Everyone in the world recognizes the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. It’s the quintessential ‘50s American car, but it’s also a touchstone for many people in the hobby: their father had one, they had one when they were younger, or they admired someone who did. For many of us, the ’57 Chevy represents a memory that never fades—it’s more than a car, it’s a part of who we are. That seems like hyperbole, but can you name another single car that has the same enduring appeal as the ’57 Chevy? Probably not. And that’s exactly why they remain popular year after year. They built hundreds of thousands of them, but demand continues to out-strip supply, proving once again that Americans and their convertibles are inseparable.

If you’re going to own a 1957 Chevy, it may as well be a top-of-the-line Bel Air convertible. And as long as you’re doing top-of-the-line, how about a stunning black-on-red color combination? Better yet code 793 Onyx Black over code 683 Red and Silver is the car’s original combination, so it hasn’t been re-made to be someone else’s idea of greatness, it was great from the very beginning. Thanks to a frame-off, rotisserie restoration that was completed in 2015, this Chevy is in fantastic condition. We have restoration photos that show it as a bare tub with nice floors and trunk and even the original quarter panels appear to have been retained. That’s good news if you like quality, and the workmanship throughout is of a very high caliber. The black paint is wonderfully deep and bright, with no distortions in the final finish, a result that only comes from a professional color sand and buff, and the gaps are very good throughout the car. All the original Bel Air trim was either restored or replaced, with one or two exceptions that show just a bit of age—notable only because of how nice everything else is. The big anodized billboards on the quarters are excellent, the gold grille and Chevrolet emblems are vivid, and the massive bumpers show better chrome than they were putting on the cars in 1957. The car has been driven and enjoyed since it was finished (which was the whole point of the restoration) but it remains in very, very good condition overall. Accessories include dual decklid antennas, fender skirts, and dual side mirrors.

As I mentioned, the code 683 Red and Silver vinyl interior is also how this car was originally ordered, and it has been exactly reproduced for this ragtop. The ’57 Chevy interiors were arguably the most artistic of all of GM’s offerings in 1957, with a blend of colors and textures that led the industry. The interior remains in like-new condition with hardly any signs of use beyond some extremely minor stretching of the lower cushion upholstery. Matching door panels are as dramatic as the exterior trim and the big steering wheel with horn ring is so iconic that there are billet reproductions made for hot rods. Simple gauges are all fully operational and they’ve thankfully chosen not to add extra dials on or under the dash, so it looks clean and OEM. The bright trim is excellent, the steering wheel is beautifully restored, and when you settle in behind the wheel, it’s hard not to feel like a million bucks. Overhead, there’s a new white power convertible top that folds easily and stows under a matching red boot and the trunk is correctly finished with a rubber mat, full-sized spare tire, and a correct jack assembly with instruction card.

While they built plenty of 6-cylinder 1957 Chevrolets, this wasn’t one of them. Under the hood, you’ll find a correct FC-coded 283 cubic inch V8 with the 4-barrel/dual exhaust “Power Pack” option. Chevy wasn’t doing “matching numbers” in the traditional sense, but this is the right motor for this car and it was fully rebuilt about 2500 miles ago. Turn the key and it fires easily and idles well, and you’ll be surprised by the performance if delivers on the open road. Obviously it was fully detailed before it was dropped back into the glossy black engine bay, with correct stamped valve covers with “Chevrolet” script, a heavy-duty air cleaner, and, of course, Chevy Orange paint. Little things like the GM-stamped hoses and correct wire clamps, a tar top battery, and proper Delco generator help with the very authentic look. They left the exhaust manifolds uncoated, which is how they came from the factory, and the light coating of surface scale is probably how the engine would have looked before it even got off the transport truck. Under the big air cleaner there’s a correct Carter WCFB 4-barrel carburetor and a new wiring harness ensures reliability. In fact, just about everything under the hood is new and it presents zero issues for the new owner who wants to drive his ’57 Chevy, because that’s exactly what this car was restored to do.

Experts will note that the glossy black floors should be red oxide primer, but since the goal was a very high-level driver, they felt that the shiny black paint would be more durable and easier to maintain and they’re probably right. However, you will note that it shows zero signs of distress, solid body mounts, undamaged rockers, and a nicely restored frame. The 2-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission shifts properly and should be virtually indestructible and with 3.23 gears in the rear end, it’s a comfortable highway cruiser that’ll go anywhere without complaint. The front end was fully rebuilt with new bushings, tie rods, and ball joints, there are new shocks all around, and a recent stainless steel exhaust system gives it a mellow tone that’s muscular but never intrusive. The brakes were also rebuilt and there’s a new gas tank hanging out back so you’ll have exactly zero fuel system problems due to trash in the lines. It sits on correct 14-inch steel wheels with spinner hubcaps, as well as a set of authentic-looking 7.50-14 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whites that are just about ideal for a car like this.

The car is nicely documented with original manuals and brochures, restoration photos, receipts, and other details regarding the restoration. This is a ’57 you can buy with confidence!

We know there are a lot of ’57 Chevys out there, but you will not find many restored to this level with this attention to detail. It’s fully sorted and built to drive, which is really what you should be doing with any vintage car. Few will attract the attention of this ’57 and almost everyone who sees it will not only have a great memory, but they’ll envy the person behind the wheel. This is a flat-out awesome car. Call today!