The 1957 Chevrolet is so heavily reproduced that finding a genuine unrestored survivor has become nearly impossible. The car's iconic status means demand has always outstripped supply.

What to look for in a genuine car versus a conversion: check the VIN and the partial VIN stampings in the body. Check the engine for date codes that predate the car's assembly. Check the body stampings in the door jamb. Reproductions have body stampings but they read differently than originals.

For a driver rather than a collector, the repro-heavy market has a silver lining: the quality of reproductions for the Tri-Five Chevrolet is exceptional. Virtually every part of the car is available new. You can build a very accurate-appearing 1957 Chevrolet from catalog parts and a shell, which explains why so many people have done exactly that.