57 Chevy - An American Classic

When the 1957 Bel Air went on sale, nobody - notMany 57 Chevy's featured a prism on the dashboard.
even Chevrolet - expected to make history. Instead, itIt was intended to refract light from traffic signals so
became one of the landmark images in American popthe driver could tell when the light changed without
culture; one of the most recognizable cars the worldlearning forward under the nearly vertical windshield.
has ever known.The cars came with a choice of seven engines; a
Today, automakers still hail the 57 Chevy as a perfectstandard 235.5 cubic-inch 140-hp straight-six; 162-hp
example of good design and great timing coming265 cubic-inch V8, and eight versions of the 283
together.cubic-inch V8 with power ranging from 185 to 283
What we call the 57 Chevy was actually 19 distincthorsepower. The 57 Chevy was the first American
models. All 19 models were based on a single frame orcar with fuel injection. The optional 283 cubic-inch
platform, the basic structure of the car. The 1957fuel-injected V8 produced 283 horsepower. It was the
models were the final year in that frame's life. It hadsecond American engine to develop one horsepower
been the backbone for Chevrolet's model line for theper cubic inch of displacement, coming a year after the
55, 56 and 57 model years. The only other car355-hp 354 cubic-inch Chrysler Hemi.
Chevrolet sold then was the Corvette.Ten assembly plants built the 57 Chevy Family: Atlanta,
Ford and Chrysler had all new frames and styling forBaltimore; Flint; Janesville, Wis.; Kansas City, Mo.; Los
their 57 models. They should have mopped the floorAngeles; Norwood, Ohio; Oakland, Calif., St. Louis, and
with the aged GM model, but Chevrolet outsold FordTarrytown, N.Y.
by 126 cars in 1957. It sold 1,522,536 units of the variousMany designers and car enthusiasts say they believe
57 Chevy models and 6,339 Corvettes.the 1955 Chevy was the best looking model, but the
The best-selling 1957 model was the Two-Ten57 model year brought more defined tailfins,
four-door sedan, with a base price of $2,174.00. Thebullet-shaped bumper protectors, bombsight hood
least expensive was the $1,885.00 One-Fifty Utilityornaments and other elements that gave the
two-door sedan. The most expensive 1957 model wasbargain-priced Chevrolet just enough zing to grab
the Bel Air Nomad two-door station wagon with abuyers' fancy.
$2,757.00 base price. It was Chevrolet's lowest-sellingThe 57 Chevy had style, the buzz born of racing
model. Chevrolet sold just 6,103 Nomads that year,success and demographics on their side. They hit the
trailing the Corvette by 236 sales.used-car market just as early baby boomers got
Some of the options for that year included, seat beltsdriver's licenses and went looking for affordable
and a racing-style over-the-shoulder security harness.wheels.
Other options included a tissue dispenser, electric razor,The 57 Chevy embodied the spirit of Chevrolet, great
wheel spinners, backup lights and a gas filter. The carslooking, groundbreaking and affordable.
came in 16 solid colors and 15 two-tone combinations.