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Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> The Lounge -> I really miss my sweet 1957 Chevrolet BelAir sport sedan hardtop. (1984-2006)
Post Info TOPIC: I really miss my sweet 1957 Chevrolet BelAir sport sedan hardtop. (1984-2006)
long stroke


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I really miss my sweet 1957 Chevrolet BelAir sport sedan hardtop. (1984-2006)
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In November 1984 i purchased a 1957 Chevrolet BelAir four door hardtop (sport sedan) from a man that was having financial problems in the town of Irin, Ontario. I bought the car for $5,000 certified and it was well worth every cent of it. The car originally came from Texas and was a super solid car with all the factory sheet metal. The car had been in Canada since 1977. This 57 was loaded originally with 283 V-8 Power Pack, Power Glide automatic, power steering, power brakes, EZ eye tinted glass all around, front and rear bumper guards, back up lights, dual rear antenna's including power antenna, windshield washer system, electric wipers and wonder bar signal seeking radio. I added factory power windows, power seat, continental kit, sun visor factory spot lights, vacuum ash tray, fender skirts, wheel spinners, deck molding trim, courtesy lights package, litter container and a bunch of other neat dealer accessories. I rebuilt a bunch of stuff and collected every original accessory i could find in Carlisle and Herchey, Penn., U.S.A. I drove the car in its factory Sierra Gold and Adobe Beige colours from 1984 until i took the car off the road in 1990 to do a complete body off restoration. I spent four months shy of two years doing a proper off the frame restoration. I did a factory colour change because i have always loved Tropical Turquoise and India Ivory. I changed the cowl tag to reflect the paint colour change. Earlier i had the 283 and the Power Glide properly rebuilt. Everything on the car was correct date coded for when the car was originally built except for the colour change. I remember my dad being a little upset with me for changing the colour because he had a real thing for the colour gold, like his 74 Chev wagon. I drove the car on average about 4,000 miles a year going to shows every where. I won eleven awards from 1992 to 2001. I loved the car but i reached a point in my life where i had too many vehicles and it was making me insane with all the storage and insurance costs to keep so many vehicles in my possession. I sold the 57 to a man from Victoria B.C. and he paid me what i wanted. I wonder if any of our B.C. members have seen this car out their way. I regret selling the car now more than ever because i know that i will never be able to afford to build a car like this ever again. Cheers.



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
66 Grande guy


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I do love the four door hardtops of any year  You just never saw any up here as they all got shook to pieces on the crappy roads we had. I did buy a 1957 210 sport sedan long ago that was at least fixable but I just passed it on to another guy.

Beautiful in any colour.

Too bad about the bad case of optionitus  you had. Expensive affliction as I well know.



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ken from northern Alberta

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DonSSDD


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Beautiful 57 in both colours.

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cdnpont


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Lovely car George.

What would a V8 57 4 door HT in that condition and equipped so go for today?



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 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 69 Parisienne Convertible.
 
58 poncho fan


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We have a similar car in Tillsonburg.  Painted in Larkspur Blue and India Ivory.  George think you have seen it at some shows.  Bob.



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long stroke


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58 poncho fan wrote:

We have a similar car in Tillsonburg.  Painted in Larkspur Blue and India Ivory.  George think you have seen it at some shows.  Bob.

 Bob, if that car has the very rare exterior sun visor, then i knew the previous owner many years ago. 



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
CdnGMfan


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George, I had a seat in your '57 when it was gold. I had come out to your place to buy some brochures from you in the late 80's. I also remember seeing it when you drove it to a Canadian Tire at Yonge & Davenport around '87. You were heavily into all thing 1957 Chevrolet and your room was a shrine dedicated to the marque. The car was such a fine specimen and you got all the little details on it right.

It is funny but back in the mid to late 60's a father of a classmate 1 block away from us had a '57 Bel Air Sport Sedan in the same colours as yours, as a daily driver. He got rid of it in 1968/69 for an immaculate Anniversary Gold 1958 Bel Air sedan, also used as a daily driver. Later he owned a '64 Bel Air, and the latest car he owned was a '66 Bel Air back in '78. All were clean daily drivers. He passed unexpectedly in middle age from a heart attack in 1978. I'm sure he would have had more Bel Airs had he lived.



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long stroke


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CdnGMfan wrote:

George, I had a seat in your '57 when it was gold. I had come out to your place to buy some brochures from you in the late 80's. I also remember seeing it when you drove it to a Canadian Tire at Yonge & Davenport around '87. You were heavily into all thing 1957 Chevrolet and your room was a shrine dedicated to the marque. The car was such a fine specimen and you got all the little details on it right.

It is funny but back in the mid to late 60's a father of a classmate 1 block away from us had a '57 Bel Air Sport Sedan in the same colours as yours, as a daily driver. He got rid of it in 1968/69 for an immaculate Anniversary Gold 1958 Bel Air sedan, also used as a daily driver. Later he owned a '64 Bel Air, and the latest car he owned was a '66 Bel Air back in '78. All were clean daily drivers. He passed unexpectedly in middle age from a heart attack in 1978. I'm sure he would have had more Bel Airs had he lived.

 Cam, you never stop amazing me with your incredible memory. I do not remember being at that Canadian Tire at that time and i do not remember you sitting in my 57. Did we go for a spin then. I taught my younger brother Mike to drive in this 57 in around 1986 when he was a teen. To this day he says he has the shakes worrying about driving my 57. Cheers.



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
long stroke


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cdnpont wrote:

Lovely car George.

What would a V8 57 4 door HT in that condition and equipped so go for today?

 Mark, the value thing is such a hard call because there are so many factors. In the case of my 57, the car was fully and properly restored and it had every conceivable factory and dealer option. The only thing my 57 did not have was factory air conditioning and i came within an inch of putting factory air in it as well. A friend of mine from Cheektowaga, New York had three complete 57 AC set ups that required rebuilds. I changed my mind to install AC in my 57 when i saw how ugly it looked under the hood, plus they were very inefficient according to my 57 Chevy expert buddy from N.Y. I sold my car for what i wanted and i did well on it but of course i never got back all the countless hours working on it. I seriously regret selling the car now but at the time it made sense. smile



-- Edited by long stroke on Sunday 29th of March 2020 07:57:43 PM

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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
long stroke


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This car was sold to a man from Victoria, British Columbia, that owned a taxi cab company in Victoria. Has any of our B.C. members ever seen this 57 Chevy out their way at any car shows or cruise nights. The 57 was this two tone when i sold it in 2006. 



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
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long stroke wrote:

This car was sold to a man from Victoria, British Columbia, that owned a taxi cab company in Victoria. Has any of our B.C. members ever seen this 57 Chevy out their way at any car shows or cruise nights. The 57 was this two tone when i sold it in 2006. 

 I have asked around about your 57 Chevy, but so far no one remembers seeing it around at car shows etc. Would like to see it though. Cant have been many taxi companys back then. Probably Bluebird Taxi I would guess.



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mr57


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Not sure if you ever saw the Larkspur Blue and white one out of Alberta. It was a back page car in the 567 News. It had Caddy wire wheels on it with skirts and a continental kit. Fuelie scripts on the fenders and I believe a tuned port 305. It was the most beautiful 57 I had ever seen, hands down. The detail in the build was flawless. That's still on the bucket list. I had a 210 sport sedan for a while, Coronado yellow with a black top and insert. I got it cheap and was building it cheap. I put a free 235 and glide in it and got it to the run/drive/stop stage. When I yanked the motor out to paint and detail it, someone came along and when I told them a silly price to get him to leave me alone, he never even argued. And away it went..


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Canadian Poncho


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There's an interesting 57 Bel Air for sale in New Brunswick. Looks to be original paint. Pricey though

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/saint-john/1957-chevrolet-bel-air/1495589645

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 283 V8, 2spd power glide automatic. New radiator and exhaust. Floor, trunk, rocker panels, frame, and the bottom of the doors are in excellent shape. There is one small hole in the bottom of the drivers fender and needs interior kit. This vehicle spent it's entire life in South Carolina until 2 years ago. It is a very dry, original, solid car. Engine runs very well. The car could be driven and enjoyed in its current state or would make a perfect candidate for a resto mod or original restoration.

 



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long stroke


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Todd, i agree it is very pricey considering its present condition and the Covid-19 meltdown. Still it is a very good 57 for someone to build into a proper 57. smile



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Canadian Poncho


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Funny, I checked the Hagerty price guide and this one is priced about right (pre Covid). I didn't think these cars were still fetching so much.

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long stroke


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That is one very very solid 57 Chevy. SOLID !



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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six

1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
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