Beschreibung:

Already the best-selling car in America, Chevrolet reached new heights in 1955 with fresh styling and a new engine. Advertised as “The Hot One” it was just that, especially when equipped with the Power Pack, a four-barrel carburetor setup that came with dual exhausts. Rated 180bhp at 4,600rpm, the 265 cubic inch overhead valve V8 was capable of 0-60 in under ten seconds, then quite a feat, and was timed at speeds to 105mph. The public loved it, and nearly 1.7 million were sold, a record for the marque at a record moment, the industry’s first seven-million-car year. As attractive as the new Chevy was, it was the engine that was magic. The brainchild of Edward Cole, a GM engineer who had worked on the 1949 Cadillac ohv V8, it broke new ground in efficiency and engineering. Named chief engineer at Chevrolet division in 1952, Cole pushed several innovations that simplified existing designs, with benefits to manufacturing and cost. One of these was the stamped rocker arm, originally a Pontiac development, that was not only cheaper than forged arms but also eliminated the rocker shaft. Also new was an innovative casting process, what we now call “thinwall casting.” By infusing more precision into the design and casting process, machining was reduced and waste eliminated, with concomitant reduction in weight of the engine, and hence the whole car. Valve lubrication through the pushrods eliminated the need for drilled oil passages. The genius of these decisions is validated by the small block Chevy’s forty-plus-year lifetime and its emulation by other manufacturers. For 1956, the Hot One got even hotter. The optional Super Turbo Fire engine pushed compression to 9.5 to 1 and horsepower to 205, 225 with dual quads. The power-to-weight ratio was phenomenal, in part because V8s were lighter than their cheaper six-cylinder counterparts. Cole’s acumen was recognized that year when he was named general manager of Chevrolet. American car designs ran in three-year cycles. Typically, by the third year the car was in dire need of freshening. The 1957 Chevy was the exception that disproved the rule, the whole car lowered through a combination of smaller wheels and body modifications. The nose and tail were updated with Cadillac cues, resulting in a baby Eldorado. The V8 was bored an eighth of an inch to 283 cubic inches, available in six stages of tune. At the top of the chart was the Corvette V8 with 10.5 to 1 compression. Rochester fuel injection developed the magic one horsepower per cubic inch. The single-four-barrel Super Turbo Fire engine was rated at 220bhp. Restored several years ago for the chief executive of The Lodge at Pebble Beach, perennially one of the world’s top hotels, this ‘57 Bel Air convertible is resplendent in Raven black and positively drips with accessories. The restoration was comprehensive, addressing both mechanical condition and cosmetics, and the car has been professionally maintained and carefully driven since. Authentic items include the factory continental kit, fender skirts, dual mirrors and spot lights, factory tri-bar flipper wheel covers, bumper overriders and Cadillac-style “Dagmars.” These are in addition to the factory tinted glass, heater and working push-button radio. The car has the Super Turbo-Fire 220 hp V8 with Powerglide automatic transmission and dual exhausts. Recently fitted with a new correct replacement interior in red and silver, it is ready for show, tour or simple enjoyment. The 1957 Bel Air convertible is the iconic Chevrolet, symbol of the United States in the year of Sputnik, Sayonara and West Side Story. A new owner of this car will be able to live and feel the part.