57 Chevy - An American Classic

When the 1957 Bel Air went on sale, nobody -two-tone combinations.
not even Chevrolet - expected to make history.Many 57 Chevy's featured a prism on the
Instead, it became one of the landmark images indashboard. It was intended to refract light from
American pop culture; one of the mosttraffic signals so the driver could tell when the
recognizable cars the world has ever known.light changed without learning forward under the
Today, automakers still hail the 57 Chevy as anearly vertical windshield.
perfect example of good design and great timingThe cars came with a choice of seven engines; a
coming together.standard 235.5 cubic-inch 140-hp straight-six;
What we call the 57 Chevy was actually 19162-hp 265 cubic-inch V8, and eight versions of
distinct models. All 19 models were based on athe 283 cubic-inch V8 with power ranging from
single frame or platform, the basic structure of185 to 283 horsepower. The 57 Chevy was the
the car. The 1957 models were the final year infirst American car with fuel injection. The optional
that frame's life. It had been the backbone for283 cubic-inch fuel-injected V8 produced 283
Chevrolet's model line for the 55, 56 and 57horsepower. It was the second American engine
model years. The only other car Chevrolet soldto develop one horsepower per cubic inch of
then was the Corvette.displacement, coming a year after the 355-hp 354
Ford and Chrysler had all new frames and stylingcubic-inch Chrysler Hemi.
for their 57 models. They should have moppedTen assembly plants built the 57 Chevy Family:
the floor with the aged GM model, but ChevroletAtlanta, Baltimore; Flint; Janesville, Wis.; Kansas
outsold Ford by 126 cars in 1957. It sold 1,522,536City, Mo.; Los Angeles; Norwood, Ohio; Oakland,
units of the various 57 Chevy models and 6,339Calif., St. Louis, and Tarrytown, N.Y.
Corvettes.Many designers and car enthusiasts say they
The best-selling 1957 model was the Two-Tenbelieve the 1955 Chevy was the best looking
four-door sedan, with a base price of $2,174.00.model, but the 57 model year brought more
The least expensive was the $1,885.00 One-Fiftydefined tailfins, bullet-shaped bumper protectors,
Utility two-door sedan. The most expensive 1957bombsight hood ornaments and other elements
model was the Bel Air Nomad two-door stationthat gave the bargain-priced Chevrolet just
wagon with a $2,757.00 base price. It wasenough zing to grab buyers' fancy.
Chevrolet's lowest-selling model. Chevrolet soldThe 57 Chevy had style, the buzz born of racing
just 6,103 Nomads that year, trailing the Corvettesuccess and demographics on their side. They hit
by 236 sales.the used-car market just as early baby boomers
Some of the options for that year included, seatgot driver's licenses and went looking for
belts and a racing-style over-the-shoulder securityaffordable wheels.
harness. Other options included a tissue dispenser,The 57 Chevy embodied the spirit of Chevrolet,
electric razor, wheel spinners, backup lights and agreat looking, groundbreaking and affordable.
gas filter. The cars came in 16 solid colors and 15