Lot 117

Amelia Island 2013

1957 Chevrolet Corvette Fuel-Injected Convertible

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$129,250 USD | Sold

United States | Amelia Island, Florida

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  • Fuel-injected 283/283 V-8
  • Numerous options
  • Both hard and soft tops

283 bhp, 283 cu. in. OHV V-8 engine with Rochester fuel injection, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with semi-elliptic leaf springs, live axle rear suspension with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 102 in.

Having found itself under the guidance of Zora Arkus Duntov in 1956, the Corvette, now a true no-excuses sports car, was rejuvenated slightly for 1957. Styling changes were minimal, but the list of powertrain and comfort options was continually ever-growing and even more tempting to the prospective Corvette owner. There were new colors, power accessories, and creature comforts, and under the hood, the freshly enlarged 283-cubic inch V-8 could be had with two different four-barrel carburetors and two different fuel-injection options. The hottest, and therefore the most desirable, variant produced one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch of displacement—283 galloping ponies. That was an earthshaking number for an American automobile, particularly one that was so small and light.

The 1957 Corvette offered today is confirmed by its VIN as having been delivered with the ultimate “283/283” V-8 with Rochester fuel injection and high-lift cam, which still resides under the hood today, and it is also equipped with a T-10 four-speed transmission, a positraction rear axle, a signal-seeking AM radio, and both a soft top and a removable body-color hardtop. A high-quality restoration, performed in previous care, saw the car refinished in Venetian Red over red upholstery; after which, the car was on display in a Corvette museum for some time.

The car is still very much as it was when the restoration was completed, and it offers an unbeatable combination of performance and good looks. To many, this is exactly what the mental picture of a 1957 Corvette describes: red on red, fuel injection, good options, both tops, and ready to go to a new home.