Why This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air May be the Ultimate Summer Cruiser

Everyone will tell you that the trouble with classic cars is that they break down, a lot. They can overheat, the transmissions can be tricky, stick shifts can be touchy, especially in hot weather. Check out this incredible 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible that has been totally redone to avoid all of those problems. No, it isn’t all original.  No, its numbers don’t match. It has over 500 horsepower, is an automatic and is sure to catch everyone’s attention.

Why I Love the 1957 Bel Air

I am partial to Bel Airs. They are beautiful. Growing up my hometown was full of them. We had a light green one. Our Bel Air wasn’t a convertible and it sure didn’t shine like this one.

Chevrolet was kind enough to provide one that looks very similar to this one for my last night on the air at WXYZ-TV, in Detroit, 12 years ago. We traveled down the famed Woodward Avenue during the station’s broadcast of the Dream Cruise. The Bel Air was driven by one of the nicest and most capable men, ever. The driver was none other than Jim Campbell, GM’s vice president of performance and racing. It is an evening I will always treasure.

This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

This bright red 1957 Bel Air has had a professional rotisserie restoration. The odometer reads only 645 miles. The car is listed as a star vehicle for Mecum’s Florida Summer Special. It will be auctioned on Saturday July 13th. In all, 1500 vehicles will be auctioned at the Mecum event in Kissimmee, Florida.

Highlights of this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

• New GM LS7 7.0L/505 HP engine
• New GM 4L65E 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission
• Art Morrison sport chassis
• 9-inch rear axle from Strange Engineering with limited-slip differential and 3.73 gears
• Modern air conditioning
• Wilwood 4-wheel power disc brakes

You can see that all of the potential problem areas have been dealt with. This vehicle has a huge, new, GM 505-horsepower engine. It has an automatic transmission, you don’t have to fight with the old manual, which can be tough in a car this heavy. It also has new power disc brakes. Anyone who has driven with the old spongy brakes can tell you how important it is to be able to stop quickly and efficiently. It also has new air conditioning, not the old, barely there kind. It also has power windows, the old crank windows can be a real bear to roll down and put back up.

Mecum does not say if the 1957 Bel Air has a reserve or what it may be. You can see more about this incredible convertible on Mecum’s website. It is lot S93. Happy Cruising!

Mary Conway Screenshot

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.