A little original, a little restored, and a lot of personality define this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop sedan. It offers fantastic features like that Dusk Rose paint, which is its original color, plus a great-running 283 cubic inch V8, power steering, and plenty of recent work. It's hard to say where the line between original and restored parts is, because this car has an all-of-a-piece look that's quite appealing. No, it's not quite perfect, but the... repaint looks great and it has that great look that comes from years of care. The paint accurately represents the original color and while there are signs of use, you can consider all that stuff as badges of honor. The 4-door hardtop styling is almost indistinguishable from the 2-doors unless you count door handles, thanks to some clever styling by the guys at GM and you simply can't go wrong with a '57 of any kind. This is the car's original color combination and it works well on the '50s cruiser, especially with fender skirts and all that chrome, most of which is in very good condition. You're either man enough to handle this Bel Air or you're not, but if you're not, you're really missing out. The interior is nicely restored and very correct, with two-tone gray and black upholstery with funky brocade inserts that are quite correct for 1957. The carpets were replaced at the same time, as well as the door panels, so it all looks quite nice, particularly in back where it has hardly any sign of use. Original gauges look decent and there's a factory AM radio in the center of the dash and miraculously enough, it works like it should. The steering wheel shows some signs of age but no major cracking or crumbling and the bright trim that spans the dash is in excellent shape. Heavy-duty rubber floor mats protect the floors and there's a handy set of cup holders on the transmission tunnel, suggesting that this one was built to cruise. A nicely finished trunk includes nicely tailored black carpets instead of the original rubber mat, plus a full-sized spare with a matching cover and a proper jack assembly. The engine is a 283 cubic inch V8 that looks exactly right under the hood of this Bel Air. It's properly detailed with Chevy Orange paint, a heavy-duty air cleaner, and stamped steel valve covers with Chevrolet script on their faces, a refreshing change from all the over-chromed cars you see a shows. The big air cleaner dominates the top of the engine bay, but you'll also note a correct generator/power steering pump assembly, another desirable option, as well as a windshield washer system. There are plenty of signs of care and maintenance over the years, and it does run and drive well thanks and sounds great burgling through a recent dual exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers. Backed by a 2-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission, it's fun to drive and eminently practical for the hobbyist with a family. The chassis is fairly original but it's extremely clean with just a light dusting of undercoating to protect the metal. Factory steel wheels with hubcaps are the right choice and carry recent 215/75/14 whitewall radials. Icons don't get much more affordable than this and with several desirable options and a cool color combination, it's a very worthy car for the guy who wants to take it to the next level. Call today!
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