Feb 6, 2008

Saddest Story of the Year So Far

Which would you rather have -- continued contact with a member of your family or $90,000? Perhaps that's not a fair question, since we don't know all the circumstances, but classic car owner Gerald Iwan's answer to that question was $90,000. Recently he said goodbye to one of his self-described "family members" at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction when he sold the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible that he purchased new 51 years ago. The car sold for $90,000 during the 37th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event. Until the auction, Iwan had been the only owner of the onyx black "drop top" since he purchased it in the summer of '57.

"On July 25, 1957, I purchased my very first new car, a 1957 Bel Air Chevrolet black convertible," said Iwan. "My mother had to sign the car title to enable me to have a loan, since I was under-age at that time. I started to make the car to my liking and didn't realize I had a gem of a car until 50 years later."

Iwan got married in 1959 and took his bride on their honeymoon in the car. Through the decades that followed, including the birth of six kids, the Bel Air became a key part of the family. The all-numbers-matching convertible has a 283 cubic inch V8 and a three-speed manual transmission as well as several period-correct personal touches like a tonneau cover, chrome on select items and a hand-painted undercarriage. With only 16,246 original miles, the Bel Air is in excellent condition. For example, the doors still have the solid sound of a factory-fresh vehicle.

"I will be 70 years old next year, coming to the end of a special era in my life," Iwan said. "The car needed a new home. I want someone else to enjoy the 1957 Chevy convertible as I did for 50 years."

(Full disclosure note: The author of this piece has owned his 1962 Corvette since 1974, so he might have exhibited bias in reporting this story.)