1957 Plymouth Belvedere

The Belvedere was part of Plymouth's lineup from 1954 to 1970, initially used for a new hardtop body style in the Plymouth Cranbrook line for the 1951 model year. It replaced the Cranbrook in 1954 as the top-of-the-line trim, available as a convertible, sedans, and station wagons body styles. Production of the full-sized Belvedere continued until 1965, when it became an intermediate, being replaced after the 1970 model year by the Satellite.

The Chrysler Corporation introduced Virgil Exner's 'Forward Look' for 1955, and it was hard to imagine how the formerly conservative company could top it. Two years later, new styling was showcased, and by Chrysler's account, 'suddenly it was 1960.' Changes under the hood included a new front suspension with torsion bars, and a three-speed version of the Powerlite automatic transmission, called 'TorqueFlite,' became available on V-8s.

The standard engine was an inline, L-head six-cylinder unit displacing 230.2 cubic-inches and delivering 132 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. It used solid valve lifters, a Carter one-barrel carburetor, and four main bearings. The base overhead-valve V8 displaced 276.1 cubic-inches and delivered 197 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. An optional 299.6 CID OHV V8 with Carter two-barrel carburetor delivered 215 horsepower at 9,700 RPM. This engine, known as the '301' V8 was standard in all 1957 Suburbans.

Styling included a wrap-around aluminum grid-style grille, vertical air slot bumper, and the tower-type tail rear fenders. Belvedere block letters were located at the middle sides of the rear tailfins, just above the moldings. There were single side moldings as standard equipment, full wheel covers, electric clock, a lockable glovebox, cigarette lighter, rear quarter stone shields, and oil filter.

Body styles included a sedan, Sport Sedan, club sedan, hardtop coupe, and convertible. The Sport Suburban were station wagons and the Fury Hardtop Coupe was a special and well-equipped high-performance model. The Fury had rear fender nameplates, upswept front bumper end extensions, dual outside rearview mirrors, a special clock, backup lights, directional signals, and foam seat in both the front and rear. The standard engine was a 299.6 cubic-inch V8 with a cast-iron block, overhead valves, solid valve lifters, five main bearings, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, and delivered 235 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. The engine was backed by the new TorqueFlite automatic transmission. An optional 317.6 cubic-inch V8 with two Carter four-barrel carburetors delivered 290 horsepower at 5,400 RPM.

The 1957 Plymouth Belvedere, Sport Suburban, and Fury accounted for nearly thirty percent of Plymouths total 726,009 examples produced.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020