Review by CoMod Lotus of Carrera the '57 Evo Chevrolet Bel Air Coupe
(27257 and 27258)
There’s something new from the U.S. on the market—or rather, on the slot car track:
The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Coupe
. Note that “BEL AIR” isn’t a model designation, but rather a reference to the highest-quality trim level of the ’57 Chevrolet model. The simpler models were called “210” and “150.” The Chevrolet derives its 140 PS from a 3,856 ccm displacement, distributed across 6 cylinders. Other engine options included two 8-cylinder engines: one with 162 PS from 4,342 ccm and another with 185 PS from 4,637 ccm (the 4.7-liter engine could even produce up to 283 PS, depending on the carburetor type). The car was popular with Americans; exactly 1,499,664 vehicles were sold in 1957.
Carrera has released the Bel Air in two versions:
first, the “street version” as a 2-door hardtop coupe in the classic two-tone red-and-white paint scheme; and second, the race version in black with a white roof, race number, and sponsor decals. By the way, the race version isn’t just made up—these cars were actually raced in the ’60s. And I actually like it even better than the Plymouth Fury LEE PETTY, which was released at the same time, because in my opinion it doesn’t look as toy-like (though that’s probably due to the Plymouth’s blue color—it has a bit of a Matchbox car vibe). The Racer has a really well-executed paint job and looks higher-quality than the Petty.
As for the Chevy itself:
The car impresses with its sheer size; when you compare z.B. it to the Opel Steinmetz, you really see just how long the car is. You can also tell how big the car is by its weight; the cars weigh in at 119 gr and 116 gr, respectively. The weight is also noticeable while driving: The car handles solidly and surprisingly well on the track; the tendency to tip over that I initially feared—due to the weight and the higher center of gravity compared to the Plymouth—did not occur, and I’m pleasantly surprised. Thanks to their size, these cars come close to matching the handling of 1:24-scale models.
Conclusion:
Another excellent vehicle for fans of American cars and a great addition to the fleet. By the way, if you're looking for a genuine Bel Air: www.chromjuwelen.com there's one for sale right now on [ website], in case the car is already gone—the site is definitely worth a visit anyway!
CoMod
Lotus------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test report by CoMod JoergW onCarrera
the '57 Chevrolet Bel Air Evo Coupe
(27257 and 27258)
For many U.S. car enthusiasts, the '75 Chevy is considered one of the most beautiful “little street cruisers.” Its tail fin, front headlights set deep into the fenders, and the two-tone paint scheme—which was new at the time—give the car a distinctive look and made it a favorite among the younger generation. This 1:32 scale modelCarrera
from the Evolution
series depicts the two-door sedan hardtop coupe without a B-pillar in the “Bel Air” trim level—the highest available at the time . I’ll cover both vehicle variants in a single report and discuss their differences accordingly.
Appearance:
Both vehicles are very faithful to their real-life counterparts and could have come straight out of a brochure from that era. Although I haven’t found a direct real-life counterpart for the “black racer,” its appearance matches that of contemporary private teams. Thanks to the white roof and the trim, the black version also stands out well on the track; sehen.Mirpersonally, I prefer the street version of the bumper—that is, the chrome-plated one—better. But that’s a matter of taste.
Technical Specs:
There’s really nothing new here with either version. The leading edge angle could be a bit wider; the spring rates are okay. Vehicle weight and center of gravity are a perennial topic of discussion, but they aren’t quite as critical for these cars.
Workmanship:
The models were a bit battered right out of the box; I’m assuming they went through a test run in China. A Christmas shopper, however, might think they’d bought a used car (even though everything else looks brand-new). The Racer has no headlight; on the red-and-white model, the light shines through the body. While this is easy to fix, it shouldn’t have been necessary.
Handling:
Naturally, US cars with these dimensions and the prototypically tall body aren’t capable of top speeds. However, the cars can compete against other U.S. vehicles in an American Historic Race. Otherwise, they’re a nice change of pace on the track when cruising.
Conclusion:
I can't say whether these vehicles will appeal to a large enough market in Europe, but in the U.S., they will certainly find their fans and thus generate corresponding sales.
CoMod joergW
(27257 and 27258)
There’s something new from the U.S. on the market—or rather, on the slot car track:
The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Coupe
. Note that “BEL AIR” isn’t a model designation, but rather a reference to the highest-quality trim level of the ’57 Chevrolet model. The simpler models were called “210” and “150.” The Chevrolet derives its 140 PS from a 3,856 ccm displacement, distributed across 6 cylinders. Other engine options included two 8-cylinder engines: one with 162 PS from 4,342 ccm and another with 185 PS from 4,637 ccm (the 4.7-liter engine could even produce up to 283 PS, depending on the carburetor type). The car was popular with Americans; exactly 1,499,664 vehicles were sold in 1957.
first, the “street version” as a 2-door hardtop coupe in the classic two-tone red-and-white paint scheme; and second, the race version in black with a white roof, race number, and sponsor decals. By the way, the race version isn’t just made up—these cars were actually raced in the ’60s. And I actually like it even better than the Plymouth Fury LEE PETTY, which was released at the same time, because in my opinion it doesn’t look as toy-like (though that’s probably due to the Plymouth’s blue color—it has a bit of a Matchbox car vibe). The Racer has a really well-executed paint job and looks higher-quality than the Petty.
As for the Chevy itself:
The car impresses with its sheer size; when you compare z.B. it to the Opel Steinmetz, you really see just how long the car is. You can also tell how big the car is by its weight; the cars weigh in at 119 gr and 116 gr, respectively. The weight is also noticeable while driving: The car handles solidly and surprisingly well on the track; the tendency to tip over that I initially feared—due to the weight and the higher center of gravity compared to the Plymouth—did not occur, and I’m pleasantly surprised. Thanks to their size, these cars come close to matching the handling of 1:24-scale models.
Conclusion:
Another excellent vehicle for fans of American cars and a great addition to the fleet. By the way, if you're looking for a genuine Bel Air: www.chromjuwelen.com there's one for sale right now on [ website], in case the car is already gone—the site is definitely worth a visit anyway!
CoMod
Lotus------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test report by CoMod JoergW on
(27257 and 27258)
For many U.S. car enthusiasts, the '75 Chevy is considered one of the most beautiful “little street cruisers.” Its tail fin, front headlights set deep into the fenders, and the two-tone paint scheme—which was new at the time—give the car a distinctive look and made it a favorite among the younger generation. This 1:32 scale model
Appearance:
Both vehicles are very faithful to their real-life counterparts and could have come straight out of a brochure from that era. Although I haven’t found a direct real-life counterpart for the “black racer,” its appearance matches that of contemporary private teams. Thanks to the white roof and the trim, the black version also stands out well on the track; sehen.Mirpersonally, I prefer the street version of the bumper—that is, the chrome-plated one—better. But that’s a matter of taste.
Technical Specs:
There’s really nothing new here with either version. The leading edge angle could be a bit wider; the spring rates are okay. Vehicle weight and center of gravity are a perennial topic of discussion, but they aren’t quite as critical for these cars.
Workmanship:
The models were a bit battered right out of the box; I’m assuming they went through a test run in China. A Christmas shopper, however, might think they’d bought a used car (even though everything else looks brand-new). The Racer has no headlight; on the red-and-white model, the light shines through the body. While this is easy to fix, it shouldn’t have been necessary.
Handling:
Naturally, US cars with these dimensions and the prototypically tall body aren’t capable of top speeds. However, the cars can compete against other U.S. vehicles in an American Historic Race. Otherwise, they’re a nice change of pace on the track when cruising.
Conclusion:
I can't say whether these vehicles will appeal to a large enough market in Europe, but in the U.S., they will certainly find their fans and thus generate corresponding sales.
CoMod joergW
