Faults:

Rear motor mounts broke under hard acceleration (the car was 35 years old at the time)

Needed the brake master cylinder and wheel cylinders replaced.

First gear wasn't synchronized (sucks), so replaced the 3 speed with a Saginaw 4 speed.

283 V8 needed rebuilt, but it ran so good I drove it a year before it had to be done. So pulled motor and did a full rebuild to stock. Ran very good.

Some rust in the rear quarters and lower front fenders otherwise just normal wear.

General Comments:

This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door sedan was faded original salmon pink with a white top. It had a black and silver interior in good original condition. I bought it in 1992, and it had sat in a pole barn for 20 years and had been moth balled, so no major mouse damage. The engine started after cleaning the gas tank. It had the famous power pack 4 barrel carb and it was fast. The engine loved to rev.

I loved the seat materials on this car, very classy and durable. The headliner was still in great shape as well as the carpet. The chrome is nice to look at, but expensive to redo. I just left the chrome alone and enjoyed the car as is. Electrical stuff worked, but seems weak, such as wipers and turn signals. This car's electrical system is original and old, but still works.

I liked the door hinges because they don't wear out, and the quality of the door handles and knobs is excellent.

The 3 speed manual was originally on the column but someone had put in a floor shifter. Coming up to a stop sign, you'd have to wait to come to a complete stop to get it into first. I swapped out the trans with a Saginaw 4 speed, with a much better synchronized first gear. It worked great, and made the car much more fun to drive.

I took my friend for a ride shortly after putting in the Saginaw 4 speed. I power shifted 2nd gear and the car burned rubber, but it also began to misfire. I drove home and had dad look at it. Dad noticed the distributor cap was broken. In fact the distributor was up against the firewall because the rear motor mounts broke, and the only thing holding the engine in the car was the distributor. Ha.

This was our family's 3rd Bel Air. The 1955 was a basket case we bought in 1981 for $500 and never got running. The yellow 57 Bel Air we had in Yuba City, California had dual 4 barrels and a 4 speed, then this pink 57 we bought in 92, but sold in 94. Great cars!

Faults:

Front end ball bearings had to be replaced at 125.000 miles.

Heater switches didn't work.

Dashboard clock didn't work.

Fuel gauge never worked.

Front end broke tie-rod ends at 155.000 miles.

Valve lifters were worn out after 140.000 miles, because no oil could get up to the valve heads. Had to blow out oil lines.

Headliner was gone.

General Comments:

The car ran excellent and the 2-speed powerglide transmission was really a dream. It would actually do 80 mph on the highway!

Not particularly safe nor comfortable, but hey, it's a classic!

Very reliable, and tough as nails.

Started in any type of weather, and never left me stranded anywhere, even though the fuel gauge didn't work.