Pick of the Day: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

As far as tri-five Chevys go, the two-door hardtop models steal most of the limelight in the collector community. But there is something special and unique to be said about a four-door hardtop, especially when it’s done up professionally with a fully documented restoration and a stack of records.

The Pick of the Day is a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Brandon, Mississippi. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Always garage-kept and carefully maintained,” the listing states. “We have a stack of records back to 1974. In 2005 it underwent a restoration with all-new paint in the original Larkspur Blue; new chrome and trim pieces were added.” A display board showing a photographic chronology of the restoration process is stored in the trunk and accompanies the sale.

The Bel Air name first appeared as a trim level on two-door hardtops in the Chevrolet model lineup in 1950, named after a wealthy neighborhood in Los Angeles. The nameplate transitioned to become a standalone model in 1953 and was positioned at the upper end of the Chevrolet hierarchy.

A second generation launched in 1955 and brought with it significant changes to design and engineering; exterior lines incorporated more shoebox-style characteristics as opposed to rounded fenders. Updates for 1956 and 1957 evolved the new look, and in 1957, Bel Air models received the iconic large tailfins and a “twin rocket” hood design. In all, six different body styles were offered, including variations of two-door and four-door hardtops, sedans, convertibles, and station wagons.

This Bel Air comes in the four-door hardtop variety and received some additional styling flair courtesy of fender skirts and a continental kit mounted at the rear. Momentum is derived from a 283cid V8 that is fed by a Holley four-barrel carburetor and mated to a rebuilt Powerglide automatic transmission. The seller states that the car runs smoothly.

“The car is show-ready and is a great driver. Ready for cruising the coast this year,” the listing says.

Best of all, this Bel Air comes as a package deal with lots of supporting memorabilia, including a baseball cap, a jacket, a tool kit, the aforementioned restoration documentation, awards, a shop manual, and two wide whitewall spare tires (one in the trunk and one inside the continental kit).

The seller is asking $34,900 or best offer for this unique hardtop and all of the above items.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.