Picking up the ‘57 Chevy I’ve always wanted next week

[MikeB]

[zeek]

Ok...yes...there is most certainly a rust bubble in this pic! Enlarge it and look at the bottom aft quarter panel. Rust coming out....I would have to seriously rethink paying $37 k for a car with ANY rust starting to show. God knows where else it will be hiding....

[Rodnok1]

I'd definitely be checking for rust and any repairs that'll bite you later.


Some day I'll get a 57 myself and fix it up...

[Dan47]

Rust sucks but awesome looking otherwise. If it is rust, I’d pass, being as repairing it properly would be really expensive. I think similar, better examples are going to be coming on the market as interest rates rise. I’d wait a little longer, (if it’s rust).

[Sea Six]

Thanks guys. I may have dodged a bullet on this one. I’ll ask for more pics and info.

If anyone is in the area (about thirty minutes north of Atlanta) I’d pay good money for an inspection in person for rust. It would save me a fifteen hour drive round trip.

[Sea Six]

I guess the only way to fix this properly is to replace the driver side front quarter panel. How much would this cost? Is $3000 a panel a good guess?

The panels sell for close to $1000. I don’t know if that includes shipping. By the time you pay a shop to pull the old one, hang the new one, line everything up, paint to match with clear coat, and reinstall all the trim I can see it all adding up very quickly. Plus I’d bet there are more such problem areas than this one.

[Grey Ghost]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

I guess the only way to fix this properly is to replace the driver side front quarter panel. How much would this cost? Is $3000 a panel a good guess?

The panels sell for close to $1000. I don’t know if that includes shipping. By the time you pay a shop to pull the old one, hang the new one, line everything up, paint to match with clear coat, and reinstall all the trim I can see it all adding up very quickly. Plus I’d bet there are more such problem areas than this one.

A fender is fairly cheap to replace. They just bolt on. The problem is how honest the seller is with you about rust. They all rust. Period. Floor/trunk pan, rockers, body mounts, bottom of doors, rear quarter panels (require lots of labor and $), etc..

[Dan Dlabay]

Good looking car and if that is what you want go for it. I think the 57 Chevy is one of the best-looking cars ever put out.

[Lakota]

My first vehicle was a 55 Chevy 210 2 door sedan in 1964. I like the look of the 55 over the other Tri-Fives 56,57.

Watched the attached Jay Leno video, yesterday, and he mentioned the 57 wasn't a big seller for Chevy in the day. He did mention it is popular today. It got outsold by the 57 Ford. I believe the 55 was Chevy's best seller for a model in history.

1957 Chevrolet 210 - Jay Leno's Garage - YouTube

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

If one was interested in something from Chevrolet in the 55-57 era, it’s the 57 ALL day long. The other two do absolutely nothing for me.

[Learpilot]

thats a beauty

[Lakota]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

If one was interested in something from Chevrolet in the 55-57 era, it’s the 57 ALL day long. The other two do absolutely nothing for me.

Your lucky, you'll get a better price on a 57 because, "Today, 1955 Chevrolet two door hard tops command top dollar."

"The '55, '56 and '57 Chevrolets are sought after by collectors, enthusiasts and hot rodders[citation needed], and the three model years are often referred to by the given nickname of the "tri-fives." Collectors will pay a premium for two-door models, and even more for the Bel Air version, especially the two-door hardtop (two-door, no side post). Today, 1955 Chevrolet two door hard tops command top dollar."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1955_Chevrolet

[Lakota]

Found it interesting that re-reading the fantastic book, "Glory Days: When Horsepower and Passion Ruled Detroit
by Jim Wangers"

He mentioned that that the 1955 Chevy was unbeatable and won NASCAR in both 1955 and 1956. The 265 V-8 Chevy had a power pack option that consisted of a four barrel carburetor and dual exhaust.

OHV V8: 265 cubic inches, 162 brake horsepower (SAE)
OHV V8: 265 cubic inches, 180 brake horsepower (SAE), also known as the "Power Pack" engine
OHV V8: 265 cubic inches, 195 brake horsepower (SAE), late in the model year, known as the "Super Power Pack"

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Lakota

Your lucky, you'll get a better price on a 57 because, "Today, 1955 Chevrolet two door hard tops command top,,,

If I were in the market for such a thing I’d be looking at ‘57 T-Birds. I’m a GM geek but that particular year T-Bird is killer.

[Dan47]

I owned a 56 and like them better than either the 55 or 57. Mine had a 327, muncie 4sp combo. Felt really fast for such a big car, small engine combo.

Besides the beautiful shape of these years, I found working on them to be a joy as the size meant plenty of room. Could damn near pitch a tent under the dash, especially in comparison to a Corvette.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Hell that’s one thing I would’ve added had it been absent. Serious

I wouldn't change a single thing.

[sublime1996525]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

I guess the only way to fix this properly is to replace the driver side front quarter panel. How much would this cost? Is $3000 a panel a good guess?

The panels sell for close to $1000. I don’t know if that includes shipping. By the time you pay a shop to pull the old one, hang the new one, line everything up, paint to match with clear coat, and reinstall all the trim I can see it all adding up very quickly. Plus I’d bet there are more such problem areas than this one.

I'll be willing to bet that doesn't include shipping but you should be able to get it shipped for $150-$200.

Hopefully you can find someone to look at it for you.

[Sea Six]

OK so here’s the plan. I’m going up on Tuesday with my Dooley and flatbed car carrier to look at the car. I’ve talk to the guy and he says that this is the only spot of rust on the car. He says it’s been there since he bought the car 17 years ago and it is never gotten any larger. He also says he knows the hill history of the car back to the original owner and knows that there is no Bondo anywhere on the car. I’ll see if I can pick up one of those Bondo sensor meters that tells you how thick a layer of Bondo or non-metallic material is and go around the whole car basically everywhere. If the carSeems like it’s as the seller describes it I’m gonna be coming home with that bad boy.

[Sea Six]

I’m going to really go all commando on that car and terret apart looking for any signs of rust. I’ll show the guy my cashiers check for 37K which is the payment method that he wanted but before he gets the check I’m going to tell him that I’m going to lift up carpets trunk mats and basically go over the whole car to make sure there’s no more rust anywhere other than where he says it is. At this point since gray ghost has told me that it’s pretty simple to change our front fenders I’m gonna plan on at least at some point in the future have any replace both of those and hopefully that’ll be the end of it. It’s been garage kept since it was restored in the 80s and I plan on keeping it that way permanently. So maybe I can get a few more yearsOf enjoying it before I even have to do that

[Sea Six]

He says it’s an Edelbrock crate motor 350 in.³ with 375 hp. He has no documentation on that motor. I’m not sure if he put it in or if it was put in by a previous owner. Any ideas on what it is just by looking at the pictures and is there anything I can look for and check real quick before I purchase the car? Looking at current prices that’s a pretty damn pricey motor no idea what it cost when it went in or even how old it is though

Fancy built crate motor or not I’m not really concerned and I’m not buying the vehicle for that fact anyway. So long as it runs well I don’t care if it came out of an old pick up truck and get a fancy dress up kit all I wanna do is drive it around town not gonna race or Dyno it