I am posting the first of many (I am sure) posts.
This forum has a wealth of knowledge and some of the friendliest folks around.
I am surprised it has taken me so long to join. I guess I have been working on other projects and now it's time to give the attention to the 57 Chevy.
A little history (sorry it's long):
I was 17 and working at a gas station in upstate NY at the time. On July 5th, 1975 around 9:00 AM a filthy 57 Chevy with Arizona plates pulled up to the gas pumps. I could barely tell what color it was as most of the car had mud and sand on it. The interior was filled front and back with guitars and amplifiers and couldn't see much else. I did notice that it wasn't the Bel Air model and it was a weird looking 4 door model (no post between the doors). What did I know about 57's anyway... (it is a 210 4 Door Hardtop)
Around 2:00 PM the car came back in all washed up, cleaned interior, this time with all the windows all rolled up. When the driver opened the door, all this cold air came out. I walked around the car and noticed that the car was originally turquoise, shiny turquoise and someone had painted the car all white. There was 4 or 5 areas where the paint had flaked off to reveal this beautiful paint underneath. As I approached the passenger rear window, I saw a for sale sign on it with a price tag of $1600. I peaked inside to see cloth seat covers over all the seats and there was a rubber floor mat where I had normally thought should be carpet. I saw the old style under-dash air conditioner unit, but no radio or clock (just the cover plates). I also noticed that the windows appeared to be tinted just a bit. All the hubcaps, tires and wheels looked original and also painted white with some areas pealed off.
As I finished pumping the $4.00 dollars into the tank (at $.32 a gallon, that was about 12 gallons.), I opened the hood to check the oil (as that what you did in those days) to see this massive air-cleaner (minus the snout) and an aftermarket air-conditioner running. I asked him to rev it up so I could hear the motor a bit and discovered that it had aftermarket cherry-bomb mufflers in it but that the exhaust went all the way back to the rear bumper. Motor was dirty but all complete and intact. I wiped away some of the dirt (sand) to again find nice shiny paint on the inner fenders and valve covers.
After crawling under the car to see this amazingly perfect underside (no rust, dents, cuts or scrapes (again living in NY everything I saw had rust) I was convinced that this car was mine. I asked the owner of the gas station, (my older brother) if I could borrow $900 cash to "wave in front of the guy". He said OK and I walked over to the guy and offered him the cash. He called his wife and she agreed that this was OK. After convincing my father that I wanted this car, he said that we needed to have my uncle (ace mechanic) look this car over first. We drove the car to my uncles house for a close inspection. Only issues that could be found was that the brake pedal went to the floor and a large crack in the windshield. My father was convinced that this was not the car for me and he let the seller know it.
I was dumbfounded and weak in the knees.
Little did I know but my father was excellent in the art of "Haggling". The Seller agreed to drop the price $25 to pay for half of the windshield and my father agreed. Finally it was mine. Once home I figured out how to change out the master cylinder, get it inspected and license it.
Through the years, the car has been stripped, painted, motor completely rebuilt, original turbo glide was removed (and is being rebuilt) while an original power glide takes its place. All underside has been cleaned and painted, all brakes have been replaced and now I am working on the headliner, windlace and weatherstripping. Doors, seats and carpeting are all done (but I am looking for the original rubber mats to replace the carpet). I haven't felt like bringing it out too much because it isn't done, although I am getting pressure from the family to drive it more.
I have restored 3 Indian and Harley motorcycles, built a Cobra replica (Factory Five) and acquired a 54 Chevy 6500 2 ton dual wheel truck that I am finishing as well. I have had many other projects as well. The 57 was my first and will always be my favorite. Now I need to finish it and enjoy it
A big thanks to all of you and all the information you have provided me over the years.
Best Regards
Don
DonPNY
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DonpNY
Proud owner of a 57 210 4 Door Hardtop since 1975. Almost Done...….
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