Frame Off Restored Bel Air 350 V8 5 Speed Vintage A/C

The Chevrolet Bel Air is one of the most recognized and beloved classics of all time. Its clean lines, restrained trim and excellent proportions make for a handsome car with a TON of customizing potential. Not surprisingly, a wide array of these trademark Chevys populate car shows around the country, and their builds range from correct concours quality restorations all the way to wild creations which exceed the performance of today's fastest cars. Somewhere between those perfected trailer queens and temperamental custom machines you'll find cars like this killer 1957 Bel Air coupe. Decked in a smooth coat of traditional red paint and sporting a custom upholstered interior, this red hot 'tri-five' is an exceptionally restored weekend warrior that is ready for endless nights of carefree cruising.

The beneficiary of a recent frame up restoration, this picturesque '57 Chevy utilizes the highest quality replacement parts on the market to create a no excuses car with classic good looks. During the extensive restoration every piece of the body was honed and fine-tuned until it was as close to perfect as it could get. Once the panels were properly fitted, a fantastic coat of traditional red paint was professionally applied and the car was re-assembled into the arrow straight coupe you see here. The result is a striking Bel Air that displays better than factory panel gaps and a spectacular show worthy finish.

At the front of the car, a heavy body-width bumper houses a proper gold Bel Air grille behind a pristine Chevrolet crest and two clear parking lights. Above that Chevrolet crest, Bel Air exclusive gold hood ornamentation sits between good looking '57 Chevy exclusive 'spear bullets and spoons' and new hooded headlights. On the sides of the car, classic 'tri-five' Chevy stainless that connects the front fenders with the rear fins is branded by Bel Air exclusive gold emblems and displays no dulling or imperfections of any kind. At the bottom of the doors, dent free stainless rocker moldings perfectly reflect our RK Motors Charlotte showroom floor; and at the top of the doors, excellent looking stainless trim combines with correct chrome mirrors to perfectly frame the cars entire greenhouse. Behind that greenhouse, peaked stainless trim begins at the top of the fins just behind the curved rear window and continues down to '57 Chevy exclusive chrome tail lights and a second chrome body-width bumper. On the trunk lid, another Bel Air exclusive gold “Chevrolet” script sits above a matching gold “V”, and below the bumper, excellent looking stainless exhaust tips mirror the angle of the cars awesome fins.

Centered in this hot Chevrolets satin black engine bay is a fully dressed, great sounding 350 cubic inch V8. At the top of that 350 a polished aluminum air cleaner sends air through a reusable filter into a chrome four barrel Edelbrock Webber carburetor. Below that carburetor, an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold holds a chrome covered coil in front of a Pertronix Flame Thrower billet distributor. On each side of the intake, new chrome valve covers sit above loomed Taylor wires and block hugger headers which send gas into a great sounding true dual exhaust system. In front of the engine, fresh V-belts spin a chrome alternator, a polished AC compressor a chrome power steering pump and billet pulleys behind a correct radiator that's equipped with fresh hoses, an electric fan and a smooth billet cap. In addition to being a really nice show piece, this fully sorted engine is a complete and reliable set up which is ready to hit the road. It fires right up, idles smoothly and runs as quick as any modern era Chevrolet V8.

Underneath the car, a stunningly straight and smooth chassis is finished in GM satin black, and along with the cars clean suspension parts, hints that this '57 Bel Air has been frame off restored at some point in its life. The floor pans are solid and don't appear to have any significant repairs, and the chassis shows surprisingly little curb rash despite being 54 years old. Up front, the cars Chevrolet Orange oil pan sits in front of a beefy 5-speed manual transmission that shifts better than any OEM unit produced in 1957. Power flows from that modern transmission to a fairly new looking driveshaft which spins a correct rear end. Holding that drivetrain in place is a clean suspension which includes the cars correct coil springs inside of upfitted front disc brakes and recently replaced leaf springs and shocks inside of correct rear drum brakes. All fuel lines, brake lines and hardware looks fresh and free of weathering, and a welded true dual exhaust system flows through aftermarket mufflers and slick stainless tips. Keeping the car connected to the pavement is a sweet set of 15 inch American Racing Torq Thrust IIs that are outfitted with traditional knock offs and 215/60 front and 225/60 rear BF Goodrich Comp T/A radials.

Inside, a striking red custom interior that looks rich enough to be velvet takes this '57 Chevys visual pop from a 10 to a 15! The stylish, curved '57 Chevy dash is painted bright red to match the exterior of the car, and is detailed in spectacular stainless trim from door to door. On the left side of the dash, the cars red and chrome gauge pod includes a bow-tie equipped speedometer, a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge. In the middle of the dash you'll find a correct AM radio above controls for the cars Vintage Air climate control system, and on the passenger's side of the dash a Bel Air exclusive script complements a factory clock. Below the dash, custom covered red kick panels flow into spotless red carpet which holds a fire extinguisher, a chrome Hurst shifter and red rubber floor mats with colorful Chevrolet crests. The cars fully restored red bench seats feel firm to the touch and feature stainless trim in front and a center mount Bel Air speaker in back. At the sides of the seats, custom covered door panels are detailed with flawless stainless trim and chrome handles, and above the seats, a custom red headliner hangs custom visors. In front of the driver, a red tilt steering column is complete with billet stalks for the turn signals and column, a large Autogage tachometer and a 'cut down' original Bel Air steering wheel. Out back, the cars fully restored trunk features a correct mat below a full size spare tire that includes a gray steel wheel and chrome bowtie center cap.

From the local show to the local strip, this fully sorted 1957 Bel Air will stun even the harshest critics. It's a highly desirable 'tri-five' Chevy that's been tweaked with all of the right stuff to be a serious road machine and a weekend trophy winner. Whether you're taking it down the road for a drive, or displaying it at a weekend event, you'll instantly draw a crowd and everyone will be talking about “that red hot '57 Chevy”. If you've been looking for the ultimate Bel Air that you can enjoy day in and day out, you're search is over. Call today!