Lot 2061

California 2015

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Fuel-Injected

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$110,000 - $150,000 USD | Not Sold

United States | Santa Monica, California

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Identification No.
VC57L139902

The 1957 Chevrolet lineup was designed to remain at the top of the mountain in American automotive sales and maybe one-up the competitors along the way. Among the factors to achieve this status was exciting new looks, dynamic new power, lavish new interiors, the revolutionary new Turboglide automatic transmission to back up the hugely successful Powerglide, new exterior styling, new front grille, new high-fashion colors and new high-set rear fenders. Many advances were forwarded to the loyal customer base to keep the Chevrolet fresh and exciting.

Chevrolet offered 20 stunning models that included a new and more powerful Corvette. The balance of the cars was offered in three great series – the Bel Air, “Two-Ten” and “One Fifty.” Luxury-size wheels and tires helped provide a smoother ride, while the cars also featured a new instrument panel design. The main thrust for the 1957 model year though was the offering of a wider choice of power teams. For the first time, Chevrolet announced that they would present fuel injection.

This major engineering development now seems rather commonplace, but in 1957 the elimination of the carburetor was a setup that was mainly associated with racecars. It was less than 10 years prior that the men at Offenhauser learned that Stuart Hilborn had invented and developed a fuel injection system more efficient and effective than the carburetors they had been using on their Indianapolis cars. It was an essential improvement and now Chevrolet had this option available to the public.

The V-8 was bored an eighth of an inch to 283 cubic inches, available in six stages of tune. At the top of the chart was the Corvette V-8 with 10.5:1 compression. Rochester fuel injection developed the magic one horsepower per cubic inch. Four-speed transmissions had yet to reach Chevrolet’s passenger car option list, so the sole transmission choice for this engine was a column-shifted heavy-duty three-speed manual.

This 1957 “fuelie” convertible was the subject of a correct, frame-off restoration to show-quality standards. The option list is short: a pushbutton AM radio, whitewall tires with spinner hubcaps, E-Z-Eye tinted glass, heater-defroster and a dashboard clock. A power-operated soft-top was standard fare on this Chevrolet and gives snug protection at the touch of a button when the weather is not at its best. Crossed flags and ‘Fuel Injection’ badging is displayed on the front fender flanks, leaving little doubt to the car’s intentions, when the right foot is amply applied. The odometer reads just 121 miles, quite likely since restoration. The car exhibits good panel fit, a clean and well-detailed engine compartment and tidy undercarriage. The black convertible top fits well, and the car comes with reproduction copies of the owner’s handbook and manual for the top. An excellent example of one of America's favorite collector cars, it is ready to delight a new owner.