This classic Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe was certainly one of the stars of the movie thanks to the style and edge it gave the main character.

Movie goers have voted Dirty Dancing and Star Wars as the blockbusters they enjoy watching again and again. What’s even more surprising is that the 1980s classic is the most watched movie for women, ahead of the Star Wars trilogy. According to a survey, female fans have seen the movie on average 15 times in their lifetime. Given the enormous popularity of the ’80s classic, it is not surprising that everything associated with the film was a hit. For instance, the 1987 romantic drama catapulted Patrick Swayze to global stardom. Likewise, almost every song on the soundtrack became a major success. As for stylistic inspiration, the movie revived several ’60s trends in the late ’80s. But while fashion fans cared more about crop tops, distressed leather jackets, and twirly midi skirts, gearheads are probably interested in the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe that was widely featured in the movie.

In the movie, it was Johnny Castle, aka Patrick Swayze, who drove the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe and smashed its windows when he locked the keys inside. Looking back at the scene, it’s difficult to imagine a car that is better adapted for Swayze’s bad boy persona than the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe. However, we still ponder how Johnny was able to purchase the posh two-door hardtop from his dance instructor salary. Regardless of how Swayze ended up with the car in the movie, here’s everything you need to know about the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe from Dirty Dancing.

These Are The Best Features of Johnny Castle’s Car

The chromed grille and rear-tail fins have become recognizable features, imitated and reproduced in comic books and cartoons. But it’s not just the design that was a tremendous success when it came to the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe. In fact, consumers also celebrated this vehicle for its reliability and performance. The Bel Air came equipped with one of the V8 engines that was available at that time. For instance, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe 283 V8 Super Turbo-Fire Powerglide had under the hood a 283 cubic inch V8 that could generate 220 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. This engine could help the vehicle reach the top speed of 111 miles per hour with a 0 to 60 mph time of 9.6 seconds.

Meanwhile, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe 265 V8 Turbo-Fire overdrive had under the hood a 265 cubic engine V8 engine that could generate 162 horsepower and 257 lb-ft of torque. It also helped the vehicle reach the top speed of 102 miles per hour with a 0 to 60 mph time of 11 seconds, according to Automobile Catalog.

This Is Why The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe Remains A Timeless Classic

The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air appeared in several TV series and movies, including Mike & Molly, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Dr. No and Sin City. However, Hollywood did not boost the allure of this famed car. It was actually the opposite. Because the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air was a timeless classic that evoked powerful emotions and brought back fond memories, Hollywood yearned for the connection with it. Being released in a time when the economy was booming and technological advances were constantly making headlines, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe attracted a wider audience. Blue-collar workers were rising through the middle-class thanks to their access to competitive pay that would enable them to engage in consumption. Naturally, Chevrolet caught up to the trend, and released the Chevy Bel Air, a stylish yet reasonably priced car that was well suited to the demands of this new consumer class. Accordingly, Chevy came out with nineteen Bel Air versions that could meet the requirements and preferences of various market segments. From the sleek convertible that was perfectly suited for holidays on the Gold Coast to the two-door wagon, which was the ideal option for young families, Chevy created a body style for everyone

Johnny Castle’s Sport Coupe remains one of the most sought-after body styles even today, as collectors prefer it together with the Nomad two-door wagon, which came with sliding windows at the rear seat. Autoevolution points out that the 1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe wasn’t a rare car as Chevy built 170,000 units of it, but locating a specimen in pristine condition is rather difficult. This is because cars weren’t looked after that well, all those years ago, like they are today, and if they haven’t received a restoration, they will probably be sitting in a junkyard or a field forgotten about.