What we've got on hand here is an absolute beauty of a car, which is an extreme understatement. Here at Coyote Classics, it's suddenly 1960! Sitting on the showroom floor is this exquisite 1957 Plymouth Belvedere, a piece of art with four doors and four wheels. Evoking the shape of the infamously evil 1958 Plymouth Fury in Stephen King's "Christine", this 1957 Belvedere sedan calls to mind the same car, with a gorgeous two-tone red over white paintjob.

Designed under the leadership of visionary automotive designer Virgil Exner, the 1957 Plymouth and sister Chrysler Corporation models were unlike anything else on the market. The ads trumpeted: "Suddenly - It's 1960!" If the marketing was to be believed, the new Plymouths sitting in showrooms were originally intended to be 1960 models. In an unprecedented move, Chrysler Corporation had completely redesigned all five of its car lines, discontinuing the new 1955 bodies after only two years. What the corporation walked out in its place were Virgil Exner's best designs ever, not just catching up with yearly styling giant General Motors, but leaving both the General and the Blue Oval far behind. The effect of the new Plymouth sent shock waves through the design halls of both GM and Ford. One story tells of GM styling boss Harley Earl walking into the office of Chevrolet exterior designer C.J. MacKichan, throwing a 1957 Plymouth catalog on his desk and asking bitterly, "Why don't you quit?"

This example is powered by the optional 301 C.I. V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor, a step below the 318 V8 but above the 277 V8. That combination is sure to provide for some smooth cruising! Additionally, the three-speed "Torqueflite" automatic transmission made its debut in 1957, using a rather unconventional shifting layout: a button. Most cars of the time used a standard shifter, while Chrysler brought the "pushbutton" automatic into the mainstream, a feature that is still used on most cars today. Saying this car is beautiful is a drastic minimization. The "Forward Look" styling of this Plymouth takes inspiration from the space age, from the chrome headlights, unobstructed greenhouse to the smooth clean sculptured sides, the idea of an earthbound space vehicle was everywhere. The low front fenders and hood, gently sloped windshield, a razor thin flat roof with tapered rear window, and rising fins created a "leaping" effect, as though the car was in motion even while standing still. The red and white exterior paint is incredibly striking, being buffed to a brilliant shine. It has a couple spots of surface rust here and there, but overall, it presents very nicely. The interior is just as nice, with an eye-catching tri-tone color scheme in black, white, and red. The bench seats front and rear are also in outstanding shape! Features on this beautiful '57 Plymouth include power steering, newer speakers, an updated Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo system (the original AM pushbutton radio remains in the dash!), dual forward-mounted mirrors, and a sweet-sounding dual exhaust system. The car rides on a classic set of B.F. Goodrich "Silvertown" whitewall tires with factory-spec 1957 Plymouth steel wheels and hubcaps for a factory-fresh look.

This '57 Plymouth is a shining example of a different era, when style reigned over all else. With outlandishly styled fins and sweeping chrome ornamentation, the 1957 Plymouths look like nothing that ever came before or since. This Belvedere is ready to go at the touch of the gas pedal, and all it needs is a new driver. If you're looking to own a beautiful, unique classic that is a rolling tribute to the glory days of automotive styling, then what better example to look for than this 1957 Plymouth Belvedere?