Dad surprised with a completely restored 1957 Chevy Bel Air on his birthday after countless hours and cash
- Two sons gifted their dad a restored 1957 Chevy Bel Air
- They’d given it a glow-up – inside and out
- It was a labor of love that took nine months
Published on Jan 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jan 07, 2025 at 8:02 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
It was an emotional day when this family gifted a restored 1957 Chevy Bel Air to their dad as a sentimental surprise.
The chrome paintwork was stripped and triple nickel plated and the stainless steel was taken off and polished.
Under the hood, meanwhile, the brothers installed a brand new 57 Chevy Crate Engine.
It was a labor of love that took nine months in total.
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1957 Chevy Bel Air body restored
Without a word to their dad, content creator Tony Pinto and his brother completed the nine-month restoration of his ‘dream’ car.
Sid’s Auto Body in San Diego did all of the paint and bodywork, and it was no small task.
As well as a repaint and bodywork, all the chrome was stripped and triple nickel plated.
Last but not least, the pot metal was repaired and chromed, meaning the 1957 Chevy Bel Air still had its original trim.
Under the hood
Going deeper than aesthetics, a brand new 1957 Chevy crate 350 Vortec engine was installed.
It packed 330 horsepower and 380 foot-pound torque – not unlike this burnt model that hid something unexpected under the hood.
In addition, a brand new EnduraShine Edelbrock manifold was installed that’s fuel injected.
Everything – even what you can’t see – was aluminum chromed to eliminate the need to polish.
They weren’t done yet: they rebuilt the steering box and water pump, as well as the entire front suspension.
New A-arm shaft kits with polyurethane bushings, upper and lower ball joints, and tie rod end caps were also put on with upper and lower tie control arms, and springs powder coated.
The surprise and emotion on the father’s face were impossible to hide upon receiving his ‘dream car’ back in 2011- and that’s seriously sought after.
Cars are often snapped up on Facebook Marketplace, but if you’re thinking about buying one, make sure you do your due diligence, because some, like this one garaged for 40 years, are hiding a secret.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
