1957 Belair Convertable wanted

[Rick_L]

Just a reinforcing thought on the value of a complete running restoration. I was watching a replay of a late 2013 Mecum auction in Florida over the weekend. A photographically nice 55 convertible went for $40k there. Now maybe the bidders knew something, maybe they didn't. But it reinforces my thought of at least the average restoration convertible being worth more like $40-50k than the $80-90k they once were.

[captainwillardjack]

You're right it doesn't surprise me the value of a nice tri-five convertible changes & is up & down like real estate.
Now's the time to buy these cars but their time will come again.

[carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)]

as baby boomers pass, imo these great cars are going to continue to go down in value. buyers market now and in the future. very sad.

[567chevys]

Hi Carl ,

I really dont think so , if that was the case companys would not be making complete bodys , Look at 32,33,34,36,37,40 Fords try to buy one of them cheap.The last time I went to the swapmeet which was last summer I seen lots of kids 20-30 Years old looking for old cars to build.

[carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)]

that is not the case around here. my adult kids and their friends don't show any interest. even at cruises around here, there are not many young people that own an old car. now newer mustangs, Camaros, challengers and foreign cars are a different story. those will be the ones that will be collected in he future.

[chevynut]

I tend to agree with Carl. Kids nowadays are not that interested in cars....at least not like our generation is. Street rods aren't nearly as popular as they were 20 years ago and 20 years from now I think tri5s aren't going to be as popular as they have been recently. You already see the big shift to 60's muscle cars.

Sure, some kids will always love the tri5s as well as street rods. But I think they grew up with cars with so many bells and whistles that they can't appreciate the simplicity of these cars. Also, most builders are updating their cars with modern conveniences and features. I think that makes the cars worth more than stock ones in the current market. There aren't that many people who want stock 32 Fords, or even stock tri5s anymore.

[captainwillardjack]

We're all replying to the thread "1957 Bel Air Convertible wanted" these cars will always be in demand
as long as these cars are wanted & demand exceeds supply these cars will continue to retain & go up in value.
It'll never end they'll never make these cars again.

[chevynut]

Yeah, but I don't think you're a kid either.

There's already reproduction bodies for the convertibles. If I wasn't worried about authenticity, that's probably the direction I'd go.

Our point is the demand is going to drop, and so will prices. Look at how cheap street rods have gotten. The only thing keeping the prices up is the cost to build them.

[567chevys]

Found this on craigslist

it's a start !!


vhgd8-4305193690@sale.craigslist.org


1957 2 Dr. hartop , Plus parts Convertible Cowl, Top, Frame - $1 (orlando)


I have the several 1957 chevy chevrolet Convertible parts as follows

1. Convertible cowl with Vin and clear florida title for 1957 Red Chevrolet convertible. $ 3000
2. Original Convertible top frame complete. One is $ 2800, other $ 1300
3. Car Frame with convertible X, $ 1500
4. two door hardtop with engine all original, needs restoration, $ 6500
5. 1957 frame, painted black and has front disks $ 1,000
I also have other transmissions and doors for 4 dr hardtop and post. NO two door hardtop doors.
cash only,no lowballs.
Do not ask if available I will remove when sold.
WTF they flagg my ad??? this is a real ad for parts iam trying to sell!! might trade for the following keywords etc...??
Keywords: 1955, 1956, 1957, chevy, bel air, belair, chevrolet, classic, convertible, muscle,

[captainwillardjack]

You're right I'm not a kid my dad bought a '57 4 dr hdtp Bel Air new & I remember when he sold it in 1968 to a kid for
$250 bucks. By that time the kids were buying them from guys like my dad. I was 18 in 1978 when I bought my first '57 Bel Air 4dr hdtp for a $1000 bucks I sold it for $1,700 it wasn't easy to sell a 4 dr back then. I bought my 2nd one a 2 dr hdtp Bel Air in 1981 from a dealer for $3,500 & sold it for $4,250. The point is the tri-five Chevy's are good investments & if u can't come out ahead than it tells u something about where the US is as a nation economically speaking. Because a trained monkey can profit off a tri-five Chevy.

These cars have been desirable since new the fact that companies produce complete bodies reflects that. They're not doing that with the other Chevy's before & after. Such as the '53 & 54's or the '58 to 60 Chevy's. They're not as desirable, not everyone liked the body styles of the '58's & particularly the '59's ( my dad never liked the '59 & 60's because of the fins). I like 'em all from '55 to'60 but I never heard anyone that disliked the tri-five Chevy's.