Thread: '57 Chevy gasser build

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Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Wow Dave, what a response you have had with this project.Can I add my 2 cents worth please? Okay I can then, first, I think the steel tilt front with the separate opening bonnet is the way to go.. I also like the idea of the EFI fuel system looking like the early Hilborn injection as one can't bet 8 pipes sticking through a bonnet. The rest I think all the others have nailed for you. Oh one last thing Dave, Pepper looks like one mean guard dog and as Don said... the odd picture of him and or guard cat will keep us happy while following your build thread.
Cheers Whiplash...

Thanks Whiplash! Yeah, that dog of mine is one vicious beast, sometimes he even barks if he doesn't get a treat when he thinks he should!

Hey Dave-I think the rear end of the period was a old Olds.What you thinking for the rear end??.

olds but the GMC truck rear end was used as well

Would like either the Olds or Pontiac that was used so much back then, but then I've already got a couple of 9" Fords around....

Worked on the Plymouth all day yesterday and today too, but I did call my favorite sandblaster dude to let him know there was going to be a frame and a body coming his way once I had time and room to blow the car apart!!!!!

This car is too cool! I am so Jealous. Now I need a gasser............. Awesome car! Don Jr.

Thanks Don! With all the good help on here, should be able to come up with enough facts, specs, and pics to do the car justice!!!

Happy to hear you're going that route... I don't have too much to add not being around at the time gassers ruled but looking forward to following the project

-Chris

Gm building only one yr of this 57 model was a again one of GM's major screw-ups.Bottom line,the 57's are just sexy.

Originally Posted by 1gary

Gm building only one yr of this 57 model was a again one of GM's major screw-ups.Bottom line,the 57's are just sexy.

Not unusual! The "Chrome boom" was starting. ...more of everything! Everyone had four headlights... 4-6 tailights.... more scoops... and more chrome on the drawing board for '58!

The '57 Ford was a good looking car too... only to be replaced by the '58! The Corvette suffered, as did the T-bird... which also gained a back seat!

That short magic time never came back.

Hadn't thought about it much before, but '57 was sort of the end for a styling era.... I think that whatever marque you care to talk about '57 was really the end of the "simplicity and functional" era, wasn't it???? So many way kewl things on the '57's, Chevy had the dual four 283, Ford had a supercharged 312, Olds had the J-2, and of course Chrysler was just beginning to tap the performance potential of the Hemi....

Like HRP said, starting in '58 it was all chrome, big fins, and lots of bling! Cars got bigger, heavier, and fancier becoming something of a fashion statement or something...
Glad I found this old '57!

Here you go Dave if you already haven`t seen it, about half way thru red `57 belair gasser, cool vibes too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjtB_...eature=related

You don`t know how many times I have thought of a gasser build with my `37, especialy when its on jack stands it just looks good.[IMG][/IMG]

Thanks for the link Rich, great video!!!! The red and black '57 was a very nice car, and a lot of other very well known cars on their too! I'd love to someday replicate the Malco Gasser Mustang!!! It was always one of my favorites.

As for the '37......well it's never too late to change your plans~!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Hadn't thought about it much before, but '57 was sort of the end for a styling era.... I think that whatever marque you care to talk about '57 was really the end of the "simplicity and functional" era, wasn't it???? So many way kewl things on the '57's, Chevy had the dual four 283, Ford had a supercharged 312, Olds had the J-2, and of course Chrysler was just beginning to tap the performance potential of the Hemi....!

Absolutely! I think the styling which was pretty simple and "utilitarian" through '53-'54, was staring to accelerate! The boxy look of the '53-'54s, and even some '55s, disappeared. Some of those same cars changed quickly from '55-'57, gaining "more highly stlyed" changes. In that "light", it is not a stretch to understand why the styling took another big jump... adding lots more "bling". Like so many things in life, once we humans get started, we often go too far!

A side note of interest... the sales advantage was held by Ford through '57, but Chevrolet took over after that. If you ever read Iacoca's bio, he was a sales manager for them at the time, and said Ford built a string of lemons during that era. He tells of driving '57-'60 models to sales eetings, and had things happen like doors popping open on a bump. I'm sure that, plus the styling of cars like the '57 Chevy, added to Ford's decline in sales.

One last observation. I have been obscessed with customs and rods since '58. What other car, besides the '57 BelAir, is almost never dechromed, or restyled??? It is almost a "stand alone" achievement, in the world of auto styling! (The '53 to '55 Studebaker might be one, of very few.) :-)

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Hadn't thought about it much before, but '57 was sort of the end for a styling era.... !

Almost exactly 3 years ago we had a little discussion about this sort of thing: http://clubhotrod.com/forums/showthr...highlight=1957

BTW, from a body style/platform point of view, within GM anyway, '57 was a "simple" restyle of the platform begun in '55. The real one year wonder was 1958 (again GM here). Then in '59 it was all new again with the basic chassis running through to '64.