57 Fuelie

1957 was a year of firsts for Corvette. It may have been a virtual twin to the 1956 model, but there were surprises lurking under some of those Vette’s fiberglass skin. There could be a 4 speed manual transmission, Rochester Ramjet fuel injection and a 283 cubic inch engine. One of the first mass produced engines to make that magic formula of 1hp to 1 cubic inch.  The horsepower  was actually underrated by Madison Ave. to make for a catchier headline. Power was closer to 290.

 Reliability issues showed up early on the fuel injection, coupled with the high price tag of $500.00 for the option made this a rare addition to the build sheet. Only 713 out of 6,339 Corvettes built in 1957 were “Fuelies.” Once the system was learned and overcome, owners were rewarded with superb drivability, economy,and performance.

One way or the other  in almost any form the 57 Vette put down some pretty impressive numbers. “Motor Trend” got a 250-bhp Fuelie  to 60 in 7.2 seconds. “Road & Track” got a 283-bhp version with a 4 speed to 60 in 5.7 seconds doing the quarter mile in 14.3 seconds and topping out at 132 mph. “Motor Trend” again tested another 283 with dual exhaust,special cam, and solid lifters and got it up to 134mph. These numbers showed that the Vette  was one of the fastest production cars around at the time.

General Motors sent two modified Fuelies to Sebring in 1957. Entered by racer John Fitch to get around the ban on manufacture backed racing. They would run with the other secret GM entries, the Corvette SS and SR-2. With Dick Thompson, and Gaston Andrea, at the wheel  of car #4 and John A. Kilborn, Jim Jeffords, and Dale Duncan in the #3 car they took first and second in class.

Sometimes there is the perfect storm and all the right boxes are checked on the build sheet.

4 speed manual,check. 283 cubic inch 283 HP fuel injected engine, check. 4.11.1 Positraction rear axel, check.  Radio & heater delete, check.That’s what is wrapped in this Venetian red and beige beauty. The next step would have been a air-box race car. But the original owner of this Vette wanted a really fast street car and that is definitely what he got, and now it’s a very rare   street machine.

Sitting, running my hands over the large steering wheel, while waiting a moment as the Vette warms up and listening to the quite burble of the V8 out of the twin pipes. The feel of the interior is tight, but comfortable and not at all claustrophobic  as the wrap around windscreen gives you a perfect view out over the hood. The attention to detail in the restoration shows why this particular Corvette is a two time Bloomington Gold winner, and  has also been awarded the NCRS Top Flight award. It is as correct as it was when it left the production line back in 1957.

Heading out onto the street I put my foot down and damed if it doesn’t break it’s rear tires free. it still has the guts it had 56 years ago when it was built. Run through the gears and it pushes you back into your seat so the magazines of the time weren’t making things up.This is a potent ride.

 With a little seat time you start feeing more comfortable and see that this is truly an American sports car. The steering isn’t all that heavy and the car is fairly nimble, but what the Corvette does best is hard charge down a straight road. It’s a true stop-light dragster.Looking back you can say it was very basic even crude in it’s construction, but it was taking on some very impressive competition and winning.You don’t have to be a child of the fifties to think this car is cool. it’s cool no matter what age you are. On a warm day with the top down you would be hard pressed to find other ways to have more fun. 

It’s also a crowd pleaser, while driving around looking for a  location to take some pictures there were lots of waves and thumbs up. Even on the quite back road  where the car was shot people stopped to look and talk, and it put big smiles on there faces. Those  smiles including the one on my face, behind the wheel as I drove it back to it’s owner.

Thanks to Nick Soprano and Motor Classic and Competition for putting that smile on my face.

http://vintageracecar.com  http://www.motorclassiccorp.com