• The '57 Chevy Bel Air was among Chevrolet's most popular models.auto viejo como nuevo image by VICTRONICS from Fotolia.com
  
  The 1957 Chevy is one of the most recognizable American car ever built. The Tri-Chevys of 1955, 1956 and 1957 represent the epitome of Chevrolet styling for many classic car enthusiasts. The 1957 Chevy is one of the most popular used cars in history. The 1957 Chevys lost their large, sharply pointed trademark tail fins when the car was completely redesigned for the 1958 model year.
  
  

1957 Models

• For the 1957 model year, Chevrolet cars were built in three distinct lines plus the series 2934 Corvette. Cars from each of the three main series were available with either a six-cylinder or a V8 engine. The One-Fifty series 1500 cars were the lowest level models, often used as utility or fleet vehicles. The Two-Ten series 2100 vehicles were the mid-level offering.The highest level was the Bel Air series 2400. Bel Airs were offered as a four-door Beauville station wagon, sedan and sport sedan. Two-door Bel Airs included the Nomad station wagon, a convertible coupe, a sport coupe and a sedan. The Two-Ten series included the rare Delray coupe. The rarest of all 1957 Chevys was the El Morocco model, with only 16 built.
  
  

Engines

• Chevys from 1957 featured an in-line six-cylinder 235.5 cubic-inch engine. The overhead-valve motor had hydraulic valve lifters and a single-barrel Rochester carburetor. The motor's bore and stroke was 3.56 inches by 3.94 inches with an 8:1 compression ratio. It produced 140 horsepower at 4,200 rpm with 210 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The 1957 Chevy 265.07 cubic-inch V8 produced 162 horsepower at 4,400 rpm with 257 pound-feet of torque at 2,200 rpm. It used a two-barrel Rochester carburetor. The 1957 Corvette had a 283.04 cubic-inch V8 with a 10.5:1 compression ratio. It generated 220 horsepower at 4,800 rpm with 300 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. It had a single or dual four-barrel Rochester or Carter carburetor.
  
  

Chassis

• The 1957 Chevys had Fisher bodies on a hot-rolled, pickled-steel box-girder frame. Their independent front suspension combined long and short control arms with spherical joints and coil-springs. The rear suspension was provided by semi-elliptic leaf springs. The cars had Delco hydraulic shock absorbers. The semifloating rear axle was rated at 3,000 pounds and featured a Hotchkiss drive in a pressed steel banjo housing. The standard transmission was a three-speed manual with overdrive using a diaphragm-spring, dry-disc, single-plate clutch. Powerglide or Turboglide automatics were optional. The cars had servo-type hydraulic expanding drum brakes with molded asbestos lining.