The year was 1957 and the world had entered the space age with the launch of Sputnik. Closer to home, a plastic flying saucer, the Frisbee, was introduced; Jack Kerouac's classic novel On the Road was published; and Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat began entertaining countless children. Dick Clark and his American Bandstand found a national audience on ABC.

The year of 1957 also saw the introduction of the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, the most coveted car of the fabulous '50s. The new Bel Air retained the classic two-tone finish, but was enhanced with extra elegance in its trim. Under the hood, the Bel Air offered an array of options, including a turbo-Fire V-8, a Super Turbo-Fire V-8 and even a Corvette V-8 engine. This automobile had it all: it was solid and elegant,yet sporty with a dash of pizzaz.

Just as the '57 Bel Air defined the '50s, so did Coca-Cola. Advertising its ever-popular soft drink as "The Sign of the Times," Coca-Cola was intricately linked with the cars of the '50s - for the good times associated with a favourite car, the drive-in, cruising on a Friday night and vacations at the beach were also assiciated with Coke. Now, a classic 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is re-created in a rakishly handsome die-cast model customized with authentic Coca-Cola graphics. Meticulously detailed and marked with the words "The Sign of the Times," your Coca-Cola 1957 Bel Air is produced by - and available only from - Matchbox Collectibles.

(1998)

Scale: 1:43