Projects New to me old '57 Chevy Convertible

I bought a new project...now that it's paid for, I'll share photos and cool history.
This is a cool old 1957 convertible. It's been off the road since around 1963 and in a garage until recently.
I got to sit down with the widow of the owner over the weekend (son is a friend of mine). Her husband bought it new or close to it before they started dating in the 57/58 when she was 15 and he was 19. He upfitted it with the aftermarket tach, gauges, headers, and presumably the 4 speed and used to drag race it.
Around 1966 it was torn down for a repaint. A little fuzzy on details here...apparently when putting it back together he caught the engine on fire and blistered the new paint. That's when it was mothballed.
Many, many years back he started collecting parts to finally restore it but that day never came.
I have bought it based on months of the son getting me photos...obviously everything will need confirmed when I pick it up next month but the deal was solid for both parties.
Still up in the air on whether it was a factory fuelie or not. Keen eyes will see the fuelie unit and fuelie specific parts. There are trim holes in the fender for the fuel injection script and crossed flags. But people more knowledgeable than me have educated me that the block is not an original 1957 Flint block. The garage is full of parts I'll have to comb through when I pick it up - hoping I get lucky and there is the correct block tucked away.

 

That's pretty cool. What are your plans? Could you just repaint the hood and put it back together just the way it was going to be put together in the mid 60's? That'd be pretty neat. I like my '57 2 door sedan but I'd really love a convertible, they've always been far out of reach for me. I get that if this was an original fuel injected car it's worth a lot restored to stock but there are already so many of those out there, seems a shame to undo the mild custom/hotrod history this car has.

All that NOS stuff in boxes yet too, that's the stuff dreams are made of.

 

OH MY, OH MY. A 6 year old convert. New parts, 4 speed, and whatever else.
Hope you go for the Tahitian Turquoise.
Actually that model is stunning in every color. Just that the first one I ever saw was such. Have fun.

 

Omg why would someone leave that sitting outside for any reason, get on top of that and look after the rust before it gets away. Fantastic car , lucky fn dog !

 

It all depends on if it's truly a factory fuelie. It would be one of 68 produced - sort of the holy grail. If it is, I might move it to someone with the pockets deep enough to do the restoration it deserves. There's obviously several things I need to verify once I pick it up. Knowing what I know of his collection, there's a good chance the block is there somewhere if it is.
If it isn't, then I would probably put it together pretty much as is and restore it as little as possible and treat it as a survivor. The history of it is cool to me.
I'm also most likely closing on a deal with the same family on a cool unmolested, patina'd Model A roadster and a truck load of parts...

 

It was pushed out of the garage last year after the owner passed. Fortunately covered at least. The rest of the family are not "car" guys in any stretch of the phrase

 

That’s quite a score, especially with all those NOS parts.

 

I am seriously jealous. Good for you .

 

Very cool! Congrats and hope you can get the Model A as well!

 

Congratulations, great score. This will require updates.

 

I love it!!

 

Fuelie or not, a 57 convertible is a really high dollar car. The kind of stuff dreams are made of

 

Me never ever post anything I hope to own, that’s not under my lock n key, with title / registration in hand.

 

Solid car! Looking forward to updates. !

 

See if you can identify the fuel line size from the tank to the pump. If it's original, and 3/8'' size, that indicates Power Pack or FI. If the line is only 5/16'', go ahead and customize the car.

 

All I can say is .....WOW! What a find! Keep us in the loop.

 

Dumbfounded, drooling, and jealous over here!!! PLEASE keep us updated... We NEED more pic's!!!

 

Congrats !

 

That's a top pocket find if I ever saw one! Let us know what other goodies you stumble on, sounds like there's more treasure. 57's have a special meaning for me as Dad bought a white over black BelAir Sport Coupe and I kind of grew up with it as he kept it until '64.

 

Congratulations.

 

Okay. I'll say it..I hope it isn't an original FI car, because I love it as a Hot Rod.
No offense, but fully restored original restorations of these remind me of when I was a kid and would see the bone stock tri-five's on the road, and my young self dreaming of what hop up parts I would first install to convert it from the "parents" car to "cool" kids car.
Good for you regardless.

 

TITS!!

 

Wow!! The sheet metal on that car is amazing. Congrats

 

Damn !!

 

Holey moley! What a haul! Congratulations!

 

Great find!! fuel line--inside or outside the frame rail? Size as mentioned-3/8"is 270 or 283 HP as I recall. Sold my orig fuely a couple of years back.

 

I think fuel line outside frame was for dual exhaust cars, which would be likely option on higher HP cars.

 

MAN!! I hope you bought that cheap. All that N.O.S., & fuelie parts, couldn't possibly worth much. not to mention a 1957 chev convertible!! nice find, indeed

 

Same rules as my 348/tripower/4speed 60 Impala. It was one of the several ways I verified that car. Hopefully it'll check out...at least as a power pack