Hardtop Included: 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Project
Looking shaky is how this 1957 Corvette can best be described. It has a mish-mash of different stuff going on and it ain’t cheap! Interestingly, it is offered for sale by Beverly Hills Car Club. It spite of the initial visuals, it’s worth a closer look. Located in Los Angeles, California is this 1957 Chevrolet Corvette and it is available, here on eBay for a classified ad price of $34,750. There is a make an offer option too.
By 1957, the Corvette was starting to show its teeth, performance-wise. While very similar in appearance to its 1956 predecessor, there was now a larger, and fuel-injected engine option available. Late in the ’57 model year, the four-speed manual transmission made its debut as well. The ‘Vette’s styling, at this point, was still subdued but that would change notably for 1958.
This Corvette’s body appears to be intact, though it looks as if it were red at one time and was resprayed in its current rough, blue hue. It is hard to tell from the accompanying images what kind of shape the fiberglass is in, a close-up view would answer questions regarding cracks or seam separation. Some of the trim is still in place but there is quite a bit missing and the chrome, bumpers et al, is looking pretty weak. The Ansen Sprint style wheels are a nice nod to the past as are the traction bars. Note the ancient double white-stripe front tires, I haven’t seen one of those in years! This ‘Vette does have a removable hardtop but the plexiglass backlight is cracked and too usable and again, some of its stainless trim is missing too. There is no reference to a soft top.
If the exterior is rough, then the interior is very rough. The carpet, kick panels and door cards are MIA; the seats, while not torn or split, are an odd mix of reupholstered black vinyl with seatbacks done in a diamond pattern – a common ’70s styling trait. All of the switches and gauges are contained within the instrument panel, but the panel and the dash appear to be primer over the original red. Loose and dangling wires are always an attention-getter. The floor seems to be solid but it would be good to hear from our Corvette experts regarding the piece that comprises the transmission tunnel and appears to be screwed in place. Is that correct?
Under the hood is a non-original, later model Chevrolet small-block V8 engine. The seller does not elaborate on its provenance and whether or not it runs. It does have a Holley four-barrel carburetor on an aftermarket, aluminum intake manifold, and what appears to be an Accel distributor, but this motor is still styling its original generator. Gear action is handled via a manual transmission, no word if it is a three or a four-speed manual unit.
The underside is showing signs of some pretty heavy rust but it looks more like the surface variety than invasive corrosion. It’s safe to say that this Corvette has spent quite a bit time either outdoors or in damp-ground storage conditions. How about that exhaust system!
Going in, I stated that this Corvette was looking shaky and going out I’m thinking “good luck!” to the next owner. This Chevy seems like an odd inclusion to the inventory of a seller like the Beverly Hills Car Club but so be it. A ’57 Corvette or not, the price seems like a huge amount of money for what this car is, don’t you think?
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Comments
That seems like an awfully high price for a car that looks like it was pulled out of a field. Is it supposed to be rare? I’m no expert, but it looks like a money pit.
If possible, make it road worthy, then drive it. Not every car needs to be restored.
Steve R
I’m not sure why it is interesting or odd that this poor thing is being sold by BHCC. If there’s one thing I have understood from looking at car ads it is that BHCC are neither in Beverly Hills nor being a car club- they are just a used car dealership in a shadier area outside of LA with a reputation for selling cars that Copart would reject for quite mind boggling asks. One would think that they must sell some of their inventory sooner or later so either buyers are willing to pay more than what we would think or they have a very generous negotiation buffer in the prices.
a #4 fair condition book value is $37,500. It’s probably a $25k-$30K car as it sits. $35k doesn’t seem that far out of line for an asking price.
You must be smokin’ sumpin! Check out the ‘Driveable” 1970 for $13k !!! I too like the older style, but not with this ‘un. gBYE
Book value on a 1970 corvette is $15k 13K sounds about right for that. Were is a 1953 in the same condition it would be worth about $150k. The year is everything when it comes to corvettes
That/s stretching it unless the engine and paint are original and there is a little wiggle room.
The wire hanging across the seats is interesting!! I think it’s a car to clean up get it running and driving and hand it off to someone else!! It seems like it’s had a lot of hands on it over the years!!
Is that really a jethro-style rope for a generator belt?
Harbor freight belt
For BHCC this actually looks pretty good. Those guys are the gullwing motorcars of the west coast.
Both expert at parting fools from their money.
My $37,500 goes towards a C8. This is lunacy.
junk!!!!!!!!!! expensive junk
In about two years You can buy a c8 for $37,500. The 57 will be up to 40k
This reminds me of the “Definition of a boat: A hole in the water into which one pours much money.”
I would give them maybe $12K if the frame was good. The rear body has been modified as the exhaust should come out through the fenders. Delt with these people before, be careful although with this one pretty much see what you are getting. Big bucks to make it right.
My Aunt had a 57 back in the day, and I worked on it with my Uncle doing some glass repair for a fender stress crack at his body shop.
Alexco is correct, the exhaust exits the body at the rear and there are chrome pieces above and below the exit chrome surround. It seems that the parking light/turn signals are missing up front also. This along with the ’63’ vette is a favorite of mine – but many cars are favorites of all of ours, aren’t they?
matt
Sketchy stuff here. Light blue repaint over a dark blue repaint over what seems to be the original red. Questions about drive train.
IMHO $34k is over the top, specially without a face-to-face look-see,ya know?
Book value on a 1970 corvette is $15k 13K sounds about right for that. Were is a 1953 in the same condition it would be worth about $150k. The year is everything when it comes to corvettes
I had a friend who had a very nice 57 Corvette, another friend had a 62, and I had a 64 Stingray. We all drove each other’s cars and compared to my 64 the other two rode like go carts with no springs. That prevented me from ever wanting a straight axle Corvette. I realize that they bring big money, and do look good, but I don’t want one, especially not this one..
I’ve owned several solid axles, as well as several mid years. The midyears were head and shoulders better than the solid axles as far as driving went. Still, my all time favorite was the ‘62 fuelie. If I were going to buy another vintage Vette, a 57 would be one to catch my eye. I do , however, prefer the 58-62 dash layout.
This looks to be a $15k ‘project’ at best.