C1 - 1953-1962
C2 - 1963-1967
C3 - 1968-19821957 Corvette
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The 1957 Corvette saw the introduction of factory seat belts that were installed by the dealer. Fuel injection was introduced as an option over the carburetor(s) and the 4-speed manual transmission made its debut in 1957. Engine displacement was upped to 283 cubic inches.
A 3-speed manual transmission was standard equipment. Of the 6,339
1957 Corvettes, 4,282 were built with the 3-speed manual
transmission.
The base engine has painted rocker arm covers with Chevrolet script, the optional engines have cast alloy finned rocker arm covers. The new fuel injection came in two horsepower ratings, 250-hp and 283-hp.
When fuel injection was introduced in 1957, an interference was found between the air meter and the upper fin on the valve cover, and the middle area of the top fin was milled off on fuel injection engines, starting about S/N 1900. 2x4 engines continued to use the ?un-milled? 9-fin valve cover. Again, no part number change.
A new 7-fin cover (essentially the 9-fin cover with the top and bottom fins removed from the mold) was introduced on ?57 fuel injection engines about S/N 2900. The 2x4 engines continued to use the original 9-fin cover until about S/N 3900, when the transition began to the new 7-fin cover already in use on fuel injection engines. From S/N 3900 to about S/N 4500, 2x4 engines used both 9-fin and 7-fin covers, and 2x4 engines after about S/N 4500 all used the new 7-fin cover.
The new 7-fin low-script staggered-hole valve cover continued into 1958 production until about S/N 3600, when the molds were changed to increase the height of the "Corvette" script from .030" to .125" to improve their appearance. This cover (no part number change) continued into 1959 production until late March, 1959, when the cylinder heads changed.
The VIN ranges are approximate, not exact.
1957 total Corvettes built - 6,339
| Corvettes Engines | 6,339 | Percentage |
| RPO 469A - 245-hp engine | 2,045 | 32.26 |
| RPO 469C - 270-hp engine | 1,621 | 25.57 |
| RPO 579A - 250-hp engine | 182 | 02.87 |
| RPO 579B - 283-hp engine | 713 | 11.25 |
| RPO 579C - 250-hp engine | 102 | 01.61 |
| RPO 579E - 283-hp engine | 43 | 00.68 |
| base 220-hp engine | 1,633 | 25.76 |
| Serial Numbers | |
| E57S001001 - E57S007339 |
VIN 46xx with seven-fin rocker arm covers.
VIN 40xx with nine-fin rocker arm covers.
When no radio was ordered, a radio hole cover was used to fill the radio
hole.
For the first time, the Flint engine plant stamped the assembly date of the engine as month/day instead of the model year.
Engine Identification
| Position | Character(s) | Description |
| 1 | V or T | Flint, MI. or Tonawanda, N.Y. engine assembly plant |
| 2 to 5 | 1025 | Engine assembly date (month/day) |
| 6 and 7 | Size/HP/Fuel Delivery System/Transmission | EH - 283-cid 245-hp, manual transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor FH - 283-cid 245-hp, automatic transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor EG - 283-cid 270-hp, manual transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor, high lift camshaft EL - |
| F.I. | Fuel Injection |
Engine Specifications - 283 engines
| Base 283 | RPO 469A | RPO 469C | RPO 579A | RPO 579B | RPO 579C | RPO 579E | |
| Bore (in inches) | 3.875 | 3.875 | 3.875 | 3.875 | 3.875 | 3.875 | 3.875 |
| Stroke (in inches) | 3.000 | 3.000 | 3.000 | 3.000 | 3.000 | 3.000 | 3.000 |
| Cubic Inches | 283 | 283 | 283 | 283 | 283 | 283 | 283 |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 9.5:1 | 9.5:1 | 9.5:1 | 10.25:1 | 9.5:1 | 10.25:1 |
| Horsepower @ RPM | 220 @ 4600 | 245 @ 5000 | 270 @ 6000 | 250 @ 5000 | 283 @ 6200 | 250 @ 5000 | 283 @ 6200 |
| Torque lb-ft @ RPM | 300 @ 3000 | 300 @ 3800 | 285 @ 4500 | 305 @ 3800 | 290 @ 4400 | 305 @ 3800 | 300 @ 3000 |
| Fuel | 4-bbl 3744925 |
2 x 4-bbl | 2 x 4-bbl 2626S/2627S |
F.I. w/Powerglide 7014520 |
F.I. 7014520 |
F.I. w/Powerglide 7014520 |
F.I. 7014360 (1) |
(1) GM Information Kit data, however, all EL coded engines found to date have the standard #7104520 unit.
Regular Production Options
| RPO | Description | Cost | Qty | Percentage |
| 2394 | Base Corvette Convertible | $3,176.32 | 6,339 | 100.0 |
| 101 | Heater | $118.40 | 5,373 | 84.8 |
| 102 | AM Radio, Signal Seeking | $199.10 | 3,635 | 57.3 |
| 107 | Parking Brake Alarm | $5.40 | 1,873 | 29.6 |
| 108 | Courtesy Lights | $8.65 | 2,489 | 39.3 |
| 109 | Windshield Washers | $11.85 | 2,555 | 40.3 |
| 276 | 15 x 5.5 Wheels | $15.10 | 51 | 0.8 |
| 290 | 6.70 x 15 Whitewall Tires * | $31.60 | 5,019 | 79.2 |
| 303 | 3-speed Close-Ratio Manual Transmission * | $000.00 | 4,282 | 67.6 |
| 313 | Powerglide Automatic Transmission | $188.30 | 1,393 | 22.0 |
| 419 | optional hardtop | $215.20 | 4,055 | 64.0 |
| 426 | Power Windows | $59.20 | 379 | 6.0 |
| 440 | Two-Tone Paint | $19.40 | 2,794 | 44.0 |
| 469A | 245-hp, 2 x 4-bbl | $150.65 | 2,045 | 32.6 |
| 469C | 270-hp, 2 x 4-bbl, high-lift camshaft | $182.95 | 1,621 | 25.6 |
| 473 | Power Operated Folding Top | $139.90 | 1,336 | 21.1 |
| 579A | 250-hp, F.I. | $484.20 | 182 | 2.9 |
| 579B | 283-hp, F.I. | $484.20 | 713 | 11.3 |
| 579C | 250-hp, F.I. | $484.20 | 102 | 1.6 |
| 579E | 283-hp, F.I. | $726.30 | 43 | 0.7 |
| 677 | 3.70:1 Positraction | $48.45 | 627 | 5.2 |
| 678 | 4.11:1 Positraction | $48.45 | 1,772 | 28.0 |
| 679 | 4.56:1 Positraction (only with 303) | $48.45 | n/a | *** |
| 684 | Racing Suspension | $780.10 | 51 | 0.8 |
| 685 |
4-speed Manual Transmission >> After April 9, 1957 |
$188.30 | 664 | 10.5 |
* Images may be representation of the option
1957 Exterior/Interior Colors
| RPO | Color | Soft Top Color | Interior Color | Total | |
| Production | Percentage | ||||
| Onyx Black | Black - Beige - White | Beige - Red | 2,189 | 35.5 | |
| 487 | Arctic Blue | Black - Beige - White | Beige - Red | 487 | 7.7 |
| 704 | Inca Silver | Black - White | Beige - Red | 65 | 1.0 |
| 709 | Aztec Copper | Beige - White | Beige | 452 | 7.1 |
| 712 | Cascade Green | Black - Beige - White | Beige | 550 | 8.7 |
| 714 | Venetian Red | Black - Beige - White | Beige - Red | 1,320 | 20.8 |
| 718 | Polo White | Black - Beige - White | Beige - Red | 1,273 | 20.1 |
1957 OEM Supplier Paint Colors
| Color | Valspar Code | PPG Code | DuPont Code |
| xxx - Onyx Black | K090 | 9300 | 99 |
| 487 - Arctic Blue | L3728 | 11537 | 58245 |
| 704 - Inca Silver | S353 | 31425 | 2436 |
| 709 - Aztec Copper | MW5602 | 21295 | 59297 |
| 712 - Cascade Green | MW5603 | 41973 | 59469 |
| 714 - Venetian Red | MW5601 | 70694 | 59388 |
| 718 - Polo White | W1528 | 8011 | 57758 |
| Shoreline Beige (cove color only) | MW5605 | 21054 | 57602 |
| Turquoise * | MW5701 | n/a | 57610 |
Mechanical Specifications
| Wheelbase | 102.0 inches |
| Track Front/Rear (inches) | 57.0 / 59.0 |
| Overall Length | 168.00 inches |
| Width | 70.5 inches |
| Height | 51.1 inches |
| Curb Weight | 2,849 pounds - manual transmission 2,941 pounds - Powerglide transmission |
| Coolant Capacity | 17.00 quarts with heater/16.00 quarts without |
| Fuel Capacity | 16.4 gallons |
| Oil Capacity | 5.0 quarts |
GM Heritage PDF file of specifications/options/etc.
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© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
