THIS stunning Chevrolet Bel Air has been the pride and joy of the same owner for more than 60 years. Grace Braeger, from Wisconsin, US, bought the car for $2,250 in 1957 and never imagined she would still have it all these years later. During her ‘active years’, Grace drove the Chevrolet all over the country and through Canada, racking up over 122,000 miles. Now, she uses the dependable vehicle to go to church, shopping and appointments. Grace said: “What I love most about this car is what fun it is to drive it.” Nicknamed 57 Lady, the car regularly encounters admirers with people taking photos or giving Grace the thumbs up as she drives along. Someone even tried to steal the car in the late 1970s but Grace confronted them. She said: “As soon as I got to the vehicle, the light went on. And somebody was getting out the other side. And I yelled, who are you? And he was gone in the dark.” Grace would only consider serious offers for the car and hopes the future owner recognises the value in it. What is the secret to its longevity? Grace said: “When it needs something, you take care of it. You replace it, you always try to keep it clean and you try to keep it waxed. And you go by the manual."
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MotorTranscript
00:00 I never planned to have this car that long. It just happened. This car is very superior.
00:11 It's not just any car.
00:14 West Bend, Wisconsin. Home to a much loved American classic.
00:22 It's one classy car, with a distinguished owner to match.
00:29 I am Ruiz. Behind me is my 1957 Bel Air hard top.
00:41 I'm the proverbial little old lady. Takes us to church, goes to the grocery store, and goes to the appointments.
00:57 I've owned it since 1957. One owner for 62 years.
01:04 Just over 700,000 Bel Airs rolled out of the factory in 1957. But it's rare to see one in such immaculate condition.
01:15 I know how to take care of things, and this car proves it.
01:22 The book says change the oil every 2,000 miles. I changed it every 1,000 miles.
01:30 I have it serviced whether it needs it or not. That's how you take care of a car.
01:37 And a 1957 Bel Air in this condition could sell from anywhere between $35,000 and $85,000.
01:47 It's got 122,000 miles now. But those were put on during my active years.
01:56 What we're driving on used to be 4th Avenue, and now they call it South Main.
02:06 Here's where I went to school during the war.
02:14 So naturally I'm not putting on a lot of miles now.
02:19 I used to be able to look over the steering wheel. Well, no longer.
02:25 It's very comfortable to sit back and look under the wheel.
02:30 They don't make steering wheels like this anymore.
02:35 Whoops, I didn't turn there.
02:42 The Bel Air was a reasonably priced, attractive vehicle.
02:45 And with it came some special warranties.
02:48 Good job Grace kept the receipt.
02:51 Midas gave their lifetime guarantee for as long as you own the car.
02:58 And I'm sure they never thought somebody would keep their Midas mufflers for 62 years.
03:06 But I needed a muffler.
03:10 A beautiful car like this is always going to attract attention.
03:14 Nice car!
03:16 And sometimes it's unwanted.
03:19 Someone tried to steal this car.
03:22 The car was 20 years old then.
03:25 It's the late 70s.
03:27 It was parked on a side street.
03:30 I approached the car and somebody was getting out the other side.
03:36 I yelled, "Who are you?"
03:39 And he was gone in the dark.
03:42 And I drove to church because that's where I was headed.
03:46 This car is very superior. It's not just any car.
03:54 I never planned to have this car that long.
04:00 It just happened.
04:03 Year after year they went by and I was so happy with it.
04:09 And everybody else is happy with it.
04:12 Why give it up?
04:14 [Music]