57 Chevy Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop | Sport Coupe

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Fan submission from Barry Conrad. Here is Barry’s story of this awesome car restoration.
It had nice older 5 spoke Mag’s and I gave it a Fresh Paint job in 1983 of the same color. I drove the car for 11 years before attempting to do a total ground up restoration. At first it was a disappointment because none of my friends were willing to help as they had no interest in my car. I put the project on hold for a few years and restored a couple of Impala’s! Finally the day came and I started on the ’57 again.

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I was able to get some help from some Seasoned mechanic’s who owned similar cars. They gave me an education, and I did the work myself. It was very rewarding to do the work myself. Now, I think I could put a 57 Chevy together in my sleep.

The 57 Chevy Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop Sport Coupe that you see here is Black Base Clear with Red/Black Interior.

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The interior is original material and the door panel’s were bought new and assembled. The dash and engine have been painted black. All the interior trim that was FACTORY Red has been chromed to match the rest of the stainless around the headliner.

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The Dash has a custom polished aluminum insert and polished aluminum face plates on the speedometer, oil, and temp gauges. It has a chrome Ididit tilt wheel column and some Lokar components such as the foot pedals and cable driving carb and trans assemblies. All the fasteners are stainless, and it has a 6 speaker Alpine stereo system and SUB. Kick panel speakers are molded ABS poly and the dash door and ashtray are chromed too. All fuel and brake lines are pre bent stainless and everything for this ride was bought new.

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The glass is all new Grey Smoke.

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It comes with a completely dressed engine compartment and a New American Auto Wire Complete wiring kit. The Engine /tran’s is a 283/ 300hp/400T,w/sockk/3:55 rear alluminum Drive shaft and polished stainless exhaust from Ceramic Headers Back.

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The wheels are American Racing. Torque Trust D’s/w 225/60/15’s Good Year Eagle’s. All emblem’s were replaced both inside and out,and the hood supports and braces were all chromed also.

The 3rd brake light in the GOLD”V” on the truck lid and all the lenses have Chevy bow ties.

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I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY MY RIDE AS MUCH AS I DO.

  1. Dude,

    That is one sweet ride. 57 is my favorite year for the bel air. Had one just like this years ago. And I do mean “years”. I was 18 or 19 when I owned it and I’m 55 almost 56 now.

    One can see you spent some pains-taking hours on this sweetie. You should be proud of this ride and I sure you are. My hats off to you.

    1. The 57 Chevy has always been one of my all time favorite cars. this project was very well planned out and it came out beautifully.

    2. YES THESE (57) CHEV’S WERE GREAT CARS. IN MY YOUNGER YEARS I HAD (2) OF THEM. I WISH THAT I WOULD HAVE KEPT THEM SOMEWAY. I AM GOING ON (88) YEARS OLD AND STILL DRIVE ANY WHERE I WANT TO GO. I AM A RE-TIRED SEMI TRUCK DRIVER WITH (28) YEARS EXP. I HAVE BEEN IN EVERY STATE AT LEAST ONE TIME. I HAVE AN ACCIDENT FREE RECORD. JUST A LITTLE OVER (5) MILLION MILES. I HAVE SEEN IT ALL. YES, I WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE A TRUCK AGAIN.

  2. Very sweet. i personally think the 57 Chevy was the most beautiful car ever built. You did an awesome job. Enjoy Bro

    1. Totally agree! The ‘57 Chevy has the lines that made the best looking car ever made. It was always my dream car but I never hooked up with one. I had a 55 Chevy, a 70 Malibu. 67 Firebird, a 63, 2008 and 2015 Impalas, a 72 And 94 corvette but never my dream car the 57 Chevy. Still looking but time on this stage is getting short.

      1. You know, age is only a number. As long as you have your health, that’s what counts. My very first car was a 57 Chevy 4dr V8 std in 1964, when I was 20. I bought my 2nd 2 years ago 4dr 6 cyl auto all original. And now at 77 I have my 3rd. This one My wife and I are keeping. There is just something about the 57!!🥰

    2. THE 57 CHEVY WAS A SALES BUST !!! WHY DO YOU THINK CHEVY CAME OUT WITH THE IMPALA ? IT WAS UGLY BY MOST BUYERS !!! MOST FAMOUS PAINTERS WERE BROKE WHEN THEY WERE A LIVE !! but as time went on well you know the story!!!!

  3. This is My Dream Car…i’ve always wanted one……I Hope to do the Very samething you’ve done with this one,,, One day Very Soon…..Thank You Very Much for sharing ..it Gives me hope…for myself..!

  4. I love the old classic cars, and I have owned a lot of them over the years, 46 Ford , 55 Chevy, 56 Chevy , 59 GMC truck, 64 Elcamino , 66 Chevelle , just a few.

  5. Iam looking for MYold black with flames 57 It was a show kar until the wrong i bought it.He damn near destroyed it Bick grille chevelle mid 60s 4- speed 327. Ia still lokking for this kar . It was traded for “asphalt” equipment/ If i may ask? Where did your 57 come from,mine left back in the late 70s thanks for anything btw one Bad 57 my friend bob s

  6. Nice job Barry, I know your car along time man…actually even before you owned it. I almost bought it myself in 1981…I enjoyed meeting up with you & getting to go to afew shows together, hope to do more….Leo

  7. Question PLEASE Very important to me. btw very nice 57-Did your 57 come with fuely flags and no fuel injection on the car?Where did you find this 57?I have been looking for one i sold in the late 70s early 80s In Michigan- If you see this post am i close on what i am thinking.If not its a beautiful 57- mine had flames and buckets in red velour and pleats in same color vinyl just like to know where she is.thanks much

  8. love it. alwalys wanted to restore my dads oringal with a.c. but he passed and mom needed the money to pay for funeral and other bills. but have my own now. loving it. 327 b.m shifter with shift kit.on rally wheels. creamsickle in color.

  9. I am not a great Chevy lover. BUT this thing is just drop dead gorgeous! Man, would I love to take her around the block!

  10. Just bought a ’57 that need some work, exteriorly but runs pretty good, Interios upholstery needs some work also. Any recommendations? Dale Bley

  11. Hi I bought one in 1957 I traded a 55 for it. I loved both cars. When my daughters were born I had to get a family car. That was a long time ago. Everett

  12. Oh how I wish That I had my 57 2 door hard top back. I did a similar restore from the ground up but with all original parts. I scoured every salvage yard in a 200 mile radius and found everything except a perfect grill. I even had the seats redone with factory original fabrics that a local upholstery shop had in the back room.

  13. The 57 H T Is one of the coolest cars ever made. I have owned over 4 2 dr htops and 3 4 door plus 4 2dr sedans, I currently own a 57 2dr sedan restomod I’am 70 and I almost purchased a 2dr h top, I doubt that I buy another at my age also have a 64 vette conv and a 31 Ford Coupe street rod. I love the classic’s

  14. HEY MAN
    HAD A CREME GREEN COLOR ON MY 57 NOMAD,IT WAS KILLER. WISH I HAD IT BACK, A STUPID TEENAGER,SOLD IT FOR $300.00. I AM 67, GO FIQUIRE.

  15. Beautiful car, my friend. Tri fives are my favorite Chevrolets. I should have bought one when they were affordable.

  16. I owned one that was a local police chiefs car, came with the corvette engine. Beefed up suspension. I owned it for four years, ran a drags and got beat in finals by 56 Nomad with Shirley Muldony at the wheel. I am sorry that i sold it.

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