BelAir wagon vin tags would start with C or VC.
They would also have the longer crown mounding stainless on the the fins.
Aluminum inserts on the rear quarter panels.
And yes, aluminum inserts across the dash with BelAir script instead of Chevrolet.
There is also extra stainless on the exterior A pillars.
And stainless on the rocker panel below the doors.
Gold louvers on the front fenders and gold emblems on the hood and tailgate.

As for price, a true BelAir should bring more money, but it’s not as drastic of a difference on a four door wagon as it would be on a two door coup.

 

Just for clarification, here are some pictures of one of my BelAir wagons.

The dash, which is identical to all BelAir 57 Chevrolets.

This one is a factory 6 cylinder BelAir "C".
A V8 car would start with VC.

A pillar trim, same as a BelAir 4 door sedan.

Crown molding stainless.
Unique length for a BelAir Wagon and Nomad.

 

Thanks for your addl info, I have added a few shots of the prospective car. you can see the front fender gold louvers, and rear chrome over the fin, however, the interior stainless you mention on the A is not there and the dash is not correct, as you can see if you blow up the interior shot... again, thanks for you input

 

Nice wagon.

I'm curious about something...On SeeTheUSA's black 57 BelAir wagon, the rear doors have a 'dip' in the beltline moulding. The wagon that Picasso is looking at doesn't have that dip, the molding is straight across. Why the difference?

And I think it's strange that a BelAir wagon came from the factory without the aluminum dash trim, and the 'Chevrolet' script instead of the 'BelAir' script. Hmmm.

Don't get me wrong, it still appears to be a beautiful wagon, and a good choice for the right price.

 

The Vin number will tell the tale.
VC or C.
The C means BelAir or 2400 series.
If it starts with VB or B its a 210.
VA or A is a 150 series.

 

The red 57 wagon looks great. In the second picture it looks like the vin plate has been removed from where it was spot riveted at the factory. I see a vin plate may be pop riveted much lower on the A pillar for a station wagon.

 

I will mk sure to look wen i get a hands on view...thanks

 

Looks like a Belair with a V8, great patina like you said, make sure you decipher the vin number.

 

yes, owner says its a 289, and he has put in disk brakes on front end..another prior owner added an additional leaf spring, I think the paint/patina/age looks good from picture, like I said, a clear coat would be a nice look if one didnt want to get to deep into paint..interior is new,,

 

283 is Chevy , 289 is a Ford

 

yes,, im sorry, it was late and I was looking at several things, got em mixed.

 

Nice wagon.

I'm curious about something...On SeeTheUSA's black 57 BelAir wagon, the rear doors have a 'dip' in the beltline moulding. The wagon that Picasso is looking at doesn't have that dip, the molding is straight across. Why the difference?

.....

My rear doors have been modified.
The "dip" was cut out of a sedan rear door and put on the wagon rear door.
The dip cut out.

Wagons have a square window frame, four door sedan widow frames have a curve to match the roof line.

The modified wagon door.

Also had to modify the garnish molding inside.

 

My rear doors have been modified.
The "dip" was cut out of a sedan rear door and put on the wagon rear door.
Wagons have a square window frame, four door sedan window frames have a curve to match the roof line.

Thank you sir for the explanation.
Nice job on your wagon.

 

Sort of q offtopic reply, why do you guys really like the wagons? Nostqlgia. Memories, style? I currently own a 63 couoe de ville and a 67 grnd prix convrtible. I drive them weekly, like a modern car. I just like the rides of the older cars

 

Practicality for me. You can fit a lot back there; picnics, construction material, car parts, etc. Also, the long roof and windows have a subtle effect of making the car look bigger than a sedan.

 

Long roofs are --well- you get it or you don't

 

……….
Just curious...did both of the four-door wagons (210 & BelAir) have the nine-passenger seat configuration? Or was that just a BelAir thing?

If I remember correctly, there were no 1955 nine passenger wagons.
In 56 all the nine passenger wagons were BelAirs.
(Very low production numbers, something like 14 thousand.)
And in 57 all nine passenger wagons were 210’s.
Verify that info before you start spreading it around.
My memory isn’t what it used to be.🤔

And at the CNA show in Huntsville, someone put a nine passenger middle seat in a Nomad.

 

Actually for 1956, a 9-passenger wagon was offered in the 210 series and also the BelAir series. A '56 210 four door wagon could be either 6-passenger or 9-passenger, but the '56 BelAir wagon was only 9-passenger.

 

Actually for 1956, a 9-passenger wagon was offered in the 210 series and also the BelAir series. A '56 210 four door wagon could be either 6-passenger or 9-passenger, but the '56 BelAir wagon was only 9-passenger.

It took me a while to figure out that all 56 Belair four door wagons were nine passenger.
That explains why the production numbers were so low.
When I was looking for my first wagon, it was near impossible to find a 56 BelAir wagon.

 

I got lok at car. Its a VC belair per the vin.

 

Happy for your enthusiasm.

Someone earlier mentioned that the VIN tag looked as if it had been removed and replaced.
Any way to verify that it hasn't been re-tagged?
That 210 dash with Chevrolet script is really suspicious, makes me believe that someone converted the car with BelAir parts and then re-tagged it to match. But they were too lazy to update the dash.

Just my opinion, if it were me I'd do a bit more research.

 

What does the cowl tag say? Could you post a pic of that? It'll reveal the exact model of the car, the original paint color and the interior color. On a '57, it is located below the wiper motor.

 

I didnt get that,, guess I should have, it's a 7 hour drive up and 7 back, so not likely I will see that unless I get it. it was a nice solid car, has a bump or two obviously, but originally lived in cut bank Montana 57 on,, interior is complete, I guess if I had to have the metal on the dash, I could get it as I see you can on a parts place,, but as I saw it, it didnt seem that big a deal, but that shiny dash is attractive it ran well, old dude has some glass packs on the 283, so its noisy, which I kinda liked. overall, I liked it, and while im a driver of these old cars, not a weekend sunny day driver, it was ok,, gotta get price down to low 20s tho. I also looked at a 57 "bel air" coupe,, I same area, it was advertised as a bel air, but upon arrival, I noted the steering wheel said 210, so I asked the seller, he said it was, a 210, but he dressed it up in bel air jewelry. had a corvette lt, with muncie 4 speed..it was a lot more dolled up with fresh paint, after market ac, etc,, im am glad I did a little research on these cars before I went, older and wiser I guess..

 

Some addl photos