Corvette: Year by Year
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 19641965 1966 1967 1968 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 2011 2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
One Giant Leap for Corvette
GM brochure courtesy Skip Marketti of The Nethercutt Collection
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.
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.
Classic David Kimble cutaway illustration of the Corvette fuel injected motor. It was available in 250 hp and 283 hp configurations.
Above left: Fuel Injection as installed in an early Corvette; Right: Later Fuel Injection system on display.
1957 and subsequent Corvettes proudly wore their new technological identities on the front fenders
(above) and trunk lids (below).
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.
Above is a very special fuel injected 1957 Corvette with an airbox intake. It is RPO 579E and only 43 were made. As a racing option, it cost a whopping $726.30 or $242.10 more than the standard fuel injection system.
Notice the small wheel covers in this 1957 fuelie? It's RPO 276 and was a 15" x 5.5" wheel; stock wheels were 5.0".
"Really Old Boy, You Aren't Supposed To Build That Sort Of Thing In America; Y'Know"
The marketing people had started to become aggressive with the competition. This was the start of a series of ads that continued for many years, pointing out that the imports did not entirely own the sports car world.
1957 Corvette Options, Prices
| RPO | Description | Production | Price |
| 101 | Heater | 5,373 (84.76%) | $118.40 |
| 102 | AM Radio, Signal Seeking | 3,635 (57.34%) | $199.10 |
| 107 | Parking Brake Alarm | 1,873 (29.55%) | $5.40 |
| 108 | Courtesy Lights | 2,489 (39.26%) | $8.65 |
| 109 | Windshield Washers | 2,555 (40.31%) | $11.85 |
| 276 | Wheels, 15x5.5 (5) | 51 (0.80%) | $15.10 |
| 290 | Whitewall Tires, 6.70x15 | 5,019 (79.18%) | $31.60 |
| 303 | 3-Speed Manual Transmission | 4,282 (67.55%) | n/a |
| 313 | Powerglide Automatic Transmission | 1,393 (21.98%) | $188.30 |
| 419 | Auxiliary Hardtop | 4,055 (63.97%) | $215.20 |
| 426 | Power Windows | 379 (5.98%) | $59.20 |
| 440 | Two-Tone Paint Combination | 2,794 (44.08%) | $19.40 |
| 469A | 283 cu. in. 245hp Engine two 4 bbl. carburetors | 2,045 (32.26%) | $150.65 |
| 469C | 283 cu. in. 270 hp Engine two 4 bbl. carburetors | 1,621 (25.57%) | $182.95 |
| 473 | Power Operated Folding Top | 1,336 (21.08%) | $139.90 |
| 579A | 283 cu. in. 250 hp fuel injected Engine | 182 (2.87%) | $484.20 |
| 579B | 283 cu. in. 283.hp fuel injected Engine | 713 (11.25%) | $484.20 |
| 579C | 283 cu. in. 250 hp fuel injected Engine | 102 (1.61%) | $484.20 |
| 579E | 283 cu. in. 283 hp fuel injected Engine | 43 (0.68%) | $726.30 |
| 677 | Positraction Rear Axle, 3.70:1 | 327 (5.16%) | $48.45 |
| 678 | Positraction Rear Axle, 411:1 | 1,772 (27.95%) | $48.45 |
| 679 | Positraction Rear Axle, 4.56:1 | n/a | $48.45 |
| 684 | Heavy Duty Racing Suspension | 51 (0.80%) | $780.10 |
| 685 | 4-Speed Manual Transmission | 664 (10.47%) | $188.30 |
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Total Production:
6,339
Notes: Base Corvette with 283 cu. in. 220 hp engine and three speed manual transmission: $3,176.32 |
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Colors
| Code | Exterior | Quantity | Interior | Soft Top | Wheels |
| Onyx Black | 2,189 (34.53%) | Beige / Red | Beige / Black / White | Black | |
| Aztec Copper | 452 (7.13%) | Beige | Beige / White | Copper | |
| Cascade Green | 550 (8.68%) | Beige | Beige / Black / White | Green | |
| Arctic Blue | 487 (7.68%) | Beige / Red | Beige / Black / White | Blue | |
| Venetian Red | 1,320 (20.82%) | Beige / Red | Beige / Black / White | Red | |
| Polo White | 1,273 (20.08%) | Beige / Red | Beige / Black / White | Red / Silver | |
| Inca Silver | 65 (1.03%) | Beige / Red | Black / White | Silver | |
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