The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is among the most recognizable American automobiles of all time, an icon of its age. In the final year of the model’s third generation, it offered an intoxicating blend of style, performance and features with its freshly designed front end and tastefully executed tailfins.

Importantly, 1957 also saw the debut of what would become another American icon, the Rochester Ramjet fuel-injection system. A constant-flow system, the Rochester unit metered fuel to all cylinders simultaneously from a central “spider” of injection lines. An enormously expensive option at $500, the new “Fuelie” system helped push General Motor’s modest small-block V-8 to a potent one unit of horsepower for every cubic-inch of displacement. Designed primarily for the Chevrolet Corvette, the advanced fuel-injection system eventually made its way into Chevrolet’s regular production line as well. One such example, acquired by an enterprising buyer with a sedan budget and a Corvette appetite, is presented here in highly desirable convertible form.

Assembled in St. Louis, Missouri, this true VC-coded Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible proudly displays the crossed checkered flag fender emblem denoting its 283 cubic-inch “Fuelie” engine. The car’s trim tag indicates it came finished from the factory in Imperial Ivory over a red and silver two-tone vinyl interior. Said to have been the recipient of an older restoration, this Bel Air’s exterior is now finished in stunning Imperial Ivory over Matador Red for a handsome, period look that perfectly complements the eye-catching interior. A correct Chevrolet AM radio, square dash clock, gold Bel Air emblem, and unusual chrome tissue dispenser round out the Matador Red dash, while 14-inch steel wheels wear chrome Bel Air “spinner” hubcaps and are shod in wide whitewall tires. Copies of several invoices documenting the consignor’s fastidious maintenance are available for review.

The quintessential mid-century American convertible, equipped with one of the era’s most powerful engines and wearing one of the period’s most striking color schemes, this ultra-rare, fuel-injected Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible is sure to be the star of any classic gathering.