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Vertical Front View 1957 Air-Box Corvette
1957 “AIR BOX” CORVETTE RPO-579D
CHEVROLET ENGINEERING COLD -AIR INDUCTION TEST CORVETTE
ES57S104469
Shortly after joining Chevrolet, Zora Arkus-Duntov wrote a memo entitled "Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders and Chevrolet", which laid the foundation for the strategy that Chevrolet has used ever since to create one of the most successful performance parts programs in the industry. Chevrolet quickly became one of the most successful manufacturers ever in the history of motor racing. Zora came be known as the “Father of the Corvette”.
This Chevrolet Engineering Cold-Air Induction test Corvette E57S104469 was built at the St. Louis Corvette Plant on June 7, 1957 and shipped to Chevrolet Engineering for track evaluation as specified by then Chief Engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. The Marchal Fantastic 660/300 Driving Lights first used by Duntov on the 1956 Sebring #1 Corvette driven by John Fitch, a.k.a The Real McCoy, were also used on #4469 but were moved inside to a one-off oval grille with the center teeth and bar removed to better funnel cooling air through the radiator.
This RPO-579D Corvette is one, of only two, “Air Box” Corvettes that retains the original RPO-579D “F502EL” engine and Airbox, RPO-684 Heavy Duty Brakes & Suspension, RPO-685 Four Speed and RPO-677A Positraction Axle that Duntov specified as Chief Engineer for Corvette Racing. It was fitted with a special X-Frame to install the straight-thru Sebring 2-1/4” exhaust fabricated by SEDCO for Corvettes #3 & #4 only.
The car is presented in original red, white and blue Corvette Racing livery as it appeared on June 19th, 1957 at GM Styling Center (see photo). The paint scheme was originally created by William L. Mitchell for the 1956 Sebring Team Corvettes using what was known as “Mitchell Blue.”
The meticulous restoration was done by noted Corvette expert and respected restorer, Kenneth W. Kayser, who wrote the definitive book on the Air Box Corvettes entitled, The History of GM's Ramjet Fuel Injection on the Chevrolet V-8 and Its' Corvette Racing Pedigree.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Chassis NumberES57S104469St Louis Assembled June 7 1957
Engine NumberF502ELFlint May 2 “EL” Corvette 283HP
EngineRPO-579DAir Box w/Column 8k Tachometer
ChassisRPO-684HD Brakes & Suspension
TransmissionRPO-685 Four Speed Manual
DifferentialRPO-677APositraction 3.70:1 Ratio
WheelsRPO-27615”x 5-1/2”K
Vertical Front View 1957 Air-Box Corvette
1957 “AIR BOX” CORVETTE RPO-579D
CHEVROLET ENGINEERING COLD -AIR INDUCTION TEST CORVETTE
ES57S104469
Shortly after joining Chevrolet, Zora Arkus-Duntov wrote a memo entitled "Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders and Chevrolet", which laid the foundation for the strategy that Chevrolet has used ever since to create one of the most successful performance parts programs in the industry. Chevrolet quickly became one of the most successful manufacturers ever in the history of motor racing. Zora came be known as the “Father of the Corvette”.
This Chevrolet Engineering Cold-Air Induction test Corvette E57S104469 was built at the St. Louis Corvette Plant on June 7, 1957 and shipped to Chevrolet Engineering for track evaluation as specified by then Chief Engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. The Marchal Fantastic 660/300 Driving Lights first used by Duntov on the 1956 Sebring #1 Corvette driven by John Fitch, a.k.a The Real McCoy, were also used on #4469 but were moved inside to a one-off oval grille with the center teeth and bar removed to better funnel cooling air through the radiator.
This RPO-579D Corvette is one, of only two, “Air Box” Corvettes that retains the original RPO-579D “F502EL” engine and Airbox, RPO-684 Heavy Duty Brakes & Suspension, RPO-685 Four Speed and RPO-677A Positraction Axle that Duntov specified as Chief Engineer for Corvette Racing. It was fitted with a special X-Frame to install the straight-thru Sebring 2-1/4” exhaust fabricated by SEDCO for Corvettes #3 & #4 only.
The car is presented in original red, white and blue Corvette Racing livery as it appeared on June 19th, 1957 at GM Styling Center (see photo). The paint scheme was originally created by William L. Mitchell for the 1956 Sebring Team Corvettes using what was known as “Mitchell Blue.”
The meticulous restoration was done by noted Corvette expert and respected restorer, Kenneth W. Kayser, who wrote the definitive book on the Air Box Corvettes entitled, The History of GM's Ramjet Fuel Injection on the Chevrolet V-8 and Its' Corvette Racing Pedigree.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Chassis NumberES57S104469St Louis Assembled June 7 1957
Engine NumberF502ELFlint May 2 “EL” Corvette 283HP
EngineRPO-579DAir Box w/Column 8k Tachometer
ChassisRPO-684HD Brakes & Suspension
TransmissionRPO-685 Four Speed Manual
DifferentialRPO-677APositraction 3.70:1 Ratio
WheelsRPO-27615”x 5-1/2”K