One of 6,339 Corvettes produced in 1957, this Venetian Red Corvette is powered by the 283 CI V-8 engine with dual-quad carburetors, a Winters aluminum intake manifold, 9-fin valve covers and a 4-speed manual transmission. Adorned with white coves, the interior matches in red with a white dashboard and door panel trim. Fitted with the Wonderbar AM radio, the car is complete with Silvertown wide whitewall radial tires dressed with full-size spinner wheel covers. When the Corvette was introduced in 1953, only 300 were sold; 1954 was a better year with 3,640 built, but for 1955, sales slipped to a mere 700 units. GM was ready to fold the operation, but Chevrolet had an idea. It knew which improvements would lead to sales, and for 1956, the Corvette emerged newly styled with two-tone paint, brightwork, rollup glass side windows, exterior door handles and other amenities creating a much more civilized car. Even the new-for-1955 265 CI V-8 engine would be good for a whopping 225 HP in 1956. The new Corvette spoke to buyers, and just over 3,000 were sold. The following year, more than 6,000 were sold, and in 1958, more than 9,000 were sold. It looked promising that Chevrolet’s new sports car was very much what people were looking for. It was a sports car with performance, amenities and a decidedly American style. For 1957, the Corvette was available with a 283 CI V-8, which could be good for 283 HP, thanks to Rochester fuel injection and some internal modifications; this was the heralded 1 HP-per-cubic-inch mark, a major landmark in the day. While it was expensive, it was also a great performance engine, but for those seeking a little less exoticism, the 245 HP dual-quad 283 was on hand. The Corvette had evolved into a usable, enjoyable sports car, something owners could use to drive to and from work and track on weekends if they wanted to. It was a youthful, fun car that was fabulous for date night or just a quiet solo cruise on a lonely highway, the gentle rumble of the V-8 thrumming away.
