The 57 Chevy Bel Air is called ‘the most popular car in history’, and given the actuality that this Chevrolet was in point of fact outsold by the Ford Thunderbird the year of its launch, that is high praise indeed. Called by many “the most popular car in history”, the 57 Chevy Bel Aire wasn’t the automobile most sold in 1957. But it is the automobile that won the hearts of many, and continues to win them over, decades later.
‘Baby Cadillac’ in style the 1957 Chevrolet was called in a memorable Chevrolet ad as ’sweet, smooth and sassy’. The Chevy wasn’t just part of the American dream, it was beamed into homes the world over through quite a few TV appearances, for this reason the 1957 Chevy Bel Aire became part of a larger more global dream.
Was it the fins or was it perhaps the fact that the Chevrolet 57 became the vehicle of choice for every high school kid in the USA in the 60’s that made these vehicles the collectible icons they have since become? That there were only ever 47,566 Bel Airs produced, also contributes to this Chevy’s gold like preciousness.
Where did the Bel Air designation come from? In earlier years the deluxe models of the Chevy hardtops were nicknamed Bel Air. This stuck and Chevrolet liked it so much they launched it as its own separate model.
These Chevy Bel Aires were easily recognized The new tail fins and the addition of two and a half inches to the length gave these vehicles a longer, lower and wider appearance. Decreasing from fifteen to fourteen inch tires in addition to a great big new bumper grille made them one of the most good-looking productions of the 50s.
The 57 Bel Air was actually designed in1954 for a 55 launch and was thought of at the time to be a welcome daring new look for the manufacturer. It was a bargain with a starting cost of $1095, when you consider that a subscription to a first-rate car magazine almost costs that these days. The most renowned model with the V-8 engine in 57, had an amazing one horsepower per cubic inch (a first for a mass produced car at that time), giving this car speed as well as killer good looks.
The sound pouring from the dual exhaust pipes of the 1957 Chevy Bel Aire became synonymous with the hum of a cat purring; confirming this was an ad placed in a prominent Chevrolet publication at the time announcing to all that ‘Chevy puts the purr back in performance’. What a fantastic slogan!
It is no wonder that the 57 Chevy Bel Aire has since become one of the most collected cars in history.
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