There are two cars that absolutely define the 1950s: the 2-seat Thunderbird and the 1957 Chevrolet. Iconic is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but is there a better way to describe one of the most beloved cars in the world? Even if you’ve never owned a ’57 Chevy, you can easily spot them and they remain a perennial favorite with restorers, collectors, customizers, and hot rodders. The combination of handsome good looks and rugged mechanicals are certainly a big part of that, and they remain eminently usable cars capable of highway speeds, comfortable interiors make them easy to live with, and the long list of replacement parts, upgrades, and supplies means that they’re always ready to go. If you could have just one hobby car, wouldn’t you really prefer a ’57 Chevy?

This great-looking ’57 Chevy 2-door has a great history behind it. It was purchased in the 1970s and given a very thorough freshening in about 1987, including paint, interior, engine, transmission, and all the ancillary parts to make it run right. But after it was finished, it wasn’t driven much, showing about 2000 miles on the build, so it remains quite fresh with only 20 years of minor shelf wear to show for it. It has been recently and extensively freshened by the guy who built it all those years ago, so it runs and drives superbly and there are no issues resulting from that long-term storage. Turn the key and it fires easily, idles well, and with a hi-performance 327 cubic inch V8, it’s rather strong out on the street. The 4-speed manual gearbox isn’t original, of course, but it does make it a lot of fun to drive.

Experts will note that this was a 210 that was upgraded to Bel Air specs, but I don’t think anybody is going to complain about an improvement like that. The Onyx Black paint looks great and shows that quality work has no fear of time because it remains shiny and bright. You won’t find many ‘57s as nice as this under the skin, either—most have rotted away or are in the process of doing so. This one has all its original sheetmetal and it fits together quite nicely, with doors that close with that distinctive ‘50s heavy-duty sound. The only notable modification is the shaved hood ornament, but they did keep just about everything else, including the hood bullets, anodized gold grille, and the trunk emblem. There’s a lot of trim, but it all appears to be either a restored original piece or an exact reproduction and it all remains in excellent condition. No expensive plating bills in this car’s future!

The interior uses factory cloth and vinyl upholstery for a very correct look, and the funky brocade fabric GM used in these cars is some of the coolest stuff you’ll ever see. It’s also quite comfortable and you can settle into the wide split bench seat for long hauls without any complaints. The upholstery is in great shape with minimal wear, including the carpets and door panels, which look almost new. Obviously the Hurst 4-speed shifter isn’t factory equipment, but it does use an OEM clutch pedal so it looks right. The factory steering wheel is likewise in excellent shape, framing the original gauges a swell as a big column-mounted tach, a familiar performance look. Auxiliary gauges are stashed under the dashboard in the usual fashion, and everything works except the speedometer. The original AM radio is in the center of the dash, but if you’re going to cruise you might want to start there with your upgrades or simply listen to the mellow soundtrack of the twin exhaust pipes out back. The back seat looks completely unused and the trunk is correctly outfitted with a reproduction rubber mat. You’ll note the spare tire well is not a rust hole so all you need to do is add a spare tire and hit the road!

One of the great things about a ’57 Chevy is that they were built for the small block V8, so upgrades slide right in. This is a 1964 327 cubic inch JR-coded mill, which was a 300 horsepower 4-barrel, manual transmission engine, probably for a Corvette. Today it features the usual upgrades, a modest cam, Accel ignition system, and a 4-barrel Edelbrock carb up top—nothing radical, just a bit more punch without hurting driveability. I’ll vouch for the tuning, which makes this car fire with a single turn of the key and it runs down the road superbly. It’s also nicely detailed, with proper Chevy Orange on the block, heads, and intake, a few chrome dress-up pieces, and new wiring throughout. The big radiator doesn’t seem to mind the added horsepower, and the solid lifter camshaft inside gives it a neat old-school performance sound. There’s also an upgraded alternator to keep the electrical system happy, but none of it diminishes the feel you get behind the wheel, which is pure vintage Chevy. It’s a little faster than it was when it was new, but the guy who owned it probably felt just like you do when he slipped behind the wheel.

Underneath, it’s original, but again, you just won’t find cars this solid today. It’s scaly and a bit dirty, but there’s no rust-through, no holes, no patches, just good original sheetmetal and a solid frame. The Muncie M21 4-speed manual gearbox is a close-ratio unit, so the faster you go, the better it works, and it is spinning the original rear end, which is painted Chevy Orange to help it stand out. There’s a relatively new dual exhaust system with mellow mufflers and the shocks were replaced when the car was built, but that was only 2000 miles ago so they’re still like new. The car rides and handles very well. Original drum brakes and manual steering are effective for the car’s performance, but upgrades are only a phone call away if that’s what you need. Chrome American Racing wheels are a little flashy and carry fat 215/70/14 performance radials.

For pure fun in a car, a ’57 Chevy is hard to beat. This one doesn’t break any new ground, but if you want a solid car, great paint, beautiful trim, and plenty of power, it’s a fantastic choice. Ready to enjoy without a second thought, this beautiful black Chevy proves that few cars are better at attracting attention than the evergreen Bel Air. Call today!