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.
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 |
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 | 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 |
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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