1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR 150 Post

For sale is a Tribute build of the legendary NASCAR championship winning 1957 Chevrolet driven by Hall of Famer Buck Baker to his second consecutive premier series championship. Known as "The Black Widow," this striking Chevrolet 150 two-door sedan is presented for sale from Geelong, Victoria.

The story behind the Black Widow is an interesting insight into how NASCAR and the automobile manufacturers functioned back in the day. On June 6, 1957, the Automobile Manufacturers Association, a coalition of U.S. automakers, formally banned automobile racing. The group prohibited the advertising of race results, promoting the speed features of race cars, providing pace cars to tracks and other marketing activities. This came in response to heavy Congressional pressure in the wake of a crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955 that killed more than 80 people when a car went off course and crashed into the stands, exploding in a ball of fire.

In 1957, Buck Baker won 10 races and his second consecutive premier series championship with a Chevrolet he owned that was nicknamed, "The Black Widow." Rather than have Congress legislatively mandate a withdrawal from racing, the automakers did it themselves. At least that was the public perception.

And at the same time, they were doing everything they could behind the scenes to get around their own restrictions. In the case of General Motors, they hired former Hudson lead race engineer Vince Piggins and moved him to Atlanta, where he established a business known as the Southern Engineering and Development Co., or SEDCO, which was run out of Nalley Chevrolet, an Atlanta dealership that eventually expanded into more than a dozen retail outlets in the region.

Under Piggins' watchful eye, SEDCO built the first Black Widow race car, choosing its nickname for the distinctive black and white paint scheme. The car was based on the economy Chevy One-Fifty Utility Sedan - or 150, for short - the cheapest and lightest full-sized car in the 1957 Chevrolet lineup. It featured a host of special go-fast items: a fuel-injected, 283-cubic-inch, 283-horsepower small-block Chevy engine, three-speed manual transmission, six-lug wheels, 20-gallon fuel tank and no radio, cigarette lighter or arm rests.

In April 1957, Piggins put together a manual called the "1957 Chevrolet Stock Car Competition Guide," which explained in great detail how Chevrolet dealers could build their own Black Widows. The manual, which was mailed to 411 Chevrolet dealerships across the country, contained 170 individual GM-made parts that were needed to convert a stock Chevy 150 street car to a full-on NASCAR race car.

The Black Widows were raced successfully all season long in 1957. The three most prominent Black Widow drivers were Baker in the No. 87, Jack Smith in the No. 47 and Speedy Thompson in the No. 46.

Baker would go on to win the 1957 NASCAR premier series championship in a Black Widow, with Thompson finishing third in points and Smith fifth. Collectively, the trio amassed 16 race victories and 63 top-five finishes during the 1957 season.

FOR SALE is a stunning tribute to the 12 original factory race cars. Built from a Belair 150 Post Coupe, and presented in new Tuxedo Black and White paint, this Chevy features a brand new 383 ci engine, 2 X 4 Barrel Carter Carbies, an Offenhouser aluminium intake manifold with Edelbrock Aluminium heads, MSD Ignition, Hydraulic CS286H R10 Cam Shaft with roller lifters producing 450HP at the engine.

Gears are swapped via a fully rebuilt close ratio 4 speed manual transmission with new heavy duty clutch and then through to an Eaton 10 bolt posi differential with 3.55 gears. The Chevy is fitted with 4 wheel disc brakes with ventilated rotors.

The Chevy features a new coded Silver & Black Tombstone trim, new hood lining, a Hurst shifter, original dash with full factory gauges, tacho, AM/FM cassette & dealer installed brushed aluminium tissue box holder.

The boot has been fully detailed and all chrome and stainless repolished or replaced. The Chev is riding on 17 " polished Torque Thrust rims with Hi speed radial tyres.

For your inspection from Geelong, Victoria. (Ref: 6546)

We are happy to arrange a video inspection of the car using WhatsApp. Please call for more details and note Door to Door enclosed transport is available anywhere in Australia or New Zealand.

View on the Australian Muscle Car Sales website