Nice Driver: 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon
Practicality can be a crucial consideration for an enthusiast trying to balance the demands of a growing family with the desire to own a classic car. Some vehicles don’t meet their requirements, but this 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon could be ideal. It is a driver-quality vehicle with no apparent needs. It retains a healthy V8 under the hood, although there are some sensible upgrades that many potential buyers will welcome. The Sierra is listed here on craigslist in Sacramento, California. The seller set their price at $25,000, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder PRA4SNW for spotting this stunning Wagon.
Some people are critical of the styling of American cars from the late 1950s, but they must be placed into context. The country was riding on sky-high optimism in the years following World War II. Consumer confidence was at unprecedented levels, and much of the population’s imagination was captured by the thoughts of humans venturing into space for the first time. What better time could there be to harness that enthusiasm with cars that featured fins seen on many spaceship concepts and with taillights that looked like lightly disguised rocket motors? Against that backdrop, this Sierra emerged, featuring the styling cues that were the hallmark of Virgil Exner and which the company dubbed the “Swept-Wing Look” in its marketing literature. The original owner ordered this Wagon in Jewel Black, with the listing indicating it wears an older repaint. The seller describes the condition as driver-quality, and no glaring significant problems or issues are visible in the supplied photos. The paint has minor blemishes and imperfections, but it retains a healthy shine complemented by the acres of dazzling chrome trim. There are no visible rust issues, with the underside shots confirming that if there is steel penetration, it is minor. The tinted glass looks excellent, and the Sierra rolls on a set of appropriate 15″ American Racing wheels.
With a curb weight of 4,170 lbs, the ’57 Sierra isn’t the lightest classic on the planet. It requires something special under the hood if acceleration is to be anything but glacial, and this Dodge delivers. Its engine bay houses a 325ci “Red Ram” V8, producing 245hp and 320 ft/lbs of torque. The power feeds to an 8¾” Posi rear end with 3.55 gears via a three-speed A230 manual transmission. Factory power steering lightens the driver’s load, while the brake upgrade utilizing a Scarebird front disc conversion is a sensible improvement. The Sierra might carry some weight but could still cover the ¼-mile in 17.6 seconds. That figure was considered impressive for its time, especially from a vehicle that could swallow six adults and a mountain of luggage. This Wagon may be able to do a little better, courtesy of breathing improvements provided by an Edelbrock carburetor. It features a more modern one-wire alternator, and the seller says it has no mechanical shortcomings or problems. They say it runs and drives perfectly, and they would happily take it anywhere.
The positive news with this Dodge continues when we open the doors and examine its interior. The painted surfaces are free from damage, there is no visible wear on the seats or other upholstered surfaces, and the cargo area has avoided the worst of the typical family Wagon wear and tear. There is enough rear leg and shoulder room to accommodate three growing teens, with the front seat suitable for two adults and a younger child. The Sierra retains what appears to be the factory AM radio, with aftermarket upgrades including ice-cold air conditioning, a column-mounted tach, and a digital voltmeter left of the gauge cluster.
This 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon is a wonderful classic, and it will surely appeal to Mopar enthusiasts. It has space to accommodate a growing family and the power to haul a heavy load. There are new SUVs that could perform the same roles, but they have two significant shortcomings. The first is that anything with decent performance will cost substantially more. However, the biggest issue with most SUVs is that they don’t feature this classic’s inherent character and charm. They can keep the new alternative because I’d take this Sierra any day. Would you?
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Comments
A very cool wagon!!! Well taken care of. This would be a great airporter car too-when your friends are at the pickup area there’ll be NO mistaking what car they’re looking for..
I would add a roof rack.
Absolutely love this wagon ! ….Not a fan of the rims !
I would love to own it. ❤️❤️
I have to agree with Casey on the choice of rims for this very cool wagon. Muscle car rims on a car that isn’t a muscle car just doesn’t look right to me. I would prefer factory steelies and the correct full wheel covers, but that’s just me. Other than shortening the tailpipes, I’d leave this rare wagon as-is. Love the two-tone interior and the dash is a beauty. The ask is probably reasonable for what you’d be getting, this is a very nice wagon.
I agree. The only thing I’d do besides drive this car is change the rims. They’re nice rims but to me, they don’t look right on this car.
Beautiful Ride.
Those wheels really set it off nicely.
Love it. Find another
Wagon perfection!
The wheels complete the look.
Yes, they may be safer with more bells and whistles, but todays models pale in comparison to designs like this.
Big old wagon with a V8, manual trans, and AC. What’s not to like? I wouldn’t change anything – except an overdrive gear in the transmission might be nice depending on what gears are in the differential. I really like it!
What a beauty, I love old wagons. I wonder if this was originally an automatic, as the add says it has a bell housing adapter, or if it just means the car has been fitted with a later model manual. No way would I even consider using this gem as a daily driver, way too nice, and way too rare.
Folks who are critical of late-50s automotive design should check out a new Toyota Camry. It looks like the designers drew it with their eyes closed.
Or, just copy from every other auto manufacturer. Today, cars are built without individuality or personality.
You are spot on, Mike. I can’t bring myself even to fake excitement when auto manufacturers announce yet another new vehicle that looks like everything else in its class, regardless of powertrain. I still swoon over late-model Challengers and Chargers though.
While admittedly, Torque Thrusts don’t actually look that bad on it, the ’57 Dodge is one of my top American classics so I vastly prefer white walls with stock hubcaps. It’d be an easy fix to get this thing just about perfect
Sounds like you’re serious about an offer?
Yes, Should have 1957 Dodge lancer wheel covers called ‘Lancers’ one of the most popular and stolen caps’ in the 50’s and 60’s!
*Torq Thrusts, sorry
THIS is Da Shizzle!
I love the late fifties DeSotoDodgeChrysler design.the dash is something else. I get the Torq Thrusts with the rear end but……eh….I don’t know. Like the idea of a 4 on the floor though.
Too bad its so darn expensive……..or….looked at another way.too bad I dont have 25 grand to blow on a old but beautiful wagon. Darn,
Old Link , here is new link: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/7681235716.html
HOOOOOOOOYAAAAAAAAAAA WHAT ABEAUTY, love it all DANG IAM SO FICKLE …BUT My wife likes it too SOOOOOOO, in 1957 I was 25 years old still in the navy and could not EVEN dream of a ride like this.
Dang UDTFROG, that makes you 91! Great to see someone your age still kicking it behind the keyboard.
Looks like it had an auto at one time. I would either put it back to an auto or a 4spd on the floor. The added ac is a bonus for southern climates
If it was an automatic it would have been a pushbutton power flite. I’m not sure but 90% sure.
Yes it would have been, and the pushbutton panel would have been right where the aftermarket volt meter is left of the instrument cluster
Didn’t we see this featured earlier this year? The car and the pics look familiar to me. Neat cruiser and I could keep the wheels (keep a stock setup on hand for certain occasions) Kind of gives it a Munsters feel for some reason.
It’s listed on craigslist.
1957 thru 1959 Sierra Station Wagons were very similar. Just some cosmetic changes basically. I owned a black ’59 361cu in TorgeFlite transmission. Loved the push buttons and the electric on the tailgate.
I had a 1957 Spectator wagon. Seated nine with the two back seats facing backwards. I found it along with a 1957 Desoto wagon in a field in the Napa valley. I gave the Desoto wagon to my Mopar restorer. I ended up selling the 1957 wagon back to someone in California. It needed to much done to make it economically feasible to restore. If this was a Spectator wagon I would be all over it. Tempting as is though. If I hadn’t just purchased a 911 cab I would probably grab this wagon. They don’t come along in this condition very often. Loose the wheels though and go back to the original hubcaps.
I think this is gorgeous, top to bottom. Wouldn’t change a thing.
A 57 car as a daily driver? At 25K? What is this, Cuba? Even 66 year old people have a limit…..
I suspect that this wagon originally came with an automatic with push button shift. Typically wagons were family haulers so not usually equipped with straight shift transmissions. Also I think that digital volt gauge is mounted where the buttons originally were. Either way it might have been when new, I like it like it is now. I do think I would change back to steel wheels, original wheel covers, and white wall tires, and then just enjoy it. GLWTS
I believe this is an original stick shift car based on the pedal covers. They are the correct style for 1957 and have enough wear to suggest that its original stuff.
If you want to spend some time and decode the vin and trim tags, the answer would be there.
Our pastor had a ’65 Chevy Wagon with a three-on-the-tree … wagons usually meant kids – they had four – and frugality is in their nature … but black, no air, in Louisiana ?
I am a died in the wool GM guy; but this wagon is beautiful!!!!!!
Too bad I am in Alberta and the car is in California
My father had one in the early 60’s. It was two-tone tan / White. Push button automatic, speedometer that pushed up different colored bars according to your speed. ( I was always amazed at that speedometer, looked at it alot ! ) Mean looking bumper and grill setup ! Real cool car !!!
Ward! Could you pick up the Beav? He’s at that sneaky Eddie Haskell’s house… Sorry-this car evokes a bygone era.
I am not a wagon guy but this thing is niiiiice! I wouldn’t mind owning this one cool looking lead sled.
I have the 2-door version of this, with a 2019 hemi, 5-speed a/t, push button shift, independent rear end, etc. You won’t see another one at your local car show.