1957 Chevy – Any Color, So Long As It's Turquoise

Confessions of a ’57 Chevy Addict

Owned by Wayne Ivey  Opelika, AL

I was twelve years old when my oldest brother Walter "Speedy" bought a new black ’57 Chevy Sports Coupe. It had a 283 c.i. engine and 3-speed transmission with overdrive. I learned to drive using this car. I didn't know at that time that I would become addicted, but I couldn't escape the influence of Tri-5 Chevys. At seventeen, and a senior in high school, I bought my first ’57 Chevy. It was a four-door Bel Air sedan, painted Tropical Turquoise with a 265 engine and 3-speed transmission. It had 58,000 miles showing on the odometer. I dated my wife in that car and we traded it in on a ’64 Chevelle in 1965. In 1972 I bought my dad's black ’57 Bel Air four-door sedan and kept it a few years. In the mid ’70s, I had a craving for another ’57. I found a two-door Sports Coupe from a club member in Warner Robins, GA. It needed paint, interior and a transmission. I had this Chevy repainted Tropical Turquoise and the transmission rebuilt, and installed some ’66 Chevelle bucket seats. As a side note, the seller gave me a Classic Chevy World magazine. This was my first knowledge of the club.

I sold that ’57 when I started attending Bible College in 1977, but I still could not get ’57s out of my blood! I bought another four-door turquoise Bel Air Sports Coupe while in college. My wife and I installed a new interior and later sold it.

In 1982 I joined the Classic Chevy Club (#44035) and again had a craving for another ’57 Chevy. I found a nice 210 two-door sedan that was in bad shape; it had a lot of rust, but had a rebuilt six-cylinder engine and Powerglide transmission. I stripped it down to bare metal for body work and paint, then upgraded it to a turquoise Bel Air sedan. Do you think I might also be addicted to turquoise? I also added a low mileage ’64 Chevy 327 c.i. engine. I sold this ’57 in the late ’80s and thought that I was finally through with ’57 Chevys.

In early 1995, I rejoined the Classic Chevy Club and the craving was back. In December of 1996, I found my current ’57 two-door Sports Coupe in the local paper’s ad section. This car was totally worn out and striped of almost everything. It was sitting outside, covered in snow (yes it does snow in central Georgia, sometimes) with no front clip on it and a tarp over the engine. I hauled two pickup truck loads of parts home with it. Jack Kinsman of Midland, GA had owned it for four years and had taken it apart. It was last tagged in 1993. It was all there, but needed a total rebuild. I paid $6,100 for the car which included $4,000 in new parts. The car had minor rust in the usual places. It had been owned by Eugene Fuller in this same area for nineteen years. This takes the history back to 1971. I believe the ’57 has been in Georgia and Alabama most of the years after it was built in Kansas City in August, 1957. It still has the original (rebuilt) 283 c.i. engine and rear end.


In 2001 we moved into our new home, hauling parts and car to a new garage. As you can see, the car turned out great. Randy Keefe of Cataula, GA, took the body off the frame and painted it with DuPont - Chroma base and clear coat in… Tropical Turquoise, of course. The paint and body was completed in 2005.

I have completed the restoration with the help of my brothers, Harrell and Walter (Speedy). Walter died of pancreatic cancer in July of ’07. I named this car "Speedy" in memory of him. The car is basically stock with a few upgrades which include: a 200R4 transmission, dual 2-1/2” exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers, power front disc brakes, alternator, spin-on oil filter, late model wiring and fuse box, Specialty power windows, USA-6 radio with hidden antenna, kick panel speakers, AutoSound 10 Disc CD changer, back seat driver speakers, 120 AMP, Vintage Air Gen IV, electric fan, seatbelts and ’57 Dodge Lancer fender skirts (like my first ’57).

This car won trophies for Best Paint, Best in Class and Best Chevy in the first local show we entered it in. I didn't build it for show, just to enjoy cruising in with my wife, as we did while dating in ’64. It brings back good memories for all.

I want to remind all Chevy Classics (http://www.chevyclassicsclub.com/) readers like me to hang in there. This was a long slow process taking twelve years. I only own this one classic. This Chevy is driven as weather permits. Thanks to you at Eckler’s Chevy Classics for the many parts and technical help. I thank my wife Jean who stuck by me these 46 years, my brothers and all others who helped me on this car. Most of all I thank My Savior Jesus Christ for allowing me to complete this project. May it be used to glorify Him and give others encouragement and joy.