Corvette: Year by Year
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 19671968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
One Giant Leap for Corvette
Chevrolet pulled something amazing out of the hat for 1957: Fuel Injection. First run in 1956 at the Sebring race, the Rochester Ramjet injection was an answer to Mercedes-Benz which featured fuel injection in the 1954 300SL. The innovation solved a fuel starvation problem caused by sloshing while cornering with carbureted engines under race conditions. The fuel injection system, displayed in a cutaway drawing to the left, also enabled Chevrolet to boast of 1 hp per cubic inch of displacement with the 283 cu. in., 283 hp engine.
To keep this development in perspective, consider this. Almost all of the high priced supposedly advanced competition -- including Jaguar, Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini -- did not go with fuel injection until the 1970s or later.
GM brochure courtesy Skip Marketti of The Nethercutt Collection
Not up for debate is the way the market treats fuel injected Corvettes of the era. Corvette enthusiasts went for it in a big way in 1957 and more so 50 years later as a collectable; the price premium for a "Fuelie" as they are often called is significantly higher than their more mundane carbureted cousins. Below left: Fuel Injection as installed in an early Corvette. Below Right: Later Fuel Injection system on display.
1957 Corvette For Sale |
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Aztec Copper head-turner
Price: $90,000 obo Exterior: Aztec Copper w/beige coves Interior: beige Miles: 10,000 Location: Spring Valley, CA Click Here for more info |
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Aztec Copper with beige coves, correct waffle pattern vinyl beige interior and tan vinyl top. Also includes a matching color hardtop (more) |
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There was more good go-fast news for Corvette buyers in 1957. Just south of the clutch, a new four
speed manual transmission became available as of April 9, 1957. 664 1957 Corvettes were so equipped at an extra cost of $188.30.
Special four speeds had been installed in some race cars, so apparently the "More is Better" philosophy applied.
Also available in 1957: RPO 684, a racing suspension intended for serious racers. The cost was $780.10 and was installed on only 51 Corvettes in 1957.
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