Buying a 57.....maybe

[dgt9]

Hello all! I found your site after looking a many others. I'm glad I did ,a lot of information here and people who are interested in Vettes. I have never had a Vette, I have two Chevelles a yellow 66 convertible and a blue 69 SS coup 4 speed. Also just to round things out a 29 Hiboy roadster on duce rails. I guess that makes me a car guy. Today that could all change. A friend called me about a 57 Vette for sell close by. The car sounds pretty good but not knowing a lot about these cars I wanted your information. The owner is the fourth to have the car. He thinks the motor is a replacement 327 and the 4 speed is original to the car. Repainted orange and white with black interior.Car has both tops. He also has a fuel injection unit that belongs with the car. Price? 27000? What do you think? Thanks for your site,
Dennis :J

 

[73BB]

Welcome to the CAC Dennis.

The price sounds fair if the car is in very good condition.
I don't think the engine swap will make a whole lot of difference - a '57 with it's original engine would most likely bring more money.

My best advice to you, since this will be your first Vette, is spend some time driving it and make sure that it suits your needs. They are cool but as I understand it the early ones do not drive nor handle as well as the 63-82's. I personally feel that the 68-74's are tha best "first" Vette considering they have the four wheel disc brakes, are easy to work on, drive reasonably comfy, and they handle very well with some minor mods.

Not to mention $27k would buy one heck of a C3

Good luck

 

[cruzer99]

I agree with 73BB, take a non-emotional look (I know it's hard to do sometime's), at the 57. They are not a car you will like to take on a long run. They look GREAT but drive and ride like a truck. You might want to surf the internet for 1957 Corvettes to chat and gather information, Hemmings, Ebay, even the forum here for the 57. Good luck and keep us all posted.

 

[TONY TAT2]

you left coast guys have all the luck!!!"buy it"!!!

 

[Lucy64]

Go for it...

That is a very good deal for a 57. Jump on it before someone else does. I think the 57 Vette is the best looking one built. 27K is a very good price. The fuel injection unit is a plus.

 

[ccflorida]

Welcome Dennis

The 57 Vette is a pretty car. This was the first year for the 4 speed and fuel injection . A total of 1,040 fuel injected 1957 Vettes were sold.. As you know the condition of the car sets the price and if the car is in good condition,no rusted out frame,windshield posts etc I feel its a fair price.. I looked at a 64 that needed work and they wanted 24k.If you like the car have it checked out by a professional that knows Vettes.. Good luck.. let us know how you make out...

 

[Tom Bryant]

Dennis,

Welcome to the Corvette Action Center. I merged your 3 posts here to avoid multiple identical posts in 3 forums. I think you will get the best response from solid axle guys here. Feel free to post another introduction if you so desire.

The car you are looking at sounds like a good deal if it is in good condition. If a fun driver is your goal instead of a high point correct car for NCRS judging this will probably be a good purchase. Is the injector original to that car? If you can supply the car serial number and the numbers off of the air meter and the fuel meeter we can determine what the original application of this unit was. Example would be 7014361 on the early '57 air meter. On the late ones the last 3 digits may be all that were stamped. If we can determine that this is a unit that would have came on this car then there are areas to look to determine if this was a real FI car.

These exterior and interior colors weren't used in '57 but that doesn't mean that it isn't a sharp looking car. If you can supply the casting number off of the rear of the block just behind the left head and the stamping off of the pad at the front of the right head we can try to determine the original usage of the engine.

A solid axle Corvette could easily be considered the 29 on 32 rails of the Corvette world. Not as comfy or sofisticated as later models but very stylish and just basic simple in construction. The front suspension is basic '49-'54 Chevy and the rear is '55-'57 Chevy for the most part. Everything you might need for repair parts are available in reproductions as well as upgrade parts. Several of the street rod companies that I'm sure you are familiar with make disc brake conversions for front and rear. Also Fat Man Fab. makes a dropped spindle upright to get the nose down a couple inches. Plus there are the usual irs swap kits available including a Camaro based one from Jim Meyer Racing.

Almost anything you can think of for the body, interior, trim, chrome ect. is available too. If you love cruising in your '29 you will love this '57 Corvette. At least here you will have roll up windows. :L

Check the steering for slop on center. The steering boxes on these quite often need rebuilt. The front suspension has king pins so check them for wear as well as the tie rods. There is a third arm that the tie rods connect to also. It mounts on a bearing that may be worn. Just wiggling this stuff with the car in the air and moving the steering wheel back and forth should show up any wear.

The control arms use metal bushings so check them for wear too. The only common area for rust on these cars is the rear crossmember just behind the rear pan area. It is an open channel and catches debris that holds moisture. There is no steel windshield or door post inner structure to rust. It is all castings. While you're under the car look over the inside of the body for evidence of collision repair or frame damage. Other than that it's just the usual operations check and road test to see if everything is right.

Let us know what you decide.

Tom

 

[ChuckG]

The orange exterior color you describe COULD be factory "Venetian Red". It's a very orange/red color. Chuck

 

[vettefinderjim]

Welcome, Dennis,

I have had a few Corvettes in my lifetime, and 57's are one of my favorite years.

There are some expert guys in your area, but most will ask a fee to look at the car.

Basics say.......rust free frame,........no body damage........and what accessories. Does it have one top? two tops?

Does it have the original Wonderbar Radio?

Hub caps and spare? Jack?

These are very simple cars. But a broken body repaired improperly can cost lots of $$$ to fix. I saw a nice looking 57 last month that looked good at 10 feet. On close inspection, it was evident that a 58-60 rear clip had been sectioned and reglued to the front of the car. God knows what frame was on it. It ran and drove OK, but not what the not so unimformed wants to buy for his first expierence.

Call Joe Calcagno at 831-475-4442. he is in Soquel near Santa Cruz. His expertise will save you thousands.
Good luck, and if you pass on the car let me know, I am interested.
Jim

 

[kenigman]

I'm also looking at a 57 but would like anything between 57-62 preferably without an engine. I have a 350 stroker ready for a donor vette.
A fellow hot rodder mentioned a place up North by Ft.Worth that has kitted out a 53. Has anyone on this list built one of these cars? I'm just not sure the quality would be there... and no windows to roll up.

 

[vettefinderjim]

Call the Nabors brothers in Houston

Hi Kenigman,
The Nabors brothers, Gary and Ken, are one of the premier Corvette restorers in the United States.They are in Houston. In November they had a 57 project car for sale in the low $20's Give them a call at 713-664-5018 or 713-664-1967.

If you want to travel to California, I have access to a 58 complete car under restoration since 1978. Body was stripped to glass, body work performed,engine rebuilt. It is a base 283 motor with a 4 speed and two tops. The owner, now in his 70's , finally realized he will not finish the car n his lifetime.

I also have a good friend that has three solid axel projects to do. He will sell one of them. What do you specifically want?

Regards, and Happy New Year
,
Jim Gessner

 

[Tom Bryant]

Welcome to the CAC Ken. I have seen the '53 kits in the magazines but haven't had the oportunity to see one first hand. I thought one of them had roll up windows. It seems like someone does a '57 or '59 style body too.

Tom

 

[cruzer99]

Vettefinder,
Where in Calif and do you know what the $ is?
Thanks,

 

[dgt9]

What Happened

What ever happened to the 57 vette I thought I was going to buy? Nothing.... the elderly Gentleman could not stand to part with it. He said he would call me if his mind changed...but I can't see myself ever getting it. Others are bound to step in between now and then.Thanks for the input from the members here, gave me something to think about. I now know a lot more about vettes than I once did.

Dennis

 

[vettefinderjim]

Where are they?

Dennis, I was just going to ask what ever happened to your find.

Cruizzer 82, I am in Southern California. The cars I have mentioned are in Oceanside ( near San Diego) and Running Springs in the San Bernardino mountains ( think snow),

They are priced in the low to high $20000's depending on equiptment and condition. None of them are running driving cars.

e mail me at v.vettefinderjim@verizon.net or call at 909-794-7905

and I will get back with each of you if you want to persue this further.

Jim

 

[vettefinderjim]

Dennis, Are you giving up on the 57?

Dennis, I would love to meet and talk with the fellow who has the 57 if you are not going to pursue the car. Please let me know. My e-mail is v.vettefinderjim@verizon.net

Jim

 

[kenigman]

Thanks for all the info Jim and Tom. This is a great forum…. I had restored a 64.5 260 Mustang while stationed at Beale AFB, CA. I’ve learned my lesson. The best driving car I’ve owned was a 64 Chevelle with a 283. The big 40 arrived a couple years ago so I’m in the market for a C1 – C2 Vette.
Jim, The 57 sounds great. I saw one on autotrader.com w/out an engine for 18K but I was still doing research on what to look for.
57 VETTE Convt, good body, good frame, project car, needs paint and engine 859-369-7858
Posted it twice ..6 Nov. & 4 Dec.

I may keep looking for a 53 with roll up windows. It won’t be so wimpy when it loose the skinny whitewall tires. A stroker won’t hurt either. Just not sure about owning a “fake vette”. (no offence intended).

Still researching….

Ken

 

[Tom Bryant]

I have given some thought to one of these kit Corvettes as a daily driver. Modern conveniences and old looks and won't rust in the winter. Plus if it got crunched it could be replaced.

Tom

 

[vettefinderjim]

54's will work for less$$

Ken,
Being that only 300 Corvettes were made in 1953, you should consider a 54 model. 3649 cars were produced and therefore there are more choices out there.

None of the 53-55 cars had windows. However, I have seen 56-57 doors put on a 54 and a V-8 motor installed as well.

Thanks for the tip on the 57. I will give them a call.

Jim

 

[JohnZ]

One of our local Corvette Club members has one of the "kit" '53 Corvettes he built about ten years ago; looks pretty authentic from 50 feet, but they go on a shortened GM "A"-body frame and the interior takes a LOT of fab work to look anywhere near authentic. The molds have been owned by four different outfits in the last twelve years. They advertise the kit pretty cheap, but the Corvette trim and hardware items that aren't included end up costing more to buy than the price of the kit itself. Takes about $30-35K to build one, and when you're done you have a "kit car" worth about half that.