1957 Chevy four-door sport sedan, most iconic 50s car? 

Emotion by Samantha Sang

My uncle’s first car was a bright blue 57 Chevy, which I road in with my mother in the mid 1960s . In those days the 57 Chevy was considered just another old used car, not worth much. Boy, I wish that he had kept it!

For me the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is one of the most beautiful cars that GM ever built. Thanks Jay, for as always a great car video! 👍

My Kindergarden teacher had one of these, a '57 Yellow and White, Bel Air.....2 door hard top. Wow, this was back in '68, I remember how beautiful that car was, but it sure needed a waxing. My teacher named Mrs. Baldwin, from Miller Elementary School, Santa Maria.

Hello Jay, those screens above the headlights are actually air vent inlets. There isn't a vent on the cowl in front of the windshield.

Now this is a nice looking car! The transition from 56 to 57 is quantum. I like the new comparison feature. The 57 Chevy aces all the other potential vehicles in its price range. Excellent presentation, Jay.

You chose another nice example to review, Jay. Great color combination. And....I think that the reason you feel the backseats are a bit tight is because we've grown in the last 70-80 years -- back then, the average man was probably 5'8" or 5'9".

8:17 I believe the over-the-headlight grids were the airflow for the vents inside the cab.

My favorite car of all time. It may be stereotypical 1950s car, but truly the quintessential American automobile. My favorite car is this, but with a black on black exterior and the red interior (4 dr). Like Grace Braegers 57 Chevrolet. Thanks for sharing this!

That screen over the headlights is the air intake for the cabin vents. They were placed there to ensure that cooler air would enter the car without going through the engine compartment. Those "fog lights", as you described them, are actually the "parking lights", or turn signal lights. Your remark about being over-rated for what it is, is right on the money. Little-known factoid: Ford outsold Chevrolet in 1957. The Ford design was more advanced. The problem with Fords, though, was that they rusted out quickly in those northern climates.

The 1957 Buick lineup actually consisted of two separate bodies...Special and Century (GM B-body), Super and Roadmaster (GM C-body). The 1957 Roadmaster 2-Door Hardtop and 4-Door Hardtop were offered in two versions (one version at the beginning of the model year had two chrome strips that traversed the roof and then divided the rear window in three, although the glass underneath was still one piece...a late version removed those two chrome strips, imitating the 1957 Buick Super). The 1957 Oldsmobile lineup consisted of the standard GM B-body (Golden Rocket 88 and Super 88) and an extended GM B-body (Starfire 98 with a four-inch longer wheelbase). All 1957 Cadillacs used the GM C-body. All 1957 Chevrolets used the GM A-body on the 115-inch wheelbase. All 1957 Pontiacs used the extended GM A-body on the Chieftain and Super Chief (122-inch wheelbase) and the Star Chief (124-inch wheelbase).

Back in 1975, at age 16, I stripped and scrapped a 57 Sport Sedan for parts needed to rebuild a 57 ragtop. 283 power pack, 3 on the tree, gold/white and very solid. Still kicking myself.

Jay, I'm always amazed on four-door hardtops how the rear windows disappear totally into the rear door... Some have some complicated mechanism to conceal them in the door. Thanks for all your research putting your videos together.

As a high school sophomore, my friend's older brother had a '57 Chevy Nomad Wagon ... so I've ridden to lunch, but _always_ from the back seat.

Another tough choice. Great questions!

My dream car, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, black with red/silver/black interior. The quintessential American car.

1957 was a great year for many car lines, but '57 Chevy is most popular it seems. Kinda the standard for all!!

Great vid, beautiful 57 😍

Out of the tri- fives I like in order 1st ‘57, 2nd ‘55, and ‘56 3rd. I believe that’s the passenger fresh air intake’s above the headlights.

Lemme tell you that I'm a 2-door Hardtop lover. That's my favorite car model.

I rode in a 57 4 door hardtop Belair with my Grandmother to a wedding, driven by an old biddy friend of hers in the mid 60's. It was the "robin egg" blue and white. Beautifully designed cars, but yes, I consider them to be way over-rated now. You can't go to a car show and throw a cat without hitting a 57 Chevy! So many other 57's deserved saving and weren't. Those are park/turn signal lights, not fog lights. Would you Rather: 1. 56, not stylistically the best, but the underdog of the bunch 2. 57 Plymouth 3. Delahaye! Great vid as always Jay!

Love 57 Chevy, had one years ago

Those grills around the headlights are functional. And part of the cabin's fresh air system. It is my understanding, the 55/56 had a higher cowl. On those, the air was drawn in through the more common grills, near the base of the windshield. The change in '57 was for styling purposes.

"Emotion" by the Bee Gees 1978

I just like that '57 Bel-Air 2-door Hardtop.

Nice. Can you do a side-by-side of all the 56 GM models too? Always thought the 56 models were cleaner than 55 and 57.

I think when I was in high school in the '60's, every '57 Chev was copper and cream like this one!

The inside door lines match the outside. In 57, GM hit their design epitome on all their makes with this one being the most iconic. Thanks for showing us this fine car.👍

If I could have any 50's car, it would be the 57 Bel Air 2 door. 283 V8, 4 barrel carburetor. I love the color of this car,

With all the popularity of the '57 Chevy, it's hard to believe that Ford out sold Chevrolet in 1957. When the '57 Chevy's became a few years old their popularity grew with the hot rodder's and proceeded to skyrocket. The '57 Chevy tail light lenses have always reminded me of the heel on a men's shoe.

I love the 55!

Exner incorporated the rear side window design from this model on the original design for the 62 Plymouth fury before he was forced to downsize

As a Limey I think that for the most beautiful car in my eyes is a toss up between the 57 Chevy or the Jaguar E-type.

I owned a 1955 glacier blue and sky blue 210 my favorite 🤠 A Packard is my elusive dream car ....😔 Another great episode 👏👏✌️

I would take all of them cars! Lol

Nice video! Slight correction though, Delray was only distinction within the 210 lineup (the 2 door models) and not its own thing. Outside of Corvettes and trucks, there were only the 150, 210 and Belair Chevies in 1957

Headline bezel grading is for interior air inlet. 1956 Chevrolet Packard

I like the stacked side profile because it shows pieces of history. If I had a 1957 Chevy Bel Air, it'd be a 2-door hardtop with the largest V8 on offer. I'd like to have a manual transmission, but an automatic would be fine.

It's nice to see a closer look video at the '57 Chevy 4-door sport coupe. The 4-door open coupes were a great body style that from the mid-50;s to the mid-'70s that were JUST that; not "sedans" at all other than the convenience of the extra doors. Styling wise, I wish the '57 had retained the '55-'56 bird-plane hood ornament, instead of the separate 'jets' or whatever they are. This also would have let the '57 have a cleaner (top) of the hood. Having said that, I know GM/Chevy was under a lot of pressure to make EVERYTHING different to disguise the fact it was the 3rd year of the same (basic) bodystyle, against a totally new Ford and Plymouth, it's main competitors, so I do get why they switched that up. Looked much different, not an $$ thing to do. Do to the styling cycle, GM had to 'make do' with the 3rd year. They advertised the hell out of the '57 Chevy as just as all-new as the Ford and Plymouth, even though that was an 'untruth', and it sold extremely well. (cont.) My biggest problem with these cars I see at car shows are the ones with the hideous bumper guards in the front and back, the f'n ugly extra mirrors, the horrid fender skirts and continental kit!! This is especially true on the convertible. Really horrible. When I see one WITHOUT this crap, I compliment the owners on their good taste, and am thanked in return. On those that do have the crap, I politely ask if they bought it that way, or if they added it. I don't express negative opinions to the owner especially if they bought it that way. If they had it added, I'll just say "oh wow, that's really something" with a slight smile, and walk away. Unfortunately, these were legitimate options Chevrolet offered for better or worse.

Those are not fog lights as mentioned on the front grill. Those are signal lights. I've had two 57 Chevy: one was Californian(1 piece front bumper) & the other one was out of state(3 piece front bumper). The VIN also confirmed. Due to collusion safety reasons, California law required 1 piece front bumper in 1957.

HA! You said "Darrin Dip".....FINALLY! Great review!

the BeeGee's It's just Emotion........ the song!

You should go find a 1958 Chevy. They're nice looking.

Bel Air to1981? US offerings ended in 1975, the later Canadian ones are not generally found in the US. Love 4dr hardtops, not so many were made or saved as the 2dr version. Have to be honest though, riding in the back seat with all windows down is a bit of a hurricane. Side note - the 57 Buick also had a 3 piece rear window on some models including the hardtop sedans. The 57 Chevy was a clever facelift and iconic, but I prefer the Ford. The Plymouth was in fact years ahead, as advertised. The cabin fresh air intake was above the headlights, hence the grill - received criticism for giving passengers exhaust fumes. Choices: 55 Chevy, 57 Plymouth, Packard Aero by a country mile.

Oddly enough I like the 56 more than the 57 of course engines and transmissions could change that, and really if I was lucky enough to be able to get one of these I would go for a convertible or a wagon.

My uncle had one. They were called Baby Caddys because of the similarity to the 57 Caddy. They are Tri-5s but also Tri-Powers with their Holley Carbs. It's cool how they hid the fuel cap. You kinda missed the point about the design that is absolutely icnonic.

You were asking what those fins were copied from, I see a similarity to the 1955 Eldorado.

I have a 2 door 150 and a 4 door Bel Air but mine is black with a white top i have had my 150 since high school its the 188th one made it's red. those fog lights are turn signal on all 57's

Nice🥰

1956 Chevrolet, 1957 Ford, 1932 Chrysler Imperial. Like the new format. Maybe a little longer on the interior sweep.

My Dad had a yellow 57 Chevy. Black and white plaid seats. One thing you didn't mention was that there was an automatic 2 speed automatic transmission called the powerglide.

1957 Buick had a three piece back glass on the special (40 series) and Century (60 series) The Buick (50 Series) and (70 series) share the Cadillac rear window.

Those creeking hood hinges serve as a reminder that these things are made from solid steel without hood struts like modern cars. I prefer the 1956 two door hardtop. Give me the 1930s DeLahay please.

The GAZ-13 Chaika (Seagull) made in the Soviet has a copy of the fins on the 1957 Chevy.

Sorry dude I'm not going to watch 30 minutes of commercials before I see a video. That Said the 1957 Chevrolet was the most beautiful car GMC ever made, to me.

FWIW, I think the '57 was the _best_ of that vintage. Such classic styling.

My mom had a 1957 Belair 2 door sedan which I didn't care for. I preferred my next door neighbor's 1956 Belair 4 door hardtop which was very peppy the way my buddy's mother drove it. If I was buying a car in 1957 I would have bought the Ford Fairlane 500 2 door hardtop. I thought the styling was way better looking than the Chevy.

A beautiful and timeless car. I slightly prefer the 56 Chevy over the 57 or 55. The wide square grill, square parking lights, and extra bit of textured chrome around the front just make it the more visually interesting car, and that's not even mentioning the variety of paint jobs on different trims. For the second scenario, I would take the Plymouth in a heartbeat. It has more beauty, sportiness, and elegance than should even be possible in such a large car. it's my favorite 50s car and quite possibly my favorite car design ever. For the third scenario, I would take the Imperial. It's crazy how long that thing is. It reminds me of Cruella De Vill's car.

nice looking car not many are left every 57 is a 2dr hardtop

nice

You could hardly go wrong in '57 with a 283 & Powerglide! Yes, hardtops like this were cool but this design would not be considered safe today---the wraparound windshield combined with the pillarless side window feature weakened the roof in a rollover. But then, who cared about car safety in 1957?

Say Jay, was that a misspeak when you pointed to the turn indicators and called fog lights or did I miss someting? Very nice original car. Choices? 56 Chevy - Why? Had one, 2 door hardtop in the same color as the one shown. And how much did I pay for that 10 year old car? $100 dollars. 57 Ford, why? Had one. 2 door hardtop again, how much did I pay for that 12 year old car? $100 dollars again. Back in the day, you could buy these for 100-500 dollars all day long. 34 Imperial.

4 Door Hard Tops Awesome ! The Mini Cadillac ,Fins 283 Torque , This was the Every Man’s Luxury Sport Car ,Stylish Yet sporty,Hard Top 4 Door looks like a 2 Door like the Caddy did

Okay, the DeLahay is a 1948, but they were a sports car maker in the 1930s that won grand prix races.

You would think with production numbers like that, these would not fetch such a high price. Back in the 70's and 80's a good example "Tri Five" would be more valuable than a late 60's muscle car. Also, those grills above the headlights had a function. The passenger side grill was the fresh air intake for interior ventilation. In 55/56 was located on the cowl below the front windshield. Oh, and I would take the 57, preferably 58 Plymouth 100% over the Chevy. Those bring even more insane money today.

i really wish they made the 2002 concept

I found 257 ft/lbs torque for the 265 and 300 ft/lbs torque for the 283

I have already in my youth, had a 1956 Chevy. So what the heck I will take the 57.🚔

Swell channel!

Personally I prefer the 1956 over the 1957 Chevy, but I seldom march with the crowd. #1- 1956 Chevy #2-1957 Ford #3-1932 Chrysler Imperial

Hi Justin, nice video! Nice car! I have just a bit of trivia in regards to the 1957 Chevrolet. The 1957’s cowl and hood were dropped 1.5 inches over the '55 and '56, for a lower and sleeker look, this is why you see a new dashboard on the '57 that is not down as deep. The '55 and '56's have 15" wheels. '57 has 14" wheels stock, for a lower and sleeker look. The 1957 Chevrolet had tubeless tires, the first car to have them. Please reply. Dave...

Those are vents above the headlights. They are unique to the '57 Chevy. Notice that there is no cowl intake. Previous and later year Chevys do not have the headlight vents. No Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, or Cadillac has them either. The designers hit a home run with the '57 Chevy. Amazing when you consider that it was a stopgap design because the model that became the '58 wasn't ready. The '57 Ford was bigger, and actually outsold the Chevy at the time.

The Sport sedan was also offered in the 210 series in 1956-57.

See the USA In your Chevrolet a And see Your Chevy dealer Today Test drive the Brand new 1957 Bel-Air You'll be Glad you did😊

I would rather have a: 1. 1957 Chevy 2. Either the Chevy or the Ford 3. 1934 Packard.

4:04 I hate to admit it, but I _am_ a fan of the "Dagmars."

I have always really liked the look of the '57 Bel-Air, I think it is a really beautiful design, but in the same respect, I've always really liked the look of the '55 as well. I've never really cared for the '56 that much for some reason, but if given the choice of the three, I would most likely pick the '55. I just think that overall it has a really nice but simple look to it. In the second scenario, I think I would pick the Chevy, even though I really like the Ford, and even though that model year is about the only one of the Plymouth that has ever really appealed to me. If the choice was a '58 Ford, I would have definitely taken that! In the third scenario, I would definitely pick the Packard without a doubt! I think the idea of showing all the comparable offerings for a particular model year is great!👍😎 video!

QUESTION. When you were comparing the 56 and the 57 front ends... You mentioned that the turn signals on 57 were moved in closer to center. Later when you were looking at styling... You mentioned FOG LIGHTS. Which is it?

57 for me

Ya know, I tried hard to rid my memory of the Disco era Bee Gee's. Thank's a heap! As for what I'd rather have- I really dig the 56 Chevy. But the 57 kills the other offerings, IMHO. I'll take that old Chrysler as well. If they were free of course! Toodles

The fin is similar to the 1957 and 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Broughan.

1956 chevy

Dashboards? Prefer the 56..just like the shape of the speedometer housing that's mirrored on the opposite end by the radio speaker. Favorite '57 of all the big 3 makes? That's the Plymouth for Christine vibes. Of the last three? The Imperial.

The Bee Gees Emotion!!!

In my opinion the ‘56 Chevy was much more elegant . In ‘57 the Ford outsold the Chevy and would have been my choice over the two . I’d always pick a Packard or Duesenberg over anything.

56 Chevy and 57 Plymouth

I heard once that the V on the hood signifies V8

The fins could be considered a copy of the 1956 Plymouth or 1956 Dodge. Plymouth is closer.

So do the fins on the ‘57 Chevy copy the fins on the ‘56 Plymouth?

1) 57 2) Chevy 3) 32 Imperial

I don’t like the comparison idea. Please drop it!

How did that Chevy get onto the Levee?!

i bought one like this in 1969 with a blown engine and promptly jammed a 1968 440 mag mopar block and tranny in it... never lost a race all summer.. lol

My 64 Catalina is a 4-door hardtop. Same cantilevered door post with no pillar. Not a car you'd want to get T-boned in!

Is this one fully restored?

The 56 because it doesn't have the fins

Has anyone ever actually seen a '57 Delray? I have not.

You are good at presenting the cars BUT the toodle doo at the end has to go.

.....1957 chevy "full-size" cars?....I much prefer all the chevy models that were less than " full size" that year.....could you do your meticulous research and tell us all the models that were less than " full-size in 1957?

Oh what a dreadful car! Both my Mom and I got sick in it due to the apparently unfixable leak around the rear window, which spawned mold and made us sick! Thankfully Dad traded it after 6 months of Luby Chevrolet trying and failing to fix it! I remember that compared to the Hudson Hornet he had traded for it, the Chevy rode very very rough! With prompting from Mom, Dad traded the Chevy on a ‘56 DeSoto Adventurer! What a world of differs! Comfortable, Really Quick with that Hemi, and my first experience with Power Windows! Dad never owned a Chevy again, and I only owned 2 briefly both also hateful cars!