1957 Chevrolet Bel Air *Sold £17,000*

Description

• Finished in period correct Surf Green 
• With custom laced, metal flaked black roof 
• 18 month refurbishment programme undertaken 
• Regularly serviced  

The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is considered by many as ‘the one to have’. Sharing the icon stage with the likes of Elvis, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, the ’57 Bel Air oozes sex appeal. Launched at the height of the American dream, the Chevy was affordable and beautiful and sixty five years on, it continues to be one of the most recognisable and sought after American cars of all time. 

History 

Here we have XSV 179, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air four door sedan, fitted with a 283ci V8 engine and 2 speed automatic transmission.  Our vendor believes that the engine is original, but this can’t be verified.

Originally in Dusk Pearl/Indian Ivory, now finished in period correct Surf Green with a beautiful custom laced, metal flaked black roof, please take time to study the photographs and appreciate this wonderful piece of art! This car is a star of the small screen too, featuring in Now TV’s Little Birds and BBC2’s MotherFatherSon starring Richard Gere.

Our vendor’s lifelong dream to own a ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air was fulfilled in August 2017, he remembers it well:

“After seeing the car for sale and speaking to the previous owner who had purchased the vehicle and recommissioned it after it had been unused for several years, the deal was done. A trip to Sheffield from York to collect it was made. Unfortunately it didn’t make it home due to a blocked radiator. Once home, the radiator was removed, taken to a specialist and re-cored with better cooling capability than when it left the factory.” 

Refurbishment

In 2020 our vendor decided it was time to give the car a refurb due to it showing signs of ageing, and the next 18 months were a real labour of love.

The Chevy was stripped to a rolling shell for a full colour change.  

• All glass was removed, doors removed 
• Any signs of corrosion were cut out and new patch panels fabricated and welded in place 
• The headlining was tightened and resecured at the same time as new windlace was fitted by a local upholsterer 
• The door weather channels were replaced along with front and rear screen seals 
• All side moulding clips and mountings for the top rear fin trims were renewed 
• New gold front fender louvres were fitted 
• The trunk area was all carpeted 
• Brakes were gone over with new shoes, cylinders and hoses all round #
• New chrome smoothie wheels from Northants Tyres with mini moon caps were fitted with new tyres and fake white wall trims 

Mutton Hollow and Danchuk became our vendor’s most looked at Web pages for months!! 

The firewall remains in the original Dusk Pearl, the vendor had good intentions to remove the engine and box, paint the engine bay and fit a 350 engine and box. It never happened. 

This Chevrolet Bel Air has been loved and used, attending many local shows and ushering the occasional bride to church!  

It’s been regularly serviced with plugs, leads cap all been changed, oil and filter regularly done using Lucas high zinc oil. The gearbox has had the same slight leak since our vendor purchased  the car (2 speed power glides are well known for it) he keeps it topped up.  

Our vendor advises us that the temperature gauge is not working, there is a new aftermarket gauge included in the sale along with the original wheels and hub caps. It has, in the last 2 months,  had the original generator removed and  converted to a more reliable alternator. 

Our view 

This great big lovely lump of metal is 65 years old and is still turning heads. Okay, there are improvements to be made if you so desire. The chrome work is looking a little tired, although we like it as it is, the patina adds to its charm. Sadly, some areas of the paintwork have blistered, please study the photographs in the gallery.  

The boss is a big fan of 50’s American cars and this one really does make her want to put on her Blue Suede Shoes! She took it for a cruise, it left her All Shook Up! Okay, okay, we will stop now!! 

Seriously though, Sarah has driven this Chevrolet Bel Air on more than one occasion and she loves it, so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask her.  

 

Vehicle Location: Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 – it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor. 

Have a question about this Chevrolet Bel Air? Please contact the Evoke team at auction@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf. 

Guide Prices? 

We’re different. But you know that. And we’re always honest. In a sector where no two classics are same, how does anyone put a ‘guide’. 

Well, everyone knows the broad value of classic, let’s all be honest. So we don’t need to tell you what you already know, do we. 

The ‘market’ decides and the old cliché that ‘it’s are worth what someone wants to pay’ is no less true. So why kid everyone! 

But, because we are different, if it really does matter to you, that’s fine, we want you to be happy. Just drop us a line at auction@evoke-classics.com and one of us will be delighted to ring you back and discuss, it’s what we do. 

Tedious but it’s vital you read this, please. 

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