PROFESSIONAL FRAME-OFF 10-YEAR-OLD RESTORATION IN TROPICAL TURQUOISE WITH TURQUOISE / WHITE INTERIOR AND WHITE SOFT TOP. THIS IS A 41 + FACTORY OPTION CAR INCLUDING FACTORY AIR CONDITIONING, 283 CUBIC INCH POWER-PACK V8 W/ DUAL EXHAUST, POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER: BRAKES, STEERING, WINDOWS, SEATS AND TOP, (RARE) VACUUM ASHTRAY, PADDED DASH, CONTINENTAL WHEEL CARRIER, TWIN (2) ANTENNAE, WONDERBAR RADIO (IN TRUNK) + CHEVY AM / FM CASSETTE, FENDER SKIRTS W/ CHROME STONE GUARDS, AUTOMATIC BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, BACK-UP LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WASHER, TINTED GLASS W/ GLARESHADE, TWO-SPEED WIPERS, SPINNER HUBCAPS ON WIDE WHITEWALL TIRES, BUMPER GUARDS W/ OPTIONAL BLK. KOOL KOOSHIONS, CHROME EMELLISHMENT KIT, GOLD KIT ( LIC.FRAME MATCH. FENDER TABS), CLOCK, CONTOURED FLOORMATS, OUTSIDE MIRROR, CIGARETTE LIGHTER, EXTERNAL OIL FILTER, CLOCK, EXTERNAL FUEL FILTER, COURTESY LAMPS, TISSUE DISPENSER, ROCKER MOLDING, BODY SILL MOLDINGS, CHROME EXHAUST TIPS, VACUUM RESERVOIR LOCKING GAS CAP AND EVEN MORE. EYE POPPIN' SHOW CHROME ! IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE CAR FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING... THE ULTIMATE '57 CHEVROLET CONVERTIBLE ...YOU'VE JUST FOUND IT ! YOU'VE SEE THEM CONSISTENTLY SELLING AT AUCTION FOR $80-85K.... BUY THIS ONE FOR $69,500**
COMPLETE WITH 1957 CHEVROLET MANUAL, SHOWROM BROCHURE, FRENCH WINDOW STICKER AND MAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENT (FEB.1957)
** SEE N.A.D.A COLLECTIBLE GUIDE 2002, PAGE 95 : SEPT. BOOK : $66,400 IN EXCELLENT CONDITION + 30% FOR A.C. AND POWER PAK MOTOR = $86,320. DEDUCT FOR AGE OF RESTORATION. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR 39 OTHER OPTIONS OFFERED ON THIS VEHICLE ! COVER CAR FOR LE CHAUFFER MAGAZINE APRIL 1993, POSTER CAR FOR THE AUTO EXPO 1990.
THE STORY:
On October 4, 1957 the Russians launched the first Artificial Satellite, called the Sputnik. Millions of American's ran for cover assuming the worst.....expecting Chicken Little to "fall from the sky" but, by November the Russians again repeated the offense. This sent another shock wave through the U.S., as they launched Spuntik ll...this time, carrying a dog named "Laika". Despite the prognostications of some, millions were not to be "killed by missiles shooting from the sky". Sleepless nights...all for not, as satellites and space exploration became the wave of the future. In Haiti, Poppa Doc took control, running a program of Black Nationalism. He pillaged the Countries economy, not to mention it's bank vaults, and by 1964, declared himself "President For Life". Princess Caroline was born in Monaco, while beauty Michelle Pfeiffer, talented Melanie Griffith and Geena Davis were all born in America. Meanwhile, Humphrey Bogart, Christian Dior, Senator Joseph Mc Carthy and Jimmy Dorsey all died in 1957. Americans could now get stoned on Darvon ( by Eli Lilly), Smith Corona developed the First portable typewriter, and the United States began the first underground Nuclear testing in Nevada. American Bandstand went National on ABC TV, Argentina's race driver, Juan Manuel Fangio, scored the Fifth of his Seven World Driving Championship while Felix Wankel developed the very first Internal Combustion Rotary Engine (later developed by Mazda).
There isn't one, single car that defines the Fifties better than the amply face-lifted for 1957, Chevrolet. Chevy sold an incredible 166,426 Sport Coupe's, most of which, were 'loaded' with options. You could choose from seven engine choices starting with the lowly 140 h.p. Six Cylinder all the way up to the 283 h.p. / 283 cubic inch V8 with Ramjet Fuel Injection. Turquoise and White turned out to be the most popular color combination ordered that year, especially on the Convertible model. A total of 47,562 Bel Air Convertible's were built based price from $2,511. However, the Top Seller in Chevrolet's line-up was the practical pillared 4-Door sedan.
Despite the fact, Ford stole the limelight that year in Calendar Year Sales, Chevrolet inadvertently ended up creating a "Classic Chevy", that withstood time immortal to become a Milestone Car in American History. Now, it is viewed as the most demanded Classic Car on the Planet. Despite the fact the Chevrolet was not particularly revered for beauty or coveted in 1957, Chevy did lick Ford in the horsepower race by offering the 283 Fuel Injection option for $550. Paul Goldsmith showed up with his '57 Fuelie Chevy at Speed Week in 1957 at Daytona and clocked the field at 131 m.p.h. winning First Place. National ads boasted Chevrolet was "the first to offer Fuel Injection" but, it turned out Chrysler had beat them to the punch, in 1956, offering the option in their 300 Series model. This was the third year Chevrolet offered the luxury of factory Air Conditioning but, not many folks ordered it due to the high tab ( almost 25% of the base model cost). You could also order Power Seats, Power Windows and creature feature's like the "Trafficator" prism which would allow the driver to see traffic lights change without tilting his head down, saving countless seconds in tarmac races.
The Cadillac's influence can still be witnessed today in the design of the 1957 Chevrolet. From the advent of the gold "V"'s on the hood / trunk, mesh grille ( on the 283) and license plate frames, to the large fins, to the use of excess chrome embellishing the fenders (actually stainless) and massive grille. It paid off with an astonishing sales record of 1.515,717 units sold ( Ford hit 1,655,068 but, to this day a 1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible is still worth more than double the value of a 1957 Ford Sunliner Convertible ). No matter what..the 1957 Chevrolet still causes more Fifties 'flashbacks' than any other car on the road...there's nothing quite like a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible...ageing but, still Heartbeat of America !