I have the notion that any and, every make hit a HIGH mark in '57. I would be proud to own them each and all. As it was I did have two 210s and a 3800 Panel. A 210 waits in my garage, for me to make some decisions. Raid the nest egg and get some help in bringing it up to cruising level
I don't have a '57, but I'll take a moment to savor and celebrate the full pedal blast i was treated to in a white, blown rat powered, straight axle, 57 Chevy last year at Lloydfest! Thanks Steve!
This photo is almost an exact replica of my friend’s high school 57 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop. It was stock looking, but had the most modified motor of all of our sedans. And it was fun to drive with the installed 4 speed stick transmission. Hello, My friend’s 57 was the highlight of teenagers doing all they could, with the skills learned from early on in hot rods. We had the mechanical skills and a taste for high performance. Once that accelerator was pushed, there was no going back to stock, despite what car it was. The 57 Chevy was a 3 speed stick shift 283 with a 4 barrel. Stock as if it rolled off of the factory assembly lines. But, as a teenager, it was a couple of years old. The price was right and at least it was a stick shift model. Cruising around was the highlight of our days and nights in Bixby Knolls. It was also one of the teenage cars parked in the prime location across the street from our high school. Almost every student that parked on that side of the school, walked by before school as the entrance was across the street. So, the battle for the prime, top 3 parking spots was always a “race.” No one wanted to get to school early, but, in order to get one of those spots, one had to be somewhat early. My old flathead sedan delivery was stock looking on the outside and as slow as molasses, but it was the camaraderie of teenage friends walking by and stopping to say hello, was the key. Countless boys and girls walked by and waved, etc. Jnaki Several days, we took his 57 Chevy to the beach. He was a good high school team swimmer, but after out three times surfing, he gave it up. So, he concentrated on his 57 Chevy. The 57 Chevy was the primary Christmas Tree delivery method for two seasons during our high school cruising days. It was a hit when it was parked in the lot and during deliveries. We always made it a point to cruise in the driveway next door to the Christmas Tree Lot, at our local giant windows of the restaurant the teenagers had breakfast, lunch and dinners during the year. Even the local parents like the delivery method. Ha! He really wanted to paint the 1957 Bel Air hardtop Red, but he decided to spend his money on go fast parts and equipment versus spending the cash on a new paint job. At Christmas, that vision would have topped off everything. a red 57 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop rumbling up to the driveway with a tree strapped to the top!!! The 57 Chevy sounded cool with the flow through Hedman Headers and modified 283 motor. We kept going as the funds were available, so a 4 speed was added, and a dual quad set up from a Corvette was also the most significant add on item. Then a Duntov Cam and lifter kit, plus port and polish were also added to create a very quick Chevy Bel Air Hardtop hot rod sedan. He did not race at Lion’s Dragstrip, but the local late night “Cherry Avenue Drags” location was a short drive from his house. One can wonder how all of the mods were done as a teenager. My friend worked after school and his job paid quite well. He was a hot dog maker. Not in a hot dog stand or restaurant, but the actual meat company warehouse located near our high school. It was a process and watching it being made, we knew why he did not like hot dogs grilled or even with added chili. If one counted what was being ground up to make the “meat,” then it was a hard decision that our noses would take into account when the barbeque grilled hot dogs at parties were floating in the air. YRMV Here is an old post about the transformation: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/changing-intake-on-sbc-350.1330803/page-3#post-15512895 The mode of the teenage 57 Chevy Bel Air was modifying the motor and driveline for top performance. Headers, dual quads, Traction Masters bars and a special 4 speed transmission as well as a Positraction 4:11 gearing when necessary. It was the second fastest sedan in Bixby Knolls and around those cruising areas. My friend was so fast that his 4 speed shifting was as if a modified Hydramatic was in place instead of a modified 4 speed transmission. The term smooth as silk comes to mind. We also were too early for those fender well headers and besides, they destroyed the engine compartment with the curved pipes. If one was to cap them up then a blockage of the daily flow was evident. The pipes leading to the mufflers still worked, but the daily drive was restricted due to the “L” shape exhaust pipe to the rear pipes/mufflers. Our choice was the simple, but smooth flowing Hedman Headers. They were the short ones sold at most speed shops. They fit most Chevy engine compartments with little to no problems. Most of the original ones were painted black at speed shops. They were short and dropped straight down. Now, most required an custom exhaust pipe extension that ran to the existing dual muffler pipes for the complete system. If one were to run in the Gas Coupe and Sedan Class, like we did with our 671 SBC motor in the 1940 Willys Coupe, we just unbolted the ends from the muffler system. The mufflers were already attached to the frame so as to not hang down. Note: We switched our hot rod sedans for a weekend and it was the most fun I had in a 4 speed Chevy. As far as being in a drive-in movie, to create more space, the shifter had to be in first gear. HA! At the time, he had the 4:11 gears in place. My Impala had the 4:56 gears in place and he also enjoyed driving my car around, for the weekend. No, there was no floor shifter in the Impala, so there was plenty of room, too... YRMV Thanks, @themoose
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