Alongside Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty, there is another icon that is instantly recognizable as distinctly American: the 1957 Chevy Bel Air. Unquestioningly 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 the 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".