Thread: 57 Chevy Sedan Advice Needed

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A gentleman where i work has offered to sell me a 57 chevy belair 4dr sedan. the chevy is in pretty good shape for being a 51 classic... I've really been thinking about buying it even though it's a 4dr. The gentleman told me he had to have 2,000 dollars for the old chevy... I went friday and looked at it. To my suprize the body was very good condition. Just a few rusty places here and there. The floorpans is the only concern i had. It still has the original 283 but the transmission has replaced with a 350 turbo. As you can tell it hasn't run in a while... The interior will be needing replaced. He told me that he had took off the trim on the passenger side to take care of some surface rust... I know this isn't a 2dr convertible, hardtop or a 2dr post but it's still a 57 chevy. Can anyone tell me the value of a 4dr and if you think this is a good deal?

Hmmm, tough call. At one time 4 doors weren't worth much, but as more desirable body styles either dried up or became more expensive that situation is changing. Also many doors are becoming "cooler" than they once were.

It IS a '57 Chevy and that counts for something. It is a V8 car also. Since it is a NC car it seems to have fared better that it's cousins in other parts of the country might have.........some rust, but not irrepairable. $2000 doesn't buy a whole lot any more, but that might be on the outer limits of what it will fetch IMO. I would think $ 1000 to $ 1500 would make the decision easier.

All that being said, only one thing matters. Do you WANT the car, I mean really WANT it? Just because an old car comes along doesn't necessarily mean it is our dream car. If you don't have a burning desire to have a four door '57 Chevy then it could be $ 200 and it wouldn't matter. The car has to excite something in you to want to build it. All of us have bought cars we only got because they were old and/or cheap, and most of those got sold off again when we realized we had no interest in doing them up.

Don

One of the ways to make this hobby affordable is to find a way to wheel and deal your car account to a higher level. I'm thinkin' parts car here, if the chrome and stainless aren't either pitted or dinged up a lot there's a small fortune in trim on that car that can go to others. Same for parts of the interior. The price might be a bit on the high side for this purpose, as Pops said $500 or so less would make it better. Spend some time on ebay in the closed auctions portion and price out what this stuff goes for, that'll help figure out what there is there in value. I'm less enthusiastic about 4 door "rods", it costs as much or more in both time and money to fix one (compared to a 2 door) and the market value is still way lower. Unless there's some over riding sentimental value, AND you plan on keeping it til you die they're not a good strategy for advancing your hobby position down the road.

Thanks guys for the input.. As you were saying bob the parts could be a small fortune.. The frontend(fenders, hood, bumpers, ect)is the same as a 2dr model..i'll check out ebay to see what these parts might be going for..

build that bad boy up as one cool family cruise car.

I'd say it has parts car written all over it....But it would be nice to negotiate that price down a bit.....The generator with the power steering pump on the back is probably a very much sought after piece....Now if you could find a decent 2 door hardtop to build........Does the car have any other options????

My friends just retored a 57 Bel Air 4 dr last year and it cost a total of around $12,000. The car was an "in the family" one so no pruchase price to consider. They dropped in a new 350 but kept the 283 for later rebuild. Don't worry about parts. EVERYTHING is available. Don't freak when you realize repro stainless rear fender sweeps cost $485 each. This car is not a parts car. It is worth saving. The interior will cost a couple grand to do. That's the least of it.

While 4 doors are not worth what converts or 2-dr. HTs are, the value of the 4 dr. is far above what it will cost you to restore it. For $2,000 it is a steal!

Go to www.NADA.com and you'll see high retail price for a Bel Air 4 dr. reflects $28,100!! Average retail runs $16,700. Tri 5 Chevies are only going to appreciate in value too.

I've been sitting here trying to think of a way to say what needs to be said without making it seem like a personal attack. Well, it's not my intention, but if it comes out that way so be it.

If you went to the NADA site you might have noticed the cover of their hardcopy version has the word "GUIDE" under the logo in letters nearly as big. The word "guide" is not a synonym for "guarantee". But lets go with the flow anyway. In that same guide, the top price for a 2 door Bel Air sedan is just north of $48k.............a full $20,000 above the 4 door. The only difference between the two is the number of doors.....................and market demand. We could get in a long and fruitless discussion about what constitutes a top price car, but suffice to say they are few and far between. And there ain't no way in hell you're going to "restore" a car for $12k. Refurbish maybe, and that's only if you start with a relative cherry, not a back yard derelict like what I see in the pictures above.

But let's go with the flow again. Based on the guide numbers, if you choose to take those as gospel, you're guaranteed the 4 door will end up at the end of all your work and spending to be "worth" 60% of a two door. I will still contend that for two equal condition starting cars a 4 door is actually more expensive to "restore" than a two door. Again, assuming equal starting conditions, the engine, and most other mechanical pieces will cost the same. The total paint needed will be the same. The bodywork might be the same unless door jambs need work, then the 4 door has twice as many. Likewise for door handles, latches, and so forth. Upholstery labor is slightly higher on a 4 door because of more individual panels requiring slightly more labor. So all up you work just as hard (maybe slightly harder) and spend just as much or slightly more for parts(comparing like for like starting points), and you get 60% on the dollar. If that's good "investment" advice ......................well, I'll just leave it at that.

Let's take the discussion one more step. One could argue that a 2 door starting car will cost more. True enough, it's that demand thing again. But going back to the example stated to try to justify the 4 door, at the end of the deal you get $20k more for the 2 door. Let's take that $20k difference and apply it to the front end of this equation. You could start at $2k for the car posted above, or spend $22k for a two door. Based on what I see in my local market, for $22k you get a car that's refurbished already, and is very presentable. Some would consider it a "show car", though in reality by most show standards it's merely nice............which ain't all bad. Bottom line, be smart about how you approach the hobby and you won't lose your butt. Listen to pseudo advice and you stand a chance of getting the short end of the stick when people freely spend your money instead of theirs.

I'm leaning more to restoring this 4dr than parting it out thats if i buy it, though i'm not for certain if my wife will agree about buying another old car.. If i do buy it i will most likely be sleeping in it!!!The cars its self i think is worth 2,000 but i will offer him a lot less than that..Most times when you have cash in your hands 8 out 10 times people will take it...This would make good family cruiser...I do know the 2drs have a greater value than 4drs. Little over year ago i sold a unrestored 55 chevy belair 2dr post for $7,500.. I had the car for many years(18 year to be exact) stored inside a heated building.. I only paid $900.00 for the 55 in 1989 without the motor & trans.. I sold the car to get my 64 galaxie 500 xl.. I know most of you will be thinking HE WHAT!! SOLD A 55 CHEVY FOR A OLD 64 FORD, HE MUST BE CRAZY1!! the 64 galaxies is always been my dream car... So i did what i had to do to get one!! I know if the 57 was a 2dr than a 4dr in the same condtion he would be asking a whole lot more money than 2,000. i really don't want a show car the kind i would be afraid to drive, just a nice classic weekend cruiser for my family to get out and enjoy.. but if the gas prices keep rising then i'll be looking for a nice horse and buggy!!!!

Sorry but I simply can't agree that ANY Tri 5 Chevy will not continue to escalate in value at a superior rate than any other year car. It doesn't matter the dollar they're worth now. They'll be worth more later.

That car in the pictures has no surface rust and very little at all and as Clinton says the floors are good. That car is worth 2K. And whether he rebuilds, restores, reworks or refurbishes that car will be worth what he puts into with any common sense. A frame off resto is not the only definition that appraisers use to apply to a superb car either-

High Retail Value
This vehicle would be in excellent condition overall. It could be a completely restored or an extremely well maintained original vehicle showing very minimal wear. The exterior paint, trim, and mechanics are not in need of reconditioning. The interior would be in excellent condition. Note: This value does not represent a "100 Point" or "# 1" vehicle *.

* "100 Point" or "# 1" vehicle is not driven. It would generally be in a museum or transported in an enclosed trailer to concourse judging and car shows. This type of car would be stored in a climate-regulated facility.

No where does it say that a car requires a complete disassembly to later become a higher # vehicle. Neither NADA , Collector Car Market Review or Gold Book specify that. Any car gently used and then having every part gone over, re-done, replaced or rebuilt repainted and reupholstered can be a higher appraisal.

Clinton's 57 may not be as nice as my friends started out but there's no reason he won't have at least an "average" appraisal-

Average Retail Value
This vehicle would be in good condition overall. It could be an older restoration or a well-maintained original vehicle. Completely operable. The exterior paint, trim, and mechanics are presentable and serviceable inside and out. A "20-footer".

This grade still is appraised at 17K and I'd guarantee you if he offered it for sale after putting 15K in it plus purchase he'd easily be able to break even.

In 5 years they're going to be in the 30K area so how can he lose?

Collector Car Market Review goes further than NADA in quality levels with-

#4 Fair: runs and drives OK but needs work throughout the vehicle. Body shows signs of wear or previous restoration work. Any rust should be minimal and not in any structural areas. Cosmetics, body, and mechanics all need work to some degree.

#5 Poor: In need of complete restoration, but is complete and not a rust bucket beyond repair. May or may not run. Not roadworthy.

Parts or Salvage: Incomplete vehicle most useful for parts. Generally, take 50-60% of the #5 value.

Clinton- they put #5 at $1700 and a #4 at $4750. Sounds like the 57 was running when parked it'll probably take little effort to get is going again. It certainly wouldn't be a #5 but more a #4. Of course the seller won't know that.

Obviously you aren't an investor. As you said you want a decent car to take to cruise ins not win CCCA or AACA sanctioned national events. and if you DID put more money into fixing it up than its worth today so what? Many others before you have paid above appraisals or spent "too much" to build a car? Why? Because they wanted to have that particular car really bad.

Realistically, NOTHING has dropped in value in the automotive collectable field in a long time if ever. If that "average" 17K 57 isn't worth around 30K or more in 5 years I'll give ya $100. If it is you pay me.

I guarantee you NONE of the Tri5 will be below what they are today in 5 years.

Appraised or blue book value and actual selling value are seldom the same, especially on a 4 door sedan..... Though they will continue to go up in appraised value there is no guarantee that the actual selling price of what the market will pay would increase significantly.... The book value is only a guide, and certainly no guarantee that the actual market price isn't 10 times greater or 60% less then the NADA (or other guide) price..... An investor has to study the MARKET closely, recognize trends, and if very lucky buy when the upwards spiral starts on a particular car, and sell when it peaks...... Not an easy task. I've seen many folks mislead by "book" value on a car and lose their butt on a rebuild......

Originally Posted by Twitch

Realistically, NOTHING has dropped in value in the automotive collectable field in a long time if ever. If that "average" 17K 57 isn't worth around 30K or more in 5 years I'll give ya $100. If it is you pay me.

I guarantee you NONE of the Tri5 will be below what they are today in 5 years.

We could debate the comment about no values have dropped til the cows come home and it won't really prove a thing, and YOUR guarantee isn't accepted at the bank. I've earned whatever money I've got and built the car "collection" I've got the old fashioned way..............by working with real transactions, with real money on the barrel head. Not by fervently holding on to nebulous values printed in a guide that's typically loaded with disclaimers. You are free to do so as you've often displayed, give me real transactions any day though. I'd take your bet, but not on some fool terms like value guide statements, asking prices, second hand stories, or any other two bit kind of war story (I personally love war stories, told quite a few myself, just won't put money on it). Let's deal in facts. If Clinton really does buy the car, and really documents every penny he puts into a full restoration, and then sells it for a profit, you're on. The key word there is documented. I believe in old sayings becoming old sayings for a reason, that's why I subscribe to one that goes something like this; Money talks, B.S. walks. Any comparison to hearsay stories elsewhere is meaningless.

The internet is a wonderful place, lots of good info for a young (or old) body to glean. The challenge comes in sorting the smoke from the real. I'll go back to my frequent warning; others will spend your money for you more freely because they have nothing at risk. Or put in another way using one of those old sayings; buyer beware.

I say 2 grand is not a bad price overall, but if you do not want it badly enough, then i would hold off! If you want to make a quick buck, then try to talk him down some, and just clean it up some, and sell it for 3-4k.

Sorry to rile you so friggin much Bob. I just figured everybody has seen how Tri 5 Chevies have appreciated in value regardless to guides or appraisals over the years. All I've seen and heard is consistent increases but if I'm wrong on that I'll be the 1st to say so.

I see you got a 40 Ford. You probably know what it's worth or what you got in it or what it's worth to you anyhow. They're one of the priciest vintage Fords ever yet I can recall when I was looking around St. Louis for one they were $175-200. 57 cars of any kind were down to about $500 back then. There wasn't nothing special about Chevy prices at all. I bought a 57 Olds HT for $200. Oh yeah, this was 1965 by the way. All of them sure have gone up, huh?

Riled?? Nah, you'll know I'm riled when I'm armed! This is only verbal sparing in hopes to teach. Interesting that you bring up that '40 though, it's an example of practicing what I've been preaching in this thread. But that's another story.

Now, your comments on your personal experience in the '60's I can relate to and agree with. Back then, cars that seem annointed now were just "old cars", much as would be a mid '90s Taurus today. Since it sorta fits this thread, in '67 I gave away a pretty decent '57 Bel Air..................if you're interested in the story I posted it nearly 6 years ago; http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/hot...n-fiction.html Times change as do circumstances. The cars we love will someday fade as we die off and a newer generation who relate to a different era will elevate what they identify with.