1957 CHEVROLET BELAIR 4 DOOR PILLARLESS HARDTOP
This example was imported to Australia in 2003 and since it’s arrival, it has undergone a huge transformation. Starting out with a 283ci V8 engine, it now features a 8.2 Litre (502ci) Chevrolet V8 engine mated to a 4 speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels.
We hold a large file of photos and receipts for all the parts and work that has been completed and the owner has provided the following information regarding the complete rebuild. It is an interesting read!
“So I purchased the Chev as a US import from Joe’s Golden Gasolines in Feb 2004, after dreaming of a 57 since seeing Running on Empty as a 20 year old.
I have always built cars since I was about 14 and have had quite a few but have never kept one as long as the Chev. It is a factory red and white 4 door hardtop V8 Belair, or also known as a sports sedan. They were designed to look like a convertible when the windows are down.
They are now becoming very sort after in the States after the 2 door as there was not as many made. Being a US delivered car it has the US dash as opposed to the Oz delivered 57s which have the 55 dual ‘fans’ dash in them. They are still not as common in Australia as the 4 door post sedans.
The car was stripped down to just the 2 chassis rails and completely rebuilt from the ground up taking 6 years to complete. Every nut and bolt was replaced and any part that could be sourced new was also replaced. The only parts of the car not new are pretty much the chassis and the body panels.
The car was always going to be a big block car so Rory Thompson Engineering in SA were engaged and the car was rebuilt and engineered from the ground up to be legally registered here in SA as a big block, which you will see from the cross braced chassis etc. up.
You will see from the photos it was an excellent body to begin with only having some rust in the front floors but all 4 floor pans were replaced anyway. The car was repainted in Sting red and Spinnaker white which is a slight cream as I didn’t want the roof to look like fridge white. It has a completely customisable tune injected ZZ502 big block designed to retain that carburettor look. The ZZ is a full roller rockers, 4 bolt on all mains, Edelbrock alloy head engine mated to a 4l80e 4 speed auto, again fully customisable shift settings if required using the plug in controller, hidden engine oil cooler, 9 inch LSD diff, 3.5 gears, 4 wheel disc brakes, all with same hq stud pattern on custom offset billet wheels.
It is a beautifully behaved cruiser, however if you choose to mash the loud pedal the power of the big block is relentless. Wanting a nice cruiser I air conditioned it with hidden evap. and fans under the front. The car has been driven approximately 10k over 10 years on the road so is well sorted with no overheating or reliability issues.
Being a country car reliability is key. I did initially enter it in car shows picking up trophies including best 57 at the Tanunda GM day in 2010. I stopped the shows getting sick of the how much did that cost questions. Cannot go anywhere without people stopping and taking photos. I was asked to be lead car in the bi annual Cornish Festival Cavalcade of cars last year which I did. Never built with selling in mind, just built properly.
It means the world to us as I was off work for the last year of its build recovering from cancer and spent each day in the shed doing what I could rebuilding it and it kept me sane. It has driven all 3 of my kids to all of their formals and high school graduations, been in a wedding or two etc. The car’s colours and interior are renewed as it was in 57 as a genuine Belair, only the V8s had the gold badging for example, but I have modernised the driveline. ”
This amazing 57 Chevy is well worth the inspection, quite the essential summer cruiser, definitely with all windows down and listening to that 502ci V8.
Available to view on our state of the art showroom floor in Adelaide.
We can arrange transport door to door Australia wide.
We welcome the opportunity to consider your trade in.
Make: | Chevrolet |
Model: | Belair 4 Door Hardtop |
Built: | 1957 |
KM: | 6031 Miles |
Engine Size: | 8200cc |
Cylinders: | 8 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Price: | Sold |