1957 CHEVROLET TWO-TEN (210)

In 1957, the year it promoted the strapline “Number 1 in America” in its advertisements, Chevrolets had a much more chic and striking image than the renovated body designs of its competitors, despite the fact that its own body designs dated from two years earlier. Chevrolet’s 1957 designs have since become one of the most popular and most expensive classic American automobiles.

The 210 (Two-Ten), introduced in 1953, as the middle-line of Chevy’s with more features and chrome than 150 (One-Fifty). This 4-Door Sedan in our Museum is an example of the most popular automobile with 6 cylinders, priced at 2,174 Dollars.

The Two-Ten’s production started without the later aluminum panels: the addition of the chrome strip on the aluminum panel over the rear fender, one of the contributors to the Bel Air’s beauty, was made only a day before the start of production. With its liberal use of external trim, the Chevrolet 210 had a more flamboyant appearance than the 150.

The 210 was equipped with the famous 6-cylinder 235 cu.in 140 bhp “Blue Flame” engine, a modified version of Chevrolet truck engines since 1950. 210s were offered with all Chevrolet’s V8 engines as options. When tested with the 220 bhp 283 cu.in. V8 engine and Powerglide transmission, this four-door model reached 60 mph in 11.3 seconds. That meant it runs a quarter mile in 18.4 seconds – much more quickly than might be expected.

The uni-body of  1957 Chevys’ produced by Fisher and the chassis of this 210 is standard, unlike the Bel Air Convertible in our Museum.