The Boss sold the car in 1976, according to the eBay listing. The Chevy has changed hands twice since Bruce sold it, so you could be the fourth owner. Also according to the listing, when this car was exhibited at the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, it was appraised and insured for $850,000, half a million higher than the current bid. It will be interesting to see if there’s flurry of last minute bids on eBay.
Just to be clear about the vehicle, it’s a used, 1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible model 150/210. It has a custom-built V-8 GM 350 engine and a rebuilt Muncie 4-speed manual transmission with a Hurst shifter. The exterior is yellow with red flame outlines and the interior is black. The engine is not stock nor are many of the mechanical and electrical parts. The listing claims only 2,600 miles but you can assume that means miles put on since the new engine was installed, which the listing says “rumbles like a Harley.”
While the mechanical and electrical systems were entirely redone, according to the listing, the body and frame are “untouched just the way Bruce owned it.”
The Chevy is mentioned in or was the inspiration of a number of Springsteen’s songs. Legend has it that he wrote the songs Born to Run, Thunder Road, and Backstreets while actually sitting in the car. Included in the auction are copies of Time, Newsweek, and Playboy magazines with feature stories about the car.
So Bruce Springsteen’s car on eBay is much more than just a ’57 Chevy, as wonderful as those are. It’s a piece of rock and roll history waiting for its next owner. Could that be you?
