1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

This ’57 Bel Air Convertible, which Mecum estimates to sell for as much as $125,000, initially appealed to Jackson’s gearhead sensibilities. “It was one of the first cars that came off the factory line with one horsepower per cubic inch,” he says. “That was a pretty cool deal.” The classic Chevy, with its three-speed manual […]

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1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

Baseball Great Reggie Jackson's Muscle Cars at Mecum Auction

Photo by David Newhardt, courtesy of Mecum Auctions.

Estimated to fetch up to $125,000, this 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible had a comprehensive restoration in 2005.

This ’57 Bel Air Convertible, which Mecum estimates to sell for as much as $125,000, initially appealed to Jackson’s gearhead sensibilities. “It was one of the first cars that came off the factory line with one horsepower per cubic inch,” he says. “That was a pretty cool deal.” The classic Chevy, with its three-speed manual transmission and 283-cubic-inch engine, also tugged at Jackson’s nostalgic heartstrings.

“This is the car that you wanted to own when you were in high school,” he recalls, talking up how easy it was to modify the car into a hot-rodding chariot. Jackson commissioned a comprehensive restoration of the car in 2005, and it has logged fewer than 100 miles of road time since. “It’s [like] a piece of jewelry,” the hall of famer gushes. “It’s almost over-restored, it’s so pretty, but it’s the real deal.”