My Father’s Bel Air

This restoration of this ’57 Bel Air was a true labor of love.

Story and photography by James Bonno #21689607,  La Verne, CA

This 1957 Bel Air Sports Coupe came off the assembly line on Tuesday, April 9th, 1957, at the Los Angeles, California Plant. It was then delivered some time thereafter to Courtesy Chevrolet in Los Angeles. My father, Anthony Bonno, was 24 years old and working as a mechanic there. He purchased the car new. He had it a few years before meeting and marrying my mother, Janet. I was brought home as a baby in this car. I also remember weekly visits to my grandmother’s house for dinner, church and sleeping in the back seat on the way home every Sunday.