According to Pat Chapell's storied book. "The Hot One", total cars sales for both Chevy and Ford in 1957 each accounted for 24.9-percent of the industry total. Plymouth sales accounted for 10.7-percent. These three therefore had about one-half of the domestic new car sales market in 1957.
Unbelievably, many "senior citizen" Super Chevy readers today purchased brand new 1957s. One well known, west coast, popular owner who still owns his white Bel Air today is Larry Ofria of Valley Head Service in Northridge, California. A 1955 high school graduate, he jumped right in to the high performance arena. In late 1956 he special-ordered a dual four-barrel, 270 horsepower 283 V-8, white-over-red sport coupe. He then proceeded to hop-up the engine and driveline for competition in the B/Gas class. Today, the engine is long gone but the mint original beauty is stored away in Ofria's fortified garage. The odometer reads just over 42,000 miles. Oh, if cars could talk!
| POPULAR 1957 OPTIONS |
| (prices rounded off for simplicity) |
| Power Steering | $ 70.00 |
| Power Brakes | $ 54.00 |
| Power Windows | $102.00 |
| Power Seat | $43.00 |
| Turboglide Trans | $231.00 |
| Powerglide Trans | $188.00 |
| 3-Speed Overdrive | $108.00 |
| Air Conditioning | $565.00 |
| Four Barrel 283 V-8 | $100.00 |
| Dual Four 283 V-8 | $183.00 |
| Fuel Inj. 283 V-8 | $480.00 |
| Four-Speed Trans | $188.00 |
| Positraction Axle | $43.00 |