1957 Chevy Gasser
A “gasser” is not a car that uses an exotic gas such as Nitrous Oxide to enhance engine power. A “gasser” simply means a car that uses plain jane ordinary gasoline. Early gassers had to be street legal and registered, but by the time we move into the sixties the rules were being changed to allow competitors to modify street production cars to race that could no longer be registered for road use. The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air we are featuring was one of those. It was a competitor in the Gasser Wars of the sixties and there was nothing cold about drag racing’s Gasser Wars; Hot cars, hot engines, hot tyres and people who were fiercely competitive, but who still made time for the camaraderie that true sportsmanship requires.
“I call it Midnight Hunter,” says owner of this car. “It’s a one-of-a-kind ’57 Chevy gasser sedan delivery. Although it looks the part of a race car, it runs on pump gas. And with the overdrive automatic transmission, I can drive it anywhere.”
But what’s a 1957 Chevy gasser without a big-block under the hood? Upon opening the engine cover, we find 454 cubic inches of Chevrolet’s behemoth taking up residence. Performance enhancements come from a COMP Cams roller stick with .622-inch lift, a Holley Street Avenger carburetor, and those gotta-have fenderwell headers. The added bling of the polished-aluminum valve covers and custom air cleaner definitely give it a vintage vibe. Behind the big mill is a 700R4 transmission with a TCI Automotive torque converter.
Simplistic is the best word to describe this interior. Inside is a true exercise in simplicity and detail. The red and black are a stark contrast to the exterior and make sure you take notice.
Feelings of nostalgia are a strong motivator when it comes to building a classic car or hot rod. We all have fond memories of that “a-ha” moment that got us hooked. Be it the experiences you had while on daily weekend rides with dad or those frequent trips to the local drag strip, the memories we retain are forever engrained in our minds.
