1:18 1957 Chevy Bel Air Red Fire Chief car 50902

Alongside Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty, there is another icon that is instantly recognizible as distinctly American: the 1957 Chevy Bel Air®. Unquestionably one of the most beloved vehicles ever produced, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone on the planet who wouldn’t recognize the Bel Air®, a uniquely American institution in it’s own right. The 1957 Chevy sedan line promised to be brand new with a drastic redesign from the ‘56 model. Chevy introduced an improved and more rigid frame, a redesigned open grille and massive bumper that combined form and function, a lower-profile hood, and distinctive fender fins that became the ‘57 trademark. Of the three sedans available, the Series 2400 was the upscale model, more famously known as the Bel Air®. Bel Airs were outfitted with exclusive trim detail like famous ”wedge” ribbed aluminum insert along the rear fender, and anodized gold grille and badges. Additional interior detailing offered a comfortable and reasonably well appointed driving experience. Power brakes, steering, windows and brakes were all available. An optional rear shelf-mounted speaker was an early attempt at “surround” true-stereo sound. Under the hood, Chevy offered the 235 ci “Blue Flame” 6-cylinder, the 265 ci V-8, or the 283 ci Turbo-Fire small block V8 with two-, four-, and dual four-barrel carburetion options. Coupled with new Ramjet fuel injection, the 283 achieved the engineering benchmark of 1 horsepower per 1 cubic inch of engine; Chevy boasted that “the road isn’t built that can make it breathe hard”.