Thread: '57 Chevy gasser build

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You don`t know how many times I have thought of a gasser build with my `37, especialy when its on jack stands it just looks good.[IMG][/IMG]

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Hadn't thought about it much before, but '57 was sort of the end for a styling era.... I think that whatever marque you care to talk about '57 was really the end of the "simplicity and functional" era, wasn't it???? So many way kewl things on the '57's, Chevy had the dual four 283, Ford had a supercharged 312, Olds had the J-2, and of course Chrysler was just beginning to tap the performance potential of the Hemi....!

Absolutely! I think the styling which was pretty simple and "utilitarian" through '53-'54, was staring to accelerate! The boxy look of the '53-'54s, and even some '55s, disappeared. Some of those same cars changed quickly from '55-'57, gaining "more highly stlyed" changes. In that "light", it is not a stretch to understand why the styling took another big jump... adding lots more "bling". Like so many things in life, once we humans get started, we often go too far!

A side note of interest... the sales advantage was held by Ford through '57, but Chevrolet took over after that. If you ever read Iacoca's bio, he was a sales manager for them at the time, and said Ford built a string of lemons during that era. He tells of driving '57-'60 models to sales eetings, and had things happen like doors popping open on a bump. I'm sure that, plus the styling of cars like the '57 Chevy, added to Ford's decline in sales.

One last observation. I have been obscessed with customs and rods since '58. What other car, besides the '57 BelAir, is almost never dechromed, or restyled??? It is almost a "stand alone" achievement, in the world of auto styling! (The '53 to '55 Studebaker might be one, of very few.) :-)

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

One last observation. I have been obscessed with customs and rods since '58. What other car, besides the '57 BelAir, is almost never dechromed, or restyled??? It is almost a "stand alone" achievement, in the world of auto styling! (The '53 to '55 Studebaker might be one, of very few.) :-)

I would tend to agree with you Jay, it's hard to improve on the original style. Only a few have been successfully done. I lean a little more toward older stuff and would also throw the '40 Ford into that ring. With the exception of the El Matador (and only because it's such a well done radical custom that almost completely disguises the original), there just about isn't a single restyled '40 that is an improvement over the original.

During the same time the 57's where around,GM used to hold competitions for kids to build clay models of cars for the design teams to use for new ideas.It was more of a open door policy then ever before.They held clinic's for teams of high school kids to go and figure out what was wrong with a car that GM set a problem for them to solve.There was more support for kids to get involved.GM made it seem as a kid you could become anything you wanted to be.

Sorry Dave-I honestly don't want to hi-jack your thread.Just some memories.

Originally Posted by 1gary

During the same time the 57's where around,GM used to hold competitions for kids to build clay models of cars for the design teams to use for new ideas.

Let me momentarily highjack the thread.... This brings up something I noticed years ago. My own drawings that I did as a "highschooler" seemed to have more imagination, than I do now... after almost 40 years of custom painting!!!

The answer I came up with is that we all become conditioned to think alike, by reading the same magazines... building the same models... watching the same car movies... idolizing the same "hero cars"... and eventually tend to think "inside the box". Kids are fresh to the hobby, and tend to be more original!

This was all a culture shock, for me! {:-o

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Hadn't thought about it much before, but '57 was sort of the end for a styling era.... !

Almost exactly 3 years ago we had a little discussion about this sort of thing: http://clubhotrod.com/forums/showthr...highlight=1957

BTW, from a body style/platform point of view, within GM anyway, '57 was a "simple" restyle of the platform begun in '55. The real one year wonder was 1958 (again GM here). Then in '59 it was all new again with the basic chassis running through to '64.

Thanks for the link Rich, great video!!!! The red and black '57 was a very nice car, and a lot of other very well known cars on their too! I'd love to someday replicate the Malco Gasser Mustang!!! It was always one of my favorites.

As for the '37......well it's never too late to change your plans~!!!!!!!

How the heck do you remember something from 3 years ago Bob??? Heck, I don't remember what I had for breakfast this morning..... Hmmmm, wonder if I had breakfast this morning?

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

How the heck do you remember something from 3 years ago Bob??? Heck, I don't remember what I had for breakfast this morning..... Hmmmm, wonder if I had breakfast this morning?

It happens to you to does it,Dave??Maybe something to do with solvents??I remember what happened a few days ago,and sometimes a few years/decades ago,if it was ground breaking...but what happened an hour ago??yeah right...

Yeah,love the 57,and what ever you do to it,it will surely be ultra kool...

I do like the way the rats often have unusual bodies and other components. They also will go with a more extreme appearance. There is some variety in the engines too.

They still have some "group thinking" in the choice of flat black... red & white striping... red wheels with white walls... header wraps... and horse blankets.

Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT

I do like the way the rats often have unusual bodies and other components. They also will go with a more extreme appearance. There is some variety in the engines too.

They still have some "group thinking" in the choice of flat black... red & white striping... red wheels with white walls... header wraps... and horse blankets.

And spider webs.

Don

That one got past me. :-)~

Man, I tell ya...anymore if I don't make a note or otherwise write it down, it's gone!!!

Hoping to get some time next month to get going on the '57. Getting some things planned out (another couple pages in the notebook) and fending off questions from all my "friends" about what the heck I'm doing with a Chevy!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Man, I tell ya...anymore if I don't make a note or otherwise write it down, it's gone!!!

Hoping to get some time next month to get going on the '57. Getting some things planned out (another couple pages in the notebook) and fending off questions from all my "friends" about what the heck I'm doing with a Chevy!!!!

Dave,good idea,I need a notebook too..The 57...well,I have been told that I am biased,maybe I am..I seem to have had more Fords than anything else in the last few years,apart from the Dodge..but when the opportunity arises to grab a car already sorta set up as a gasser..what else do ya do??You cant be predictable ALL ya life...Gotta throw a curve in there now and then,What would I do with it??hot small block,4sp,period rear end,ladder bars,all it needs to make it look and perform like its just dropped out of a time capsule,,Yee haa,,then do the same to a 57 Ford,for a peace offering to your friends...You got a winter coming at you,so you can lock yourself in the workshop with your ''pondering stool'' and plan...

Yeah, want it look like it's right out of about 1966 when it's done.... Might sound selfish or egotistical but the main reason I got the car and will most likely build it myself is to keep it from falling into the wrong hands... Hate to see it go to someone who would rat the thing out, then try to tell me that's how it was done "back in the day", car is too nice for that!