Why we own a 57 Chevy

[horseless carriage]

You and your lady look like 2 Brits on holiday. You both look great and very fashionable and English. What else?
I really enjoy looking at the car. I take it that it has the original paint color? Do you have trouble finding parts when you need them? Where was the MG plant located that made your car?

What a kind and generous compliment, thank you. There is a huge MG following, even in the US, just look up: "The Gathering of the Faithful. MG had disappointing export figures but you can still get them Stateside if you know where to look.

Note the steering wheel position.
Parts are not a problem and our car's colour is all original, even the coach stripe. MG were part of the Morris Motors company. Morris built the engines and transmission at their Cowley plant, Cowley is a suburb of Oxford. MG had a factory about ten miles away in the town of Abingdon, where the bodies were made and the cars assembled. Getting spares has never been a problem.

 

[squatting dog]

I had a ‘58 and a ‘62 convertible. I will have to hunt for pictures. The ‘58 was my runner and the ‘62 was my street machine.

Yeah, I think Ford sold something like 5000 more cars that year. As for performance, Ford always fell behind the Chevy. I am speaking strictly about street machines, not cars that were modified by their owners. I knew a fellow that put a 427 in a Falcon. That little car could run. Something like this one.

View attachment 254501

I wouldn't mind a Falcon, but, it would have to be Chevy powered and have an altered wheelbase.... something along these lines.
But then I'm weird.

 

[ArnoldC]

Yep. '57 Chev definitely had a unique body style. Can understand why you own one, sq. Never have a problem picking it out of today's offerings. To me, they all look like a used bar of soap.

Had a '57 Chev Bel Aire back '66-'67 or so. Was not my favorite car though.

1951 Henry J was my fav and wish I'd hung onto her. Strange reading this thread now. Only two days ago was reminiscing about it in the workshop and set down a list of things "I should have done" to her. I'd a kept the 'Super Hurricane' flat head six engine she had instead of trying to swap in a 265 Chev engine. This was back '64 when still in the Air Force.

At least, squatting dog, you can still work on the '57. Only thing I can do to my 2010 Sport Trac is fill the w/s washer bottle and change the air filter. Cheers. arnold

 

[horseless carriage]

Going back a few years we looked long and hard at fabulous Buick.
Not really practical when you have a small garage. Can you see the
steering wheel on the right hand side? That's my wife in the blue
dress, still living vintage style.



Then came a love with two wheels but when I suggested this
her answer was an emphatic "no." She didn't relish the idea of
sitting on an improvised seat, balanced on the rear mudguard.



So we went retro-modern. Can you see my beard?



There's another surprise for you to smile at, but I have to
get myself off to work now. I know, 76 and still working,
don't lecture me.

 

[squatting dog]

Yep. '57 Chev definitely had a unique body style. Can understand why you own one, sq. Never have a problem picking it out of today's offerings. To me, they all look like a used bar of soap.

Had a '57 Chev Bel Aire back '66-'67 or so. Was not my favorite car though.

1951 Henry J was my fav and wish I'd hung onto her. Strange reading this thread now. Only two days ago was reminiscing about it in the workshop and set down a list of things "I should have done" to her. I'd a kept the 'Super Hurricane' flat head six engine she had instead of trying to swap in a 265 Chev engine. This was back '64 when still in the Air Force.

At least, squatting dog, you can still work on the '57. Only thing I can do to my 2010 Sport Trac is fill the w/s washer bottle and change the air filter. Cheers. arnold

Cool... So, which would you prefer today? The 1952 Henry J, or the 1952 Sears Allstate? (just a re-badged Henry J). Another cool fact I remembered was, If you ordered a Sears Allstate, you could also order a kit that turned the shipping crate into a garage.
Wasn't life grand?
Hey, wouldn't it be cool to find the 1948 AMP that was the father of the Henry J?

 

[fuzzybuddy]

In the 1950s, who in the hell wanted a car that looked like a 1938 Ford? The 50s were the space/nuclear/jet age. The 1950s Chevies filled that role to a "T". There is no other word, they were 'cool'. Today, cars are scientifically designed to eke out extra milage They have to obey the same laws of physics, so they look the same.

 

[squatting dog]

In the 1950s, who in the hell wanted a car that looked like a 1938 Ford? The 50s were the space/nuclear/jet age. The 1950s Chevies filled that role to a "T". There is no other word, they were 'cool'. Today, cars are scientifically designed to eke out extra milage They have to obey the same laws of physics, so they look the same.

Yep... I love seeing old concept designs that they thought of back then. Some would have been cool... others... maybe not, but, at least it showed thinking outside the box. When looking at these 3, I see where they tried using existing old 1952 chevy fast back roofs.

 

[Gaer]

Squatting Dog, You own a 57 Chevy because you want to make me jealous!
I didn't want a Ford, or a t-Bird, or a Jaguar, or a Corvette. It had to be a 1957 Chevy.
It couldn't be a 56 or a 58. It had to be a 57 Chevy! That was the cool one!

Well, It didn't happen. I didn't get it. haha! It's OK!
Glad you did though!

 

[horseless carriage]

There's another surprise for you to smile at, but I have to
get myself off to work now.

Surprise!
Let me tell you that pre-war Yank-tanks are a money pit.
The MG is much easier on the wallet.