Say what you want about the 1957 Corvette, but the official production numbers pretty much speak for themselves.Chevrolet’s new superstar was already becoming a hit, as its popularity rapidly took off after the launch earlier in the same decade. In 1957, the GM brand produced more than 6,300 Vettes, up from approximately 3,500 units a year before.
Without a doubt, the thing that most people know about the 1957 Corvette is the fuel injection engine. It was the first year when this new engine option was available, with Chevrolet eventually producing around 1,000 fuel-injected Corvettes. The Rochester Ramjet fuel injection system continued to be offered in the Corvette in the following years, eventually becoming a more common choice for buyers.
On the other hand, the optional 4-speed transmission introduced for the same model year wasn’t exactly as popular. Only around 650 Vettes ended up using it, as otherwise, most buyers wanted to stick with the existing 3-speed or Powerglide units.
The fuel-injected Corvette you can see here emerged from a barn not long ago, flexing a condition that you rarely find on a car this old. It’s unclear if this 1957 Corvette has already been restored during its lifetime, but eBay seller hulredhood says the car is a survivor in absolutely all regards. In other words, it’s as original as it gets, and in theory, the vehicle has never been molested or altered in any way.
With the current owner since 1988, the car isn’t by any means a perfect-10, though it still exhibits a shape proving barn finds can also be solid. The rust doesn’t seem to be a concern, as the metal still looks good, both outside and on the undersides. Nevertheless, a full inspection is still recommended, especially as the car has been sitting for so long, and seeing all its flaws in online images is basically impossible.
The engine somehow still runs and drives, even though, at least theoretically, it has never been rebuilt. I still believe this Corvette has been at least partially restored some time ago, so potential buyers should inspect the engine closely to determine if someone rebuilt it (and, of course, if it’s also the original unit).
Unfortunately, we’re not getting too much info on the barn find part, so it’s impossible to tell where and for how long this vehicle has been sitting. But at the end of the day, it’s one very compelling and mysterious Vette that’ll probably find a new home pretty fast.