The 1957 Chevrolet has long been considered the top choice of tri-five Chevys. It’s the most iconic and easily recognized. When people think classic Chevy, the ’57 is it.
The popularity of the 1957 model remains high, but it isn’t as dominant as it once was. There is more price parity these days—with condition, options, and color combinations being as important as model year. The 1957s are still the big money cars for restored Bel Air convertibles and any factory-equipped fuel injection car. (1957 was the first year for the Rochester fuel injected 283 cubic inch V-8).
1957 Chevys are extremely popular with both restorers and hot rodders. The top dogs are loaded ’57 Bel Air convertibles.
For the modified crowd, ‘57s are very popular, as they have been almost since new. It’s not uncommon to find ’57 Chevys that have been modified and/or resurrected several times over the years.
Three series—150, 210, and Bel Air—continued for 1957. As with the previous two years, the Bel Air variants are most prized by restorers and the 210 series appeal to hot rodders. Customized Bel Air hardtops seem more common with ’57 builders than the earlier years. Nomads are golden, either restored or mildly modified. Two-door wagons (210 or 150 series) are also highly desirable. Non-station wagon four-doors are almost worth more for their common parts than as running cars.
Two-door non-Nomad ’57 station wagons are very popular street rods. This body style also enjoyed great drag racing success.
As with ’55 and ’56 Chevys the two-door post sedans in all three series are the favorite starting points for modified ‘57s. This ’57 210 series has a perfect low stance, modern rolling stock, and a restored body.
The predominant building style continues to favor restored bodies covering upgraded chassis and newer, larger displacement engines backed by automatic overdrive transmissions. Aftermarket chassis and front/rear suspension upgrades are ideal and easy to do thanks to the huge performance parts industry. Beautiful reproduction restoration parts (including body shells) make it possible to save and restore any ’57 Chevy. Radical body mods such as chopped tops are quite rare.
The ribbed quarter panel Bel Air trim and chrome fender trim are iconic elements.
Color choices favor the original 1957 colors—especially black, red, turquoise, and silver solid and two-tones. Custom reds, yellows, and blacks are premium modified colors. Flames look good on ‘57s.
You can’t miss with classic Torq Thrust 5-spoke mag wheels or any modern variants. Large diameter wheels and corresponding low profile tires are popular, but a little sidewall looks better than super low profile tires. Low with a slight rake is the stance to have.
The 210 series side trim has the same triangular shape but without the ribbed insert panel. The stance and attitude on this 210 sedan are perfect even though the body condition isn’t. This illustrates the importance of stance, wheels, and tires.
Any small-block Chevy V-8 from the last 58 years can be found under ’57 hoods. Ditto for any Chevy big-block. Some restored cars still use the 235 cubic inch Blue Flame six-cylinder engine, but modern V-6 engines are almost never seen. Four-speed manual transmissions used to be the only way to row a hot rod ’57, but today automatics prevail. Late model 5-speed and 6-speed (especially on cars with Corvette guts) are great for combining performance and fuel economy with pleasant cruising rpms.
The ’57 150 series side trim is much more simple than the Bel Air and 210 series. This black and white color scheme is very popular as it originally came on the legendary fuel injected 150s.
1957 was the first year for fuel injection and the second year for dual four-barrel carburetors. The dual quads have this wild air cleaner.
Reproduction and custom interiors are pretty evenly split in modified cars. Color choices are great in the upholstery kits.
The 1957 Chevy is one car that truly deserves the classic title.
See 1957 Chevy Cars & Trucks for sale on eBay.
