Right Buyer Wanted! 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
When I was a teenager, I wanted a ’57 Corvette just like this one, red with white coves. Of course, being fifteen or sixteen I wanted flames emblazoned in the coves – the imagination of youth! I see these first-gen Corvettes today and I doubt my tall, lanky frame would fit – getting my knees to slip under that upright steering wheel would probably be an exercise of extreme gymnastics! I still appreciate red ’57 Vettes but my desire for one, flames or not, has long passed. Regardless, let’s check out this Worcester, Massachusetts resident. It’s available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $52,500. There is a make-an-offer option too.
Sitting on plywood since 1987, it would seem that this Corvette has seen little action over the last 35 years. The images present a clean and sound body with no evidence of seam splits, cracks, or spider webbing. The seller claims that the frame is “great“. The image of the underside looks OK but it seems that someone got overly enthusiastic with a paint sprayer or rattle can as the mufflers are showing overspray. And while we’re under there, the Delco-Remy starter has been painted orange – again, overspray from an oil pan refreshing? These are minor matters but true Corvette aficionados and experts would likely have some angst over such deviations from original. Of note, there is no folding top included, just the removable hardtop.
Under the hood is unknown. The seller tells us that the original 283 CI V8 engine, new for ’57, has been swapped with a “factory replaced motor” so does that mean a correct 283, or something else? An inquiry will be necessary. This is a four-sped manual transmission equipped car, another new feature for ’57, so that’s a great inclusion. So, how’s it run? Apparently, it doesn’t as the seller states, “Would make a great driver. Car has not been started and will have to put some time in to make sure no damage is done“. More incredulously, it is further claimed, “Car was stored in a garage on top of plywood since purchased in 1987. Car ran perfect …“. That’s nice to know but how about a report more recent than 35 years ago?
The image of the interior isn’t that revealing with mostly the dash, instrument panel, and steering wheel being featured. Nothing is stated about the overall condition but I question the red-painted dash top and white finished dash front/instrument panel. Is that correct? I’d ask one of our many Corvette readers/contributors to weigh in on that matter.
The seller suggests, “Willing to sell to the right buyer before sending it out to be gone through” (there’s that “gone through” euphemism again!). My thought is that the “right” buyer is the first one to cough up the cash, wouldn’t you agree?
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Comments
I would agree that something just seems a bit off about this car and the ad. I do like the picture of it on the lot with all the other Vett’s and a 32 Ford. If this was a recent photo, color me gone!
Joe- Looks like a vintage photo. The Clam King restaurant in Manchester, New Hampshire is closed. The 1957 remains one of the best looking Corvettes ever built.
All pics look to be from the 80’s (the ones that matter). Engine obviously dressed up a little. Great car but shady on details here.
Right, Rbig, the devil is in the details! for 55 large having it running would be helpful. I’m sure someone will snap it up. Know what you are buying! Good luck and happy motoring.
Cheers
GPC
This looks orange 🍊 not red unless I’m not good at colors 🤡
The GM ’56 – ’57 Corvette “Venetian Red” paint color is almost the exact same shade as Chevy Engine Orange.
Pure white coves weren’t an option. They did offer “Shoreline Beige” and “Inca Silver” though.
Hey Jerry –
It sounds like you would know far better than I what the options were, but I know this was the same year Corvette my dad had when he met my mom. His was all white but when he sold it, the guy who bought it had the body painted red just like this one, leaving the coves the original white. Of course, he totaled it less than a year after buying it off my dad, so it’s not this car.
Would I like a 57 FI Vette – yes. Is there something that looks a little off – yes. First off this is a solid axel C1, so why does it look like the rear wheels are tilting in at the bottom like an IRS Vette? Could be purely camera related, but definitely worth a look. Second thing, why does the oil pan look like went 3 rounds with a ballpeen hammer, then appears to be repainted? Was this from the original engine? Personally I don’t see the car bottoming out and hammering the pan without some abuse, or at least that’s my guess.
the oil pan is 58-64 full size, the engine block does not have side mounts so it could be close to the right date. Starter and bell housing are wrong. Who knows what else is incorrect.
Unless you can inspect this car personally, buying it on-line would be a huge financial gamble. There are just too many big unknowns. I’d just consider buying it for the fiberglass body and paint job.
It might have all original body panels, its born-with frame, and a factory VIN plate… or it might not. The poor photos and vague description don’t tell you much of any importance.
My repair experience with cars that have been sitting for decades is sobering. They all need tires and a ton of electrical, brake, cooling, clutch, and fuel system work. On this particular car, I’d replace the dyed black interior and remove the extra frame cross-member below the spare tub too. It’s a replacement engine, so the mechanical condition of the long block doesn’t really matter.
This dealer may be leaving some money on the table with such a weak ad, or perhaps he knows exactly what he’s hiding. Who knows?
Looking at all that fresh undercoating this has a big red flags all over it. As mentioned the oil pan looks a bit rough to have been on this car. The plywood won’t protect it from the condensation in the spring and fall. That takes it back to all that fresh black stuff underneath.
Maybe the seller’s significant other wants the car gone, so fudging on the details and pictures ensures it stays on the plywood.
That’s a whole lot of money for not much information!
That looks like someone tried to jack it up by putting the jack under the oil pan. It doesn’t really matter to me any way as the likely hood of my coming up with $50K is virtually zero, but I wanted to see the comments which are usually interesting to read.
$52,500 for a non running car? Plus sketchy details. Too many unknowns.
The orange paint on the starter is intentional. As is the generator, steering column, and master cylinder. Customizing to your personal taste wasn’t a big deal 35 years ago. You coulda bought 10 of these for this money. That undercoat is fresh however, no way it’s been on there 35 years. I feel the orange is new also. Which begs the question, why? Nothing in this pic is 35 years old so why do all this cleaning/adulterating if your going to sell it as a barn find? Engine stuck? If it’s non original I’d think it’d be worth as much without an engine at all.
The worse thing that anyone can do to a car like this is rattle can it to death. The spray over and poor paint work sets this back. Why hide the obvious damage and worse, not portray an original???? Just lowered the value by at least 10% or more….unacceptable to a keen buyer.
Unlike the author, I had one of these when I was a teenager in high school (early 70’s). Traded a ’57 Handyman wagon for it. My father built a 327 with a 30-30 cam for it; added a 4 speed trans, headers, and a 456 rear end. No problem keeping up with 340 Dusters or 396 Chevelles.
It was my daily driver in the summer. Fun car, but I really needed the big steering wheel because the kingpins were always freezing up. At 70 now, I think I’d prefer a Mercedes SLK.
Been for sale for quite sometime and with the price that seems fair UNLESS there is some major issues ,it should be gone. Owned a 57, venetian red including the coves, 283, single 4bbl. 4 speed. Of all cars I’ve owned I regret selling it more than all the others. Tried to buy it back a year later with no luck and that goes way back to 1967!!
Reading about the sparsity of details in the adv. Makes one very leary of this one. Another Junk and Scrap dealer retail price guide subscriber. I had a guy tried to scam me on a motorhome sale, turned out he didn’t even own it . When you spot suspicious advs. like this one, time to run, not walk away!!!
yup – ’56/60 after the weird tail lights & B4 the DA’s rear… the ones in there w/the great binnacle /double cove dash. I’d even do the sacrilegious, use the Blue Flame. Its a truck w/a fancy glass cover after all, Y not that motor was there the 1st 4 yrs? Just lub me dem 3 carters.
Like most adds of (actual) classics it’s just there to let you know they’re selling. Everything else is in person.