THIS 1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR FOUR-DOOR SPORT SEDAN WAS ORDERED NEW AND HAS REMAINED IN NEAR ORIGINAL CONDITION
Considering the thousands of makes and models that have emerged from assembly plants since the dawn of the domestic automobile industry, it could be argued that fewer than two dozen have transcended time, celebrated for their status in pop culture as much as their styling designs and mechanical engineering. A good many come from the pivotal year of 1957, including Chevrolet’s sharp, top-of-the-line Bel Air. They’ve been idolized, restored, street rodded, restomodded, hot rodded, and replicated in volumes that far exceed the countless “how-to (enter project type here)” and historical reference books that have been published over the last six decades. They enjoy the kind of uber popularity in which it’s likely there are more on the road today than when Chevrolet shut down its assembly plants to tool up for the unique ’58 model year.
Offered in seven different body styles—including both a conventional and Nomad station wagon—pop culture would have us believe the most popular example when new was the two-door hardtop Sport Sedan. Not so. It ranked second in model sales with 166,426 units scooped up by customers at season’s end, surpassed by the sale of 254,331 four-door sedans. Third on the Bel Air sales list were the equally stylish, 137,672 four-door hardtop Sport Sedans built during the year, including our featured example owned since 1977 by retired art teacher Ted DeHoogh of Sioux Center, Iowa.
Ted’s familiarity with the spacious four-door far exceeds his nearly five decades in the driver’s seat, explaining that, “My aunt and uncle purchased this Bel Air from Verschoor Chevrolet-Buick, in nearby Sheldon, in early 1957. They ordered it, rather than buying one off the lot, and they deleted the radio to reduce the cost by $25.”
That’s probably because the couple had also requested that the full-size Chevy come equipped with a new-for-1957 two-barrel 283-cu.in. V-8 engine, as well as a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission; both were options. So, too, were the color-keyed two-tone interior and electric clock that was selected off the option list. Assembled at the Janesville, Wisconsin, plant in January 1957, the four-door hardtop arrived at the dealership matching most of the couple’s specifications.
“When my aunt and uncle went to take delivery of the Chevy, the 283 and Powerglide were installed, as was the two-tone interior, two-speed wipers, heater, floor mats, EZ-Eye tinted glass, bumper guards, whitewall tires, and deluxe wheel covers. But the factory had also installed the AM push-button radio that my uncle hadn’t ordered, so he got it at no extra cost. The real sticking point was the paint, though. The body was slathered entirely in Tropical Turquoise rather than the two-tone he ordered. My uncle was insisted that it be painted two-tone with India Ivory, as requested, so the dealer had its shop paint both the roof and the bottom half of the car, headlamp to taillamp, in Ivory,” Ted recalls.
For the benefit of novice Chevrolet enthusiasts, the “Turbo-Fire” 283-cu.in. engine Ted’s relatives specified was a revised version of the division’s revolutionary 265-cu.in. small-block V-8 that had been introduced two years prior. One could say the 283 was a bored-out version of the 265 but there was more to it than a larger piston bore (3.75 inches versus 3.87).
The engine was incredibly adaptable. A variety of internal and bolt-on components, two- or four-barrel carburetor, or a fuel injections system, for instance, helped create a 185 to 283 horsepower range. In fact, it was a fuel-injected 283 in a base model 150 coupe that gave birth to the “Black Widow” nickname that was prevalent in the early part of the 1957 NASCAR season. That is, until the governing body outlawed everything but four-barrel induction systems; the self-imposed AMA motorsports ban that followed notwithstanding.
Bolstering the pre-ban racing exploits were road test periodicals. In January 1957, the same month Ted’s relative’s hardtop Sport Sedan was ordered and sent into production, Motor Trend published performance results of a four-door Bel Air sedan equipped with a 270-hp version of the 283, paired with a Powerglide automatic and a final drive ratio of 3.55:1. The 115-inch wheelbase Chevy went from 0-60 mph in 9.9 seconds and traversed the quarter-mile in 17.5 seconds at 77.5 MPH. To put that into perspective, the same issue of Motor Trend contained a test of a Ford Fairlane 500 four-door sedan—fitted with a 245-hp 312-cu.in. Y-block, Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, and a 3.10:1 final drive ratio—that went from 0-60 in 11.1 seconds while it travelled the quarter-mile in 18.2 seconds at 77 mph. Suffice it to say, the 283 kept Chevrolet’s “The Hot One” sales slogan at the tip of driving enthusiast’s tongues, including Ted’s driving instructor.
“Aside from living in the same community as my aunt and uncle—meaning I grew up with their Bel Air—my high school driving instructor’s car was a nicely optioned Inca Silver Bel Air Sport Sedan that had a ‘Power Pack’ 283 under the hood, along with a three-speed with overdrive, a Wonder Bar radio, whitewall tires, and full wheel covers with spinners! What a dream to drive for a fifteen-year-old student,” Ted says.
“Because of all this exposure to these ’57 Bel Airs over the years, I became smitten with its incredible styling, and in particular the color combination of my aunt and uncle’s. They kept the Chevy until 1977 when, at age 70, my uncle decided he wanted to buy a new Malibu Classic,” Ted says. According to him, the dealer wanted to take the aging Bel Air in trade, but his uncle declined and offered Ted the car instead. Ted eagerly accepted in November of that year. When the Chevy’s title changed hands, the odometer read 62,800 miles.
“Shortly after I purchased the Bel Air, I had Northside Body Shop here in Sioux Center change the lower Ivory portion back to Tropical Turquoise, but I kept the Ivory top,” Ted reports. He admits that due in part to the car’s low mileage—recorded as roughly 72,300 at the time of our visit—the hardtop Sport Sedan has required a few humble repairs rather than a full restoration.
“I had some reupholstery work done to the front seat since the mylar piping and fabric was showing some wear. Vanderstelt Upholstery did the work with material purchased from Ciadella Interiors.” Ted also replaced the front and rear carpeting and had a few exterior pieces restored, including the front and rear bumpers and a taillamp housing. Some front grille parts were replaced, too.
“Locating replacement parts has not been a challenge since many vendors cater to ‘Tri-Five’ owners. I have used Classic Chevy International, Ecklers, Cars, Inc., and Merv’s Classic Chevy Parts for specific ’57 Bel Air items. I also use local parts stores for routine mechanical replacement parts. NOS parts are more of a challenge, but swap meets and the internet can yield results. On rare occasions, I turn to local auto shops for repairs that I cannot manage.
“Over the decades of ownership, I have belonged to Tri-State Classic Chevy Club, Classic Chevy International, Ecklers, and most recently the Sioux Center Classic Cruisers. Club membership offers access to fellow enthusiasts who are eager and willing to assist owners new to the hobby in any way they are able. I highly recommend club involvement for the classic car enthusiast,” Ted says.
Despite his 1977 purchase date, Ted really didn’t start displaying his 1957 Bel Air at local events until ’84; since that time he’s accumulated many memories.
“While displaying at various car shows, I have had people stop by and remark that they had a ’57 Chevrolet of the same color or body style and wish they hadn’t sold or traded it for a newer model. They share stories about their experiences. Car shows are just one part of it, though. In 1996, we used the Chevy to escort our son and his new bride from the chapel where they were married to our church for their reception. Whenever I get the Chevy out for a drive, a show, or a cruise, I almost pinch myself that I own a vehicle of such significant styling that I can enjoy and drive while getting waves, smiles, and plenty of thumbs up.
“It hardly seems possible that I’ve had this car for over 44 years; I still consider myself as the caretaker and not the owner,” Ted admits. “My wife Noreen and I love taking it on short weekend outings as it’s become a member of the family and a ‘family heirloom’ at the same time. Looking back, I was so happy to get that first chance to purchase it.”