1957 Corvette

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1953

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1954

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1955

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1956

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1957

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1958

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1959

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1960

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1961

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1962

1957 Corvette Photo Gallery


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.

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.

Early 1957 2x4 engines (through Dec 56/Jan 57) have nine-fin rocker arm covers through VIN 3900, from 3900 through 4500 could have seven- or nine-fin rocker arm covers and all after VIN 4900 were seven-fin units.

Fuel injection engines up to VIN 1900 have uncut nine fin covers. VINS 1900 through 2900 were cut nine fin. The cut removed the interference with the air meter; the left rocker arm cover was notched to give clearance.

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

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VIN 46xx with seven-fin rocker arm covers.

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VIN 40xx with nine-fin rocker arm covers.

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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.

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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 EF - 283-cid 220-hp, manual transmission
FH - 283-cid 220-hp, automatic 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

EM - 283-cid 250-hp, manual transmission, F.I.
FK - 283-cid 250-hp, automatic transmission, F.I.


EG - 283-cid 270-hp, manual transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor, high lift camshaft

EL - 283-cid 283-hp, manual transmission, F.I., high lift camshaft
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 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 Auxiliary 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 $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

* Not shown in GM Information Kit

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.

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1953

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1954

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1955

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1956

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1957

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1958

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1959

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1960

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1961

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1962


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