The 57 Chevy Bel Air has been called ‘the most popular car in history’, and given the actuality that this Chevrolet was in fact outsold by the Ford Thunderbird the year of its launch, that is quite some honor.  Called by many “the most popular car in history”, the 57 Chevy Bel Aire actually wasn’t the automobile most sold in 1957.  But it is the car that won the hearts of many people, and continues to win them over, even 50+ years afterward.

‘Baby Cadillac’ in style the 1957 Chevrolet was described in a terrific Chevy ad as ‘sweet, smooth and sassy’. The Chevy wasn’t only part of the American dream, it was beamed into homes the world over through quite a few TV appearances, therefore the 1957 Chevy Bel Aire became part of a bigger more global dream.

Was it the fins or was it the reality that the Chevrolet 57 became the car of choice for every high school teenager around the world in the 60’s that made these vehicles the collectible icons they have become today?  The fact that there were only ever 47,566 Bel Airs manufactured, also contributes to this Chevy’s collectibility.

Where did the Bel Air designation come from?  In earlier years the deluxe models of the Chevrolet hardtops were nicknamed Bel Air.  This stuck and Chevrolet liked it so much they launched it as its own separate model.

These Chevys were easily recognized  The new tail fins and the extra two and a half inches to the length gave them a longer, lower and wider look.  A decrease from fifteen to fourteen inch tires as well as a great big new bumper grille made them one of the most good-looking vehicles of the decade of the 50s.

The 57 Chevy Bel Aire was at first designed in1954 for a 55 launch and was considered at the time to be a refreshing bold new look for the company.  It was a bargain with a starting price of $1095, when you realize that a subscription to a good car magazine almost seems to cost that at present.   The most renowned model having the V-8 engine in 57, packed an astounding 1 horsepower per cubic inch (a first for a assembly-line car at the time), giving this car speed as well as killer looks.

The sound emitted from the double  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 premier Chevrolet magazine at the time announcing to all and sundry that  ‘Chevy puts the purr back in performance’.  What a great slogan!

It is no wonder that the 1957 Chevy Bel Air has since become one of the most collectible cars in history.  And you can even find a 1957 Chevy for sale, if you look!

#867

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