Vehicle Description
This 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Restomod is a gorgeous C1 Corvette
Convertible that has been restomodded to be a wonderful summer
cruiser! In the early 1950s, American automakers began to recognize
a gap in the market; that being, the desire for an American-made
2-seater sports car. Up until that point, this segment of the
American auto market was dominated by European automakers who were
producing sporty little two-seaters that folks were importing in
the US. Simultaneously, auto manufacturers across the US began
experimenting with novel build techniques and cutting-edge
materials. At General Motors' 1952 "Motorama" event, the majority
of GM's brands placed a unique concept car on display including the
Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Fiesta, and,
Chevrolet's 1952 EX-122 Motorama Show Car. What made each of these
concepts so special was the fact that they were all placed into
production for the 1953 model year, including Chevrolet's
fiberglass-bodied car. Although most folks have never heard of or
even seen a Chevrolet EX-122 cruising down the road, EX-122 show
car was re-branded into the Chevrolet Corvette, a car that is
arguably the most famous American-made sports car ever produced and
a car that lives on today. While the earliest Corvette designs were
European-inspired with their sleek body lines and two-seater
configuration, they are notorious for their perceived lack of
performance with the first 2 year Corvettes sporting 235 Inline 6
engines and automatic transmissions. When Chevrolet introduced the
1955 Corvette, the car finally began to grow into its now-earned
performance-oriented reputation with the addition of Chevrolet's V8
engine and manual transmission. With a powerful V8, manual
transmission, and lightweight fiberglass body, the Corvette finally
got the power plant and drivetrain to back up its sporty look. Then
for the 1956 model year, Chevrolet redesigned the front-end look of
its sporty Corvette, highlighted with even curvier front fenders
that incorporated chrome-trimmed headlights and made the Corvette
look even more like the European sports cars at the time. While the
1957 Corvette largely retained the same design of the '56 'Vettes,
the 1957 version got even more sporty this time with the
availability of an option 4 speed manual transmission that folks
had been craving, and a feature that remained on Corvettes for
decades. While the C1 first generation Corvettes were sporty little
cars for their time, enthusiasts sometimes find them far less
sporty than the iterations that followed in the 60s, 70s, and
beyond and therefore in recent years, it's become more commonplace
for folks to give their C1 'Vettes the Restomod treatment,
upgrading everything from the engines, transmissions, brakes,
suspensions, and more! And, because they are much more enjoyable to
drive with these types of upgrades, it's no surprise that these
upgraded cars have been rising in value for the last decade or so,
and one can expect that they will continue to rise as enthusiasts
are getting more and more use to the modern amenities on their
daily drivers. This particular Corvette is only 1 of 6,339 produced
in the 1957 model year and comes to us from from a southern based
collector who owned and enjoyed this car for nearly 10 years. Under
the hood on this '57 Corvette is an upgraded 307 cubic inch V8
engine fed by an Edelbrock single 4 barrel carburetor. The small
block Chevy V8 is backed by a 4 speed manual transmission that
makes this American sports car an absolute blast to drive. Exhaust
exits the upgraded power plant via a dual exhaust setup that
generates a terrific throaty sound out of the rear tailpipes. There
are upgrades galore on this 1957 Chevy Corvette! With power front
disc brakes, powered by an upgraded dual master cylinder, this
'Vette has plenty of stopping power which is especially important
with all that extra power under the hood. The steering system has
also been upgraded to a Rack and Pinion setup that provides for
much more responsive steering when you're shifting through all the
gears. Relatedly, a Mustang II-style front end suspension has been
added under previous ownership for improved handling and a far
superior ride while cruising. Riding on a set of 215/70R15 radial
tires in all four corners, mounted on color-matched steel wheels
and accented with chrome hubcaps, this 1957 Chevrolet Corvette has
a gorgeous look and even better ride whether you're parked at the
local car show or taking this beauty on a relaxing summer cruise.
This C1 Corvette comes outfitted with tan vinyl convertible top
that is in wonderful shape, providing protection from the elements
should you need it. The fiberglass body on this Corvette
Convertible has been refinished in Cascade Green accented with
Beige painted coves, completing the exterior look of this fantastic
car. The interior of this 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is
gorgeous! The tan bucket seats have been reupholstered and make for
comfy seating for you and a passenger. The matching door panels,
black carpeting, painted dash, dash-mounted chrome rearview mirror,
and color-matched steering wheel are all in fantastic shape as
well, contrasting nicely with the Cascade Green exterior. The
instrumentation on this '57 Corvette has also been upgraded now
featuring a VDO 160 MPH speedometer, along with an AutoMeter clock
and additional AutoMeter gauges including an oil pressure gauge,
voltage gauge, temperature gauge, and fuel gauge. Whether you're
buying your very first classic car or you're looking to add a first
generation 'Vette to your existing collection, this 1957 Chevrolet
Corvette Convertible would make an excellent choice. Give
Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!
*307 Cu. In. V8
*Edelbrock Single 4 Barrel Carburetor
*4 Speed Manual Transmission
*Upgraded Mustang II-style Suspension
*Upgraded Rack & Pinion Steering
*Upgraded Front Power Disc Brakes
*1 od 6,339 Produced
*Two-Tone Cascade Green/Beige Exterior
*Tan Bucket Seat Interior
*Tan Soft Convertible Top
*Upgraded AutoMeter Gauges
*Odometer Reads: 125 Miles
