Vehicle Description
There are a few Corvettes that rightfully deserve their place at
the very top of the pecking order, and this 1957 Corvette is one of
them. With a gorgeous black and silver color combination, a 4-speed
transmission, and a strong-running V8, this is a car that you can
drive without worries and still show up and be the star of the
show.
This is the Corvette that you've been looking for, because it's
nicely maintained but has never, ever been a trailer queen. It
offers what is arguably the most attractive of the early solid axle
styling, with single headlights, just enough chrome, and a gently
rounded tail that has exactly the right look for America in the
late 1950s. The Tuxedo Black finish is the car's original color and
it looks quite good going down the road, although there's some age
and wear in the usual places, which is hardly a demerit on a car
like this. Fortunately, it appears that this car has always been
special to someone, which is just as it should be with a unique
find like this. The side cove could be a second color in 1957, and
silver is the right choice, offering contrast but it's softer than
bright white. The chrome and stainless trim remains in excellent
condition, showing off the glittering jewelry that made all cars of
the '50s, even Corvettes, so special.
The sparkling tan interior was surely high style in 1957 regardless
of what you were going to do with the car. Handsome patterned
upholstery stays cool and is easy to maintain, and while it's
showing some age, it remains a great place to hang out on a Sunday
afternoon. The big three-spoke steering wheel is color-matched to
the rest of the interior and recalls the great sports cars of
Europe, which was entirely intentional on Chevy's part. You got a
full array of gauges along the center of the dash, although the AM
radio was optional in 1957. The 4-speed was also an option, but
that might just be the most important one of all on this car. The
C1s are also nice because they offer a real trunk with plenty of
room, complete with a spare tire rucked under the rubber mat, just
in case.
The 283 cubic inch V8 under the forward-tilting hood is not the
original block, but it looks right and runs very well. The engine
bay has a lot of originality, which may be a plus for the right
buyer and if you insist on perfection, well, it's not so dirty that
it needs a major investment of time and money. But for most of us,
cars like this are all about getting in and driving, and this small
block has no qualms about hitting the road. The 4-speed was new for
1957 and this appears to be the original transmission for the car
and it feeds the stock rear end, and they highlight a chassis that
is either a miraculously maintained original or one that has been
extensively detailed, because it looks awesome. A correct dual
exhaust system cackles and barks like you'd expect and it sits
exactly right on 215/75/15 whitewall radials with hubcaps and
spinners, just as it was in 1957.
In a world filled with pedigreed Corvettes that owners are afraid
to drive, this '57 stands proud as a road warrior. We might venture
to suggest that even at this price, it represents a very smart buy
for the right collector. Call today!