1957 Chevy Bel Air: the most beloved car in history

Auto

The Chevy Bel Air 57 has been called “the most popular car ever,” and since this Chevrolet outsold the Ford Thunderbird the year it was released, that’s praiseworthy.

Stylish Baby Cadillac

‘Baby Cadillac’ in style, the 1957 Chevrolet was described in a memorable Chevy ad as ‘sweet, smooth and sassy’. The Chevy was not only part of the American dream, it was broadcast to homes around the world through its many television appearances, thus becoming part of a larger, global dream.

57 Chevy fins

Was it the fins or was it the fact that the 57 Chevy became the car of choice for all high school students around the world in the 1960s that made these cars the collectible icons they have become today? day? The fact that only 47,566 Bel Air were produced also contributes to its preciousness as gold.

Where does the name Bel Air come from? In previous years, the luxury versions of Chevrolet hardtops were dubbed the Bel Air. This got stuck and Chevrolet liked it so much that they released it as their own very different series.

These Chevys were easily identifiable. The new tail fins and the addition of 2 ½ inches to the length gave them a longer, lower and wider appearance; a drop in wheels from 15 to 14 inches and a large new bumper grill made them one of the most attractive productions of that decade.

The 57 Bel Air was originally designed in 1954 for a ’55 release and was considered at the time as a welcome bold new look for the company. It was a bargain with a starting price of $ 1095, considering that a subscription to a good auto magazine almost costs that today. The most famous model with the V-8 engine in the 57, it had an incredible output of 1 horsepower per cubic inch (a first for a mass-produced car at the time), which gave this car speed and a spectacular appearance.

Chevy brings the purr back to performance

The sound emitted by the dual exhausts of the 57 became synonymous with the sound of a cat purring, confirming that it was an advertisement placed in one of the main Chevrolet magazines at the time announcing to everyone that “Chevy returns to put the purr in performance. “

It’s no wonder the 1957 Chevy Bel Air became one of the most collectible postwar cars in history.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *