The Bel-Air sports a luxurious and stylish design. Chevrolet designed its large chrome front grille with 1950s race cars in mind. They were especially inspired by Ferrari vehicles. The  full-sized Chevys of the early 1950s were more commonly known for decent inline six-cylinder engines and a mediocre 265 cubic inch V-8, the 1957 Bel Air debuted with the revolutionary (and optional) 283 cubic inch Super Turbo-Fire V-8 that featured a state-of-the-art fuel injection system. 
The car has become such an icon that its greatness is now either taken for granted or completely ignored in the belief that its popularity was more about trendy fashion than the car itself. It's probably the first car you think of when you think of the '50s, and it captures the spirit of its decade better than just about any other car ever has.