Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the 57 Chevy was a popular used car. It was the final year of the "shoebox" Chevrolet, as 1958 saw the introduction of a much larger and heavier Chevrolet. The ideal size of the '57, combined with its relatively light weight compared to newer full-sized cars, made it a favorite among drag racers. The engine bay was big enough to fit GM's big-block engines, first introduced in 1958 and popularized in the 1960s by the Beach Boys in the song "409". The relatively simple mechanical attributes of the car made it easy to maintain, customize, and upgrade with components such as disc brakes and air conditioning. By the 1980s, the '57 Chevy became a collector car. Companies such as Danchuk and Classic Chevy International began selling reproduction and restoration parts. In the early 1990s, the value of meticulously restored '57 Chevy convertibles was as high as $100,000. Though those peaks gave way significantly after 1992, the '57 Chevy has held its value and now is poised to exceed the previous peak. Restored, original examples are increasingly rare, and modern restorers are creating fast, powerful, ultra-modern hot rods that are winning the '57 Chevy a whole new generation of fans