Early Corvette development accelerated under the guidance of Chevrolet powertrain engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, who— through 1955 and 1956—oversaw the finalization of Rochester’s new-for-1957 Ramjet mechanical fuel-injection system and a comprehensive package of braking and suspension components that entered into the option list that same year as RPO 684: Heavy Duty Racing Suspension. Only 51 of the 6,339 1957 Corvettes were produced with RPO 684, which incorporated segmented cerametallic brake linings inside large, finned brake drums, fresh air ducting to the rear brakes, front and rear vented backing plates with screened air intakes, special front and rear springs and shock absorbers, a heavier front sway bar and quick steering adaptor. In addition to radio and heater delete, RPO 684 demanded a choice of either the dual 4-barrel equipped 283/270 HP or the fuel-injected 283/283 HP V-8 engines. The latter 283/283 HP V-8 engine powers this exceptionally rare, multiple award-winning 1957 Corvette convertible, one of just 258 finished in the rare and attractive combination of Arctic Blue metallic paint, Inca Silver coves and a Venetian Red interior. Its matching-numbers 283/283 HP “Fuelie” V-8 is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission and a 4.11 Positraction differential. Additionally equipped with an auxiliary hard top, off-road exhaust and vintage 6.70x15 blackwall tires on 5.5-inch wheels with small-diameter hubcaps, the car has undergone two body-off restorations over its history, the first by Jim Purvis and the second by Larry Gerig, both names familiar to Corvette aficionados; its impressive history of prominent owners include Ray Masciarella, Jeffrey Moore and Frank Buck, former board member of Hershey AACA Concours d’Elegance. It has earned highly coveted Triple Crown status by virtue of having won Bloomington Gold Certification, an NCRS Top Flight Award and a Chevy Vettefest Gold Spinner Award. Documented with the judging certificates, title copies, owner history, Noland Adams research and 3-ring binder, this exceptional 1957 Big Brake Fuelie Corvette retains most all factory-correct-type components including the spare, jack, jack tools, trunk mat, trunk liner, rebound straps, spiral shocks, shifter, air cleaner, generator, no. 905 distributor, gas cap, oil cap, radiator cap, hoses, hose clamps, hood alignment blocks, hood pop-ups, nine-finned valve covers, no. 4360 fuel-injection unit, fuel-injection fuel filter, vertical throttle rod and plate, radiator, guide Y-50 mirror and T-3 headlights.
