1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible [beautifully restored] for sale

Honestly, can you really do better than a beautifully restored 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible?

It’s one of the most popular cars ever built and retains its awesome original look, a 283 V8 mated to a smooth-shifting Powerglide automatic, and an upgraded suspension setup that has it primed and ready for the modern road. If you love the ’50s, if you love Americana, there are few cars more iconic than a droptop Tri-5.

Inca Silver is a quintessential color on a Bel Air convertible, and if you’re looking for attention, you won’t be able to escape it whenever you’re behind the wheel of this beauty. Laser-straight bodywork is mandatory on a car of this caliber, so spending the extra time and money to get it right has definitely paid off here. The original sheetmetal lines up better than it did when it was new, the gaps are symmetrical and tight, and if you were to run your fingers atop those sharp fins you might get a papercut. The restoration was finished before 2015 and has been lightly used since, so it still carries a great shine that will sparkle at shows and makes other cars look downright shabby in comparison. It’s not perfect , a couple light chips on the door edges can be seen up close (we had to squint like heck to find them), but if we’re honest there’s really nothing else to complain about. Perfection is in the eye of the subjective beholder, so we’ll play it safe and call it a top driver-quality Bel Air to hedge our bets, but rest assured it’s about as nice as they get, especially at this price point. All the standard Bel Air glitz is there, including the anodized quarter panel trim, polished stainless strips along the tops of the fins, and the brightly chromed bumpers fore and aft that look fantastic when their glistening out in the sunlight. Further bling includes twin hood-mounted ‘rockets’ up front and the dual antennas in the rear, while the Bel Air specific gold grill inserts, fender trim, and Chevrolet Bel Air badging give it that flagship Tri-5 look that reminds onlookers that this is a top-of-the-line classic through and through. It’s about as far from subtle as you’ll find, but that’s really the point, isn’t it? The black convertible top is in great shape, but if you’re like most people, you’ll only be soaking up the sunshine in this Tri-5, in which case the red boot cover will be put to good use.

The interior is equally flashy and fully restored to stock specs, with a fresh look that will make you think twice before you get inside with dirty shoes. Wide bench seats will accommodate six in a pinch, and the pure 1950s look of the two-tone silver and red vinyl upholstery will make everyone want a ride. Plush black carpets tone things down a bit and are protected with matching Bel Air floormats, new two-tone door panels match the seats and complement the painted dash, while the dual-ring silver-and-chrome steering wheel was redone and still looks good, although it’s the only portion of the interior that shows visible wear/patina. An original all-in-one gauge cluster fits into the original instrument panel and offers a comprehensive view of the engine, an OEM design that is as timeless as anything that makes up the Tri-5, and that gorgeous machine-turned trim continues down the length of the dash. Details matter in a high-end build like this, so the builders paid attention to all the small stuff and correctly restored/reinstalled an underdash tissue box, a Wonder Bar AM/FM stereo in the center of the dash, and an analog clock all the way down at the other end of the dash. Options are rather sparse but do include a working heat/defrost system, power steering, and a power convertible top that fits snug and has likely never seen rain. Out back, the spacious and tidy trunk is nicely finished with a correct rubber mat and includes a full-size bias-ply tire and jack set that could very well be the original unit.

Nice to see a correct 283 cubic inch V8 under the hood, believed to be the original block that’s been neatly dressed and detailed and is certainly worthy of showing off at the local cruise-in. An upgraded Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and chrome Edelbrock air cleaner are the only visible changes from stock under the hood, while the Chevy orange painted intake manifold matches the block and valve covers and make the engine pop out from the uber-clean engine bay. Of note, the original generator is still in place as well, although a modern 12-Volt battery now provides the juice, and newer rams-horn exhaust manifolds feed a great-sounding dual exhaust system with chambered mufflers for a killer 1950s sound. A Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission means this Bel Air is the perfect cruiser for drivers of any skill level, recent brake work means it stops on a dime, and the front suspension features factory power steering, a double-wishbone set-up with heavy-duty coils-over-shocks, and a big swaybar that make it handle like a dream. Steel wheels adorned with beautiful factory hubcaps wear 215/75/14 Coker Classic wide whitewall radials that ride and handle great, perfectly finishing off this stunning Bel Air.