivers a fresh look at an old friend. All the things you love are still there, now wrapped in a flaming Torch Red package with lots of horsepower, lots of leather, and lots of attitude.To get an idea of how extraordinary this car is, note that this was already a high-quality car before the build even started. The car was disassembled and the body was media blasted so they could start the rebuild from bare steel. A full restoration ensued, with every square inch of bodywork being treated to the best of everything and finishing with that amazing PPG two-stage Torch Red paint. It's a multi-stage paint that must have something radioactive in it, because it seems to glow when the light hits it just right. It's all original sheetmetal save for two small patches, but you'll never find them and it hardly matters at this point; the car is just spectacular! At the same time the body was being restored, every piece of stainless and chrome trim was either re-restored or replaced with a perfect part, then reinstalled on the freshly painted bodywork. If there's a Bel Air out there with brighter, straighter, shinier chrome, we've never seen it. A lot of planning and coordination obviously went into the interior, which is anchored by a 1967 Cadillac Eldorado front bench seat wrapped in Berkline custom "sitting" leather that's soft enough to feel like cheating on your spouse. There's a custom center console with courtesy lights and the Hurst 5-speed shifter, as well as a pair of A/C vents that are subtle. Classic Instruments gauges were stuffed into the original gauge pods, and it carries such niceties as A/C, power windows, and a powerful Sony AM/FM/CD stereo with six Boston Acoustics speakers, two Sony Explod subwoofers, and a 1200 watt amplifier. The beautiful tilt column and two-tone wheel were beautifully integrated into the stock dash and custom floor mats are a nice touch. Even the trunk got the full treatment with artfully stitched side panels, a custom speaker enclosure, a trick spare tire cover, and more high-quality carpets that match those found inside.While the body was getting its makeover, the chassis was also stripped bare and thoroughly re-engineered. Power comes from a 383 cubic inch V8 crate motor that generates enough power to make this Bel Air a blast on the street. Based on a 4-bolt main block, it runs a 10.3:1 compression ratio, a custom stroker crank, TRW pistons, and Edelbrock aluminum heads. Up top, the intake duties are handled by a Carter 4-barrel carb and an Edelbrock intake manifold and the headers are ceramic-coated Hookers. Plenty of billet and chrome ensures that it's properly dressed for its job in this '57, including those beautiful one-off valve covers. It's linked to a Tremec 5-speed manual transmission, so it's a blast on the streets and it's hooked up using a Centerforce clutch and 12-bolt rear end with 3.55 gears inside. The entire frame was refinished and the black painted floors are the perfect background for the lowered Global West Stage IV suspension and beautifully crafted exhaust system with custom outlets under the rear bumper. 4-wheel Wilwood disc brakes are more than adequate for the performance and they live inside a set of chrome Torque Thrust wheels and fresh Dunlop performance radials.The list of upgrades and receipts is fairly extensive, so if the desire to own an extraordinary '57 Chevy has hit you, this Bel Air is the only way to cure that itch. Call today!